Chunkerz

I have two "gear" related questions and a somewhat off topic question:

Does anyone else on here with a late model 944 reach 5th gear by 45 miles per hour? It seems like these cars have really short gears. Other cars I've driven don't need 5th gear until about 60ish miles per hour.

Also, is it better to coast in gear or in neutral when going down a hill? Which is better for fuel economy?

Off topic question: does anyone else get logged off after being online for 5-10 minutes? I get logged off while in the middle of trying to type a post all the time

Thanks,
Jeff

Edit- I probably should have added that I have a base N/A (in case you can't tell by my avatar).

szabon

what rpm are you shifting into fifth at 45mph? anyone can get into fifth at any mph, it matters what rpm you are in at that speed.

Going down hill in neutral will be a bit better for fuel economy and longevity of your tranny and clutch, technically. But slaming down the gear to get some speed going is always fun!

Chunkerz

Usually about 3000-4000 rpm. When I'm just cruising around I try to keep the rpm's around 2200-2500 (mostly just to keep that annoying shift light off), so in 5th gear at 45mph my rpm's are in that range. I've also read that the engine is more fuel efficient in that range. I used to not care about fuel economy, but after becoming almost bankrupt from my latest parts bill I need to get as much as I can out of every drop of gas.

As for coasting, I've heard that when you're just costing down a hill with no throttle input the engine shuts off the fuel injectors and just uses the rotation of the wheels that are spinning the innards of the gear box that are attached to the torque tube that go to the engine to rotate the engine instead of burning fuel (if that makes sense to anyone)?

Giantviper

What year is your 944? Starting in 1988 they put a shorter fifth gear in the car to give it better high end acceleration and making all the gears more usable around the track. This is a very desirable gear box as I think it mimicks a close ratio box which is very good for the track. The other advantage of the shorter 5th is not needing to downwhift to pass someone on the highway.

I have an 1988 N/A and If i am trying to get the best economy possible yes I am shifting into 5th at about 45 or 50 mph. (I do not do that much as this car is not my daily driver and I tend to have some fun on the back roads and on ramps when I drive her ) If I am not mistaken I am turning about 3000 rpms at about 62 mph in 5th gear with my car. (I will still get 28-30 mpg on long road trips averaging about 72 mph on the highway)

The older N/A Cars had a much taller 5ht gear which supposadly helped with fuel economy a bit but also the 5th gear was more of an overdrive cruising gear and no good for accelleration

V2Rocket

i can do about 45 in 1st gear....

Chunkerz

It was built in 1988. I guess I'll try to keep this gearbox and have it rebuilt instead of buying a new one if it's that good (third gear syncro is dead).

Van

Put in a turbo transmission if you want better fuel economy... (I have one for sale!)

Lightningmcnulty

coasting in gear uses less fuel it also will make next to no difference to the life of the transmission or clutch, in fact holding the clutch in to coast is the most likely to cause excess wear

szabon

you don't think putting the car in neutral (aka, not holding the clutch down, actually putting the car in neutral) would be better technically for the life of the tranny?

V2Rocket

it will still be spinning either way, the wheels drive the diff which spins the pinion/output shaft which causes the input shaft to freewheel around (moves fluid) and the driveshaft still spins...

Reimu

Coast in gear, that way you aren't using fuel to idle like you would in neutral

And yeah, 5th gear is a little shorter than I'd like

szabon

huh. now i know! just turn the car off when going down hill....cant beat that gas mileage! lol

Fara

Yeah, and save your battery by just dropping it back into gear with the ignition on to start it again!

Arominus

Stay in gear down hills, then your brakes will last longer as you can use engine braking. The marginal amount of extra gas you save by going into neutral won't match the cost of a fresh set of pads/rotors. You won't get much more than 20-21mpg out of the car around town and should be able to hit 27-30 on the highway. Use cruise control when its safe, even in 45mph areas, and you will get a slight improvement in milage.

God_Bot

'87 N/A - Level road @ 7220' elevation


I usually cruise in the 1,500 - 2,000 rpm range.

I prefer neutral coasting, I use my brakes when I want to slow down and the engine when I want to go faster. I figure idle is easier on on engine then being turned by the wheels. Then again I was never "taught" how to drive a manual, I was just thrown in an old pickup and told to go.