Safest cruising RPM
11/6/13 | 09:32 AM
#21
Member
Joined: July 3, 2013
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
As the Coyote motor is known for, it has a nice, flat power band. Many an owner leaves the line in 2nd gear. My car still has barely 100 miles so I am breaking it in. So I tested it's low rpm lugging capabilities: I drove up a 3% grade in 6th gear at 40 mph. On my 3.73 Track Pack car, it was turning maybe 1100 rpm. Did not feel much lugging at all, and I could accelerate steadily.
This is one reason I am reluctant to bump power output via Boss intake, ported heads, and bigger exhaust system, because bottom line is, you decrease bottom end torque. You cannot beat the factory setup for this.
11/6/13 | 09:34 AM
#22
Thread Starter
Shelby GT350 Member
Joined: May 31, 2013
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 51
From: Indianapolis
2k in 6th gear tells me you are probably around 70mph...which the manual will be at that RPM too at that speed. What is the lowest RPM the car will ever cruise at? Whatever Ford's engineers set that to is probably the best
11/6/13 | 10:22 AM
#24
Cobra Member
Joined: December 4, 2011
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 3
From: Central Florida
From a 2011 owners manual:
Recommended shift speeds
Do not downshift into 1 (First) when your vehicle is moving
faster than 15 mph (24 km/h). This may damage the clutch and/or
transmission.
Upshift according to the following charts.
For the 3.7L V6 with 2.73 axle ratio, shift according to the following
chart:
Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel economy)
Shift from:
1 - 2 15 mph (24 km/h)
2 - 3 25 mph (40 km/h)
3 - 4 40 mph (64 km/h)
4 - 5 45 mph (72 km/h)
5 - 6 50 mph (80 km/h)
For the 3.7L V6 with 3.31 axle ratio, shift according to the following
chart:
Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel
economy)
Shift from:
1 - 2 13 mph (21 km/h)
2 - 3 26 mph (42 km/h)
3 - 4 37 mph (59 km/h)
4 - 5 43 mph (69 km/h)
5 - 6 59 mph (95 km/h)
For the 5.0L V8, shift according to the following chart:
Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel
economy)
Shift from (When not in skip shift mode):
1 - 2 17 mph (27 km/h)
2 - 3 25 mph (40 km/h)
3 - 4 40 mph (64 km/h)
4 - 5 45 mph (72 km/h)
5 - 6 50 mph (80 km/h)
Shift from (When skip shift mode active):
1-4 17 mph (27 km/h)
4-5 25 mph (40 km/h)
5-6 40 mph (64 km/h)
Last edited by Bucko; 11/6/13 at 10:24 AM.
11/6/13 | 10:39 AM
#25
Banned
Joined: August 2, 2013
Posts: 3,090
Likes: 254
From: Little north of Stuttgart, Germany
Finally! Someone comes up with this!
From a 2011 owners manual:
Recommended shift speeds
For the 5.0L V8, shift according to the following chart:
Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel
economy)
Shift from (When not in skip shift mode):
1 - 2 17 mph (27 km/h)
2 - 3 25 mph (40 km/h)
3 - 4 40 mph (64 km/h)
4 - 5 45 mph (72 km/h)
5 - 6 50 mph (80 km/h)
Shift from (When skip shift mode active):
1-4 17 mph (27 km/h)
4-5 25 mph (40 km/h)
5-6 40 mph (64 km/h)
From a 2011 owners manual:
Recommended shift speeds
For the 5.0L V8, shift according to the following chart:
Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel
economy)
Shift from (When not in skip shift mode):
1 - 2 17 mph (27 km/h)
2 - 3 25 mph (40 km/h)
3 - 4 40 mph (64 km/h)
4 - 5 45 mph (72 km/h)
5 - 6 50 mph (80 km/h)
Shift from (When skip shift mode active):
1-4 17 mph (27 km/h)
4-5 25 mph (40 km/h)
5-6 40 mph (64 km/h)
11/6/13 | 11:04 AM
#26
GT Member
Joined: August 20, 2012
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola, FL
My '12 GT auto, with a 91 octane performance tune from American Muscle and using 93 octane gas equals 74/75mph @ 2k. I average between 24-25mpg interstate and 20-21 in town. The best if both worlds.
11/6/13 | 01:58 PM
#27
Thread Starter
Shelby GT350 Member
Joined: May 31, 2013
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 51
From: Indianapolis
Oh wow....at 40mph with 3.31's in 6th gear I would be below 1k rpm!! I still won't do it! I'll stick to my "no lower than 1500 rpm" rule haha. I'd rather lose 1-2mpg than damage the motor by underrevving it.
11/6/13 | 02:00 PM
#28
Member
Joined: July 3, 2013
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
The problem with shifting by MPH is the lousy dash gauges on these retro Mustangs. Really hard to see the MPH with all the fine lines close together. Hopefully somebody comes up with an aftermarket dash with LED digital readout.
.
11/6/13 | 02:29 PM
#30
Banned
Joined: August 2, 2013
Posts: 3,090
Likes: 254
From: Little north of Stuttgart, Germany
That's completely up to your preference, but I'm pretty sure there is no such thing as "motor damage" by under revving. If you're seriously under revving the motor, it will stall. If you're under revving a little, the acceleration will suffer, but there will be no damage. I think that pretty much sums it up.
