Augustus Davies

There's a 3 mile stretch of road I drive everyday and the posted speed limit is 30 mph..

Should I drive it at 3000 rpm in second or 2000 rpm in third?

....Thanks...

black ice

Drive 50.

dave

black ice

Seriously, on the freeway 3000 RPM seems fine but at 30 mph it seems so loud. I find myself in third and then downshifting to second at 30 to speed up.

dave

Augustus Davies

I was wondering if 2000 rpm at 30mph was considered lugging the engine...

AOW162435

I would have it in 6th gear.


Andreas

goofballdeluxe

If it feels right, it's right. if not, change it until it feels right.

Texas993

I know what you mean and I hate it. All roads in my town are 30 mph. I go between 2nd and 3rd. (My car is a turbo and lugging is less of an issue.)

porschemikeandnancy

I don't think you can really "lug" a 911 engine. In the old days, with the 356 four cylinders they used roller bearings which when lugged could "flatten out". But as long as the engine is not bucking, you should be okay. Plus the modern fuel injection will prevent the plugs from getting fouled. But even so, if you habitually drive this way, you should run the car out on the highway for some sustained 3000 rpm work. Clears out all the cobwebs.

ljugete

Easy to remember (use your ears & Tachometer):

0 to 20 mph = 1st gear,
25 to 30 mph = 2nd gear,
30 to 45 mph = 3rd gear,
45 to 55 mph = 4th gear,
60 to 70 mph = 5th gear,
70 + mph (freeway cruising speed) = 6th gear.

Downshift 2 gears when passing a vehicle briskly...

Quadcammer

third

g_murray

To ljugete ...me likey da breakdown !

Personally I think it would depend on my mood. If it was a 'quiet / subdued' kinda day I think I'd "be quiet" and putter along in 4th. - on the assumption that there's no traffic lights and I would just be lifting off the accelerator periodically to allow for traffic spacing.
However, if it was a Friday or a day where there's a hint of spring in the air - and I'd just come off a really crappy winter -- and now I'm driving along with, eeek!, the window down and my arm out the window ...hell, fellas, 2nd. to mostly 3rd. gear to, ahem, let others enjoy the bootiful sound of my air-cooled flat six.

But, hey, datz just me!

Gerry

95 NC 993

I can't imagine harming the engine in any way at 2000 rpm if you are just doing a slow cruise at 30 mph with very little acceleration.

air eater

You are kidding right?
2000 rpms?
These cars are meant to be rev'd up, not lugged.
I only use 6th gear when I'm in triple digits and never in second gear while on city streets where the speed limit is 30-35.
I high rev'd a 73 911s its entire life and sold it with over 125,000 miles on it and it still had 85-90% compression on all six cylinders when the new owner bought it.
Ask an air cooled Porsche mechanic his opinion on rpms.
I guarantee they share the same view. Low rev driving will only have you shelling out $6-8k for a top end rebuild sooner than needed.

Ed Burdell

Yes, on all points.

And for those of us with tips, you have to drive in manual mode in order to stay in 2nd and 3rd throughout driving in town on 25-55 mph roads. Otherwise, you'll be lugging around in 4th before you leave your driveway.

ironimages

Below 2500 your lugging the engine, around town it's tough for me to get out of second and third, I was always told to run it between 3000-5000 rpms.