Miata Mailing List: May 1997, Message #51
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From: 	todd.barney@ons.octel.com (Todd Barney)

Subject: Re: Revs Newbie

Date: 	Thu, 1 May 1997 10:03:12 -0500



     I second what Keith said. It depends on what you're trying to do. Just 

     loafing around town, I tend to shift around 4,000. But I can't make a 

     single commute without a couple of redline shifts anyway. I will loaf 

     along at 45mph in 5th gear, but I always down shift if I need to 

     accelerate. Don't wanna lug the engine.

     

     For best performance, you want to keep the revs above that 5,000 rpm 

     mark. Shift at redline (+/- 7400 rpm) to get that.

     

     Fifth gear is for cruising, and is intended to keep the revs down. I 

     wouldn't use it on the racetrack, unless I had a nice long 

     straightaway. (I hit redline once in 4th - about 105mph - and had to 

     shift up to fifth. But that was on the highway.)

     

     You basically need to get used to a different feel, and the sound of 

     the engine revving. Believe me, it LIKES it up there. The tach is 

     there to let you know when you're approaching damage territory. Use 

     your eyes until your ears get used to the sound.  Once you do, you may 

     find yourself doing 70 on the highway in 3rd sometimes, just to listen 

     to the engine sing. I know I do.

     

     Todd & Miatoy

     '91 white 'A'

     112k  miles





______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________

Subject: Revs Newbie

Author:  "David C. Scott" <dscott@mindspring.com> at P_ONS_INTERNET_MAIL

Date:    5/1/97 8:27 AM





OK, guys. Am I taking this month's Miata Magazine article on "Gear 

Changing" too literally? If I read it correctly, the recommendation is 

to keep the revs up. Makes sense. However, when the author says - "Find 

out what rmp your engine delivers maximum torque (5,500 rmp for a stock 

engine) and at what rmp it develops maximum power (6,500 rmp when 

stock). Then keep your engin turning BETWEEN these two limits for the 

best performance in any gear" - I get confused. Based on how my '96 M 

Edition "feels", I'd never get into fifth gear if I follow that advice. 

I seem to be running at about 4,000+ rpms in fifth gear at 70 mph. To 

run between 5,500 and 6,500, it seems I'd need to be going 90! And 

running between 5,500 and 6,500 at the lower gears sounds as though the 

engine is working terrifically hard. I know the Miata is engineered to 

shift ideally at 5,000 rpm and that "feels" right. So, oh great and wise 

Miata mavens, (1) when cruising "in town" at, say, 35 to 40 mph, in what 

gear and at what rpm should one be and (2) what about superhighway 

driving? Sorry if this is a hopelessly uneducated question but - hey - 

either I'm reading this article wrong or I need to get used to a 

different feel when driving! DCS