Last edited by 5.M0NSTER; 11/6/13 at 02:30 PM.
11/6/13 | 02:32 PM
#31
Cobra Member
Joined: December 4, 2011
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 3
From: Central Florida
That's completely up to your preference, but I'm pretty sure there is no such thing as "motor damage" by under revving. If you're seriously under revving the motor, it will stall. If you're under revving a little, the acceleration will suffer, but there will be no damage. I think that pretty much sums it up.
11/6/13 | 02:36 PM
#32
Banned
Joined: August 2, 2013
Posts: 3,090
Likes: 254
From: Little north of Stuttgart, Germany
, good point. I checked my 2014 Owner's Manual, and on the 5.0 it recommends going to 6th at 43mph. And so I rest my case.
11/6/13 | 07:52 PM
#33
Thread Starter
Shelby GT350 Member
Joined: May 31, 2013
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 51
From: Indianapolis
That's completely up to your preference, but I'm pretty sure there is no such thing as "motor damage" by under revving. If you're seriously under revving the motor, it will stall. If you're under revving a little, the acceleration will suffer, but there will be no damage. I think that pretty much sums it up.
11/7/13 | 04:17 AM
#35
I Have No Life
Joined: September 24, 2011
Posts: 10,141
Likes: 172
11/7/13 | 06:16 AM
#36
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Joined: December 13, 2012
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
11/7/13 | 06:48 AM
#37
Banned
Joined: August 2, 2013
Posts: 3,090
Likes: 254
From: Little north of Stuttgart, Germany
Yes sir. But based on my limited understanding the main causes for that are cylinder wear causing too big of a cylinder gap, or pins used to hold the piston in place. I don't see how running your motor at 1000-1200 rpm could cause slap. Do you mean less cylinder expansion doe to less heat at lower RPM?
Last edited by 5.M0NSTER; 11/8/13 at 07:28 AM.
11/7/13 | 04:59 PM
#39
Bullitt Member
Joined: November 16, 2011
Posts: 593
Likes: 5
From: SE Iowa
Finally! Someone comes up with this!
From a 2011 owners manual:
Recommended shift speeds
Do not downshift into 1 (First) when your vehicle is moving
faster than 15 mph (24 km/h). This may damage the clutch and/or
transmission.
Upshift according to the following charts.
For the 3.7L V6 with 2.73 axle ratio, shift according to the following
chart:
Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel economy)
Shift from:
1 - 2 15 mph (24 km/h)
2 - 3 25 mph (40 km/h)
3 - 4 40 mph (64 km/h)
4 - 5 45 mph (72 km/h)
5 - 6 50 mph (80 km/h)
For the 3.7L V6 with 3.31 axle ratio, shift according to the following
chart:
Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel
economy)
Shift from:
1 - 2 13 mph (21 km/h)
2 - 3 26 mph (42 km/h)
3 - 4 37 mph (59 km/h)
4 - 5 43 mph (69 km/h)
5 - 6 59 mph (95 km/h)
For the 5.0L V8, shift according to the following chart:
Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel
economy)
Shift from (When not in skip shift mode):
1 - 2 17 mph (27 km/h)
2 - 3 25 mph (40 km/h)
3 - 4 40 mph (64 km/h)
4 - 5 45 mph (72 km/h)
5 - 6 50 mph (80 km/h)
Shift from (When skip shift mode active):
1-4 17 mph (27 km/h)
4-5 25 mph (40 km/h)
5-6 40 mph (64 km/h)
From a 2011 owners manual:
Recommended shift speeds
Do not downshift into 1 (First) when your vehicle is moving
faster than 15 mph (24 km/h). This may damage the clutch and/or
transmission.
Upshift according to the following charts.
For the 3.7L V6 with 2.73 axle ratio, shift according to the following
chart:
Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel economy)
Shift from:
1 - 2 15 mph (24 km/h)
2 - 3 25 mph (40 km/h)
3 - 4 40 mph (64 km/h)
4 - 5 45 mph (72 km/h)
5 - 6 50 mph (80 km/h)
For the 3.7L V6 with 3.31 axle ratio, shift according to the following
chart:
Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel
economy)
Shift from:
1 - 2 13 mph (21 km/h)
2 - 3 26 mph (42 km/h)
3 - 4 37 mph (59 km/h)
4 - 5 43 mph (69 km/h)
5 - 6 59 mph (95 km/h)
For the 5.0L V8, shift according to the following chart:
Upshifts when accelerating (recommended for best fuel
economy)
Shift from (When not in skip shift mode):
1 - 2 17 mph (27 km/h)
2 - 3 25 mph (40 km/h)
3 - 4 40 mph (64 km/h)
4 - 5 45 mph (72 km/h)
5 - 6 50 mph (80 km/h)
Shift from (When skip shift mode active):
1-4 17 mph (27 km/h)
4-5 25 mph (40 km/h)
5-6 40 mph (64 km/h)
11/7/13 | 05:57 PM
#40
GT Member
Joined: June 21, 2012
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Toronto area
^ That may be fine for "when accelerating". I think many people were talking about cruising, and also about "safe capability".
Bottom line is 1k rpm doesn't sound or feel bad, you can easily tell with these engines/transmissions when you're doing something bad. If it sounds ugly...
Bottom line is 1k rpm doesn't sound or feel bad, you can easily tell with these engines/transmissions when you're doing something bad. If it sounds ugly...