City driving econ: Faster accel in lower gears vs. Slower accel in higher gears?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Logic

So it has a normally open throttle valve just to charge vacuum powered ancillaries during overrun and braking/ (free power)

AFAIK the brake booster is the only vacuum-powered device on most (if not all) modern cars.

I can see it getting hydraulic pressure to actuate, from the same pump that actuates the VVT, but, at a guess I'd say there's a torque sensor or 2 in the drive-train somewhere that picks up torque coming from the wheels and/or flywheel during overrun..?
Probably a braking sensor, involved in decisions to..?

I don't know how the electro-hydraulic actuators of the intake valves work, but the throttle plate is entirely electronically-controlled and actuated.

And most newer cars have electronic throttle pedals, regardless if gassers or Diesels.

[Grant-53]

A few years ago BMW did a study that indicated 3/4 throttle acceleration was optimal. Also note that slow acceleration will affect traffic flow and the traffic signal operation algorithm.

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by Grant-53

A few years ago BMW did a study that indicated 3/4 throttle acceleration was optimal. Also note that slow acceleration will affect traffic flow and the traffic signal operation algorithm.

Sounds close to the 80% load I heard about a while ago.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Having learned to drive in a car without a tach, maybe relying on some random arbitrary pedal-based measure could be simpler, yet sometimes it doesn't work in real-life driving. I remember so many times hitting the pedal to the floor while the Opel Corsa B struggled to keep RPM before I had to shift to a lower gear...

[Mcgiiver]

#2) Go up the initial hill in 1st gear all the way or #3) Try to go up in 2nd as soon as as possible with my foot to the floor. (It's a moderate climate, so "cold" engine is just a relative term.)

IMHO, #2 would be best, but not with the engine screaming in 1st. #3, foot to the floor is never good. Warm up idle creates negative MPG and should not be used.

#3) option of leisurely acceleration with lower load through all the gears until reaching 4th or 5th would use the most fuel.

IMHO, #3 is the way to go, it will not use the most fuel.

[Mcgiiver]

#2) Go up the initial hill in 1st gear all the way or #3) Try to go up in 2nd as soon as as possible with my foot to the floor. (It's a moderate climate, so "cold" engine is just a relative term.)

IMHO, #2 would be best, but not with the engine screaming in 1st. #3, foot to the floor is never good. Warm up idle creates negative MPG and should not be used.

#3) option of leisurely acceleration with lower load through all the gears until reaching 4th or 5th would use the most fuel.

IMHO, #3 is the way to go, it will not use the most fuel.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Sure the slope of the hill would dictate the correct gear to start driving. And maybe with some clutch kicks as a last-resort attempt to prevent the engine from stalling while trying to climb with a taller gear, not only fuel consumption would increase but also wear and tear.