Best gear for steep hill civic vx

[tt2323]

I'm a little confused about getting the best mileage. When going up a 1 mile fairly steep hill in my VX I at times have to use 2nd gear. Am I better off revving higher 2-2500 in 2nd or have it in 3rd pinned? Is throttle position always the indicator for mileage? As in going up a long 2-3incline would I be more efficient revving over 2,000 in 3rd of have more throttle in 4th? Thanks guys!

[MazdaMatt]

I've been wondering the same... from what i've gathered you stay in the highest gear that you can without having to be at full throttle to maintain speed. There's a hill near my work that i can stay at 40km/h in 5th gear all the way up using about 80% throttle 1500rpm, so i don't downshift. If i did downshift, i'd be at about 1900rpm using only 25% throttle.

[basjoos]

Mileage is a combination of RPM, throttle position, and ground speed. According to the SuperMID on my car, when climbing a hill, I always get better mileage even at full throttle in a higher gear at a lower rpm than with part throttle at a lower gear at a higher rpm. But on low load conditions on flat roads, where, if the rpm gets low enough to start lugging, you can improve the mileage by dropping a gear and going gently with the throttle.

[Ford Man]

Highest possible gear at lowest rpm.

[tt2323]

Exactly the info I was looking for. Thanks guys

[MazdaMatt]

Originally Posted by basjoos

But on low load conditions on flat roads, where, if the rpm gets low enough to start lugging, you can improve the mileage by dropping a gear and going gently with the throttle.

i didn't know that... i would normally start gently accelerating out of the chug instead.... but my 5th gear is usable at under 40km/h, so its not often i have to leave it.

[TestDrive]

Almost worth it's own thread!

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

i didn't know that... i would normally start gently accelerating out of the chug instead.... but my 5th gear is usable at under 40km/h, so its not often i have to leave it.

On a flat road - with a '99 Escort 2.0L 5spd -

• I can maintain 40 km/h (25 mph) in 5th gear road without a hint of chugging/engine shudder.
• I have to be doing 43 km/h (27 mph) or better before I can (ever so gently) accelerate in 5th without chugging/engine shudder.

Give me just a smidgen of down slope and I can accelerate in 5th from about 37 km/h (23 mph).

[MazdaMatt]

My gearing is rediculously tight... anything short of full throttle sounds smooth at 40km/h. I don't get chugging under "normal acceleration" till i'm down to 32-35. 2.0L Mazda Protege5.

[IndyIan]

Looking at the big picture, sub 2000 rpm and pinned isn't really a good way to run your engine, especially if you are using 0W20 oil. Also, do you know what pinging sounds like? If your car is pinging its life will be very short. You won't save enough in gas to put in another engine...
To be a bit on the safe side, use up to 2/3 throttle down to where your engine starts lugging then downshift again.
Also, I think you are better off getting a run at a hill so you can stay in top gear longer, I haven't done experiments to prove this but its what I do anyways.
Ian

[aerohead]

In one of my installments I posted a strategy Chrysler hypermilers came up with for the Shell Marathon competition.If you can find it in the archives or search engine,it will lay out what they discovered from experiments at the Chrysler Proving Grounds.