normal driving, i shift at about 3k. just under usualy, but i do it buy sound realy. if its cold first thing in the morning ill be nice to her untill shes warmed up say 2.5k, but once her temp is up, back to 3k. im pulling 16-17mpg in the city. but you asked under "normal" driving! i tend to punch it alot!!

 

Strife350z

I was wondering the same thing about the slogging/lugging too, but haven't heard anything definitive. I would think engine management systems would avoid that problem. I still try not to jump on the gas at low rpms in a high gear. If I want to get going at low rpms, i'm better of downshifting, as the car doesn't go real well anyway, that is jumping on the gas in 4th gear at 1000 rpm.

I'm also wondering if anyone ever came up with an engine efficieny curve rpm vs. torque and Hp for our VQ? It might help answer seanrulz's mileage question. I haven't tried to shift without the clutch - i'm chicken. It could be the low rpm operation from the low shift points. I'll try to watch my city mileage and see what it is getting at various rpms. less than 13mpg seems kind of low.

 

i thought shifting near redline is best for acceleration? that way.. when u shift around 6K rpm... it would drop around 4,800rpm (peak torque)

 

You need the torque curves (peaks and shape) for each gear and to look at where they cross each other to see whether you are better running to redline. It looks like a series of mountains on a graph. You're trying to max out the cumulative area under the torque curve after each shift. The torque starts to drop after 4600, so the question is, if you run to redline, and shift, are you below the torque peak in the next gear, in which case you would have been better off shifting. In the low gears, I think, you want to run to redline, but in the mid-higher gears, that might not be the case. I've never seen a multiple gear torque curve for the VQ. I'm also not sure what affect time has, since the theoretical may not be what happens actually shifting through a quarter mile.

Also, seanrulz, I checked my gas mileage on the way home under two different conditions (1) - 5th and 6th gear at 65mph and about 2500 rpm in 5th got 27.5mpg and in 6th 28.5 to 29 mpg and (2) - 3rd gear at 35mph and 2500 rpm 18.5mpg and 30mph about 20mpg. no traffic lights. this is way above 13mpg. if you are idleing at lights and stuff it will dec mpg, try resetting the gauge more often, driving without stop lights for a mile or two at low speed, 30-35 and see what ave. mph you get. should be 18 to 20 or so. if not you may have a problem.

 

Hmm... Perhaps I should..but still, 13 mpg is way too low..
Sometimes, when I push it hard after I reset it, it even says 6-7 mpg! Z isn't an Enzo is it?

 

Usually warm the engine up before driving .. then average 3-4,500 RPM shifts or higher when the traffic is light.

WOT it sometimes during the weekly drives to work ... per my NISMO contact suggestion ... to keep it "clean".

No fun and no sound delight at anything lower.

 

Actually, according to the manual, you should be in 6th gear by 33mph. I dont know how they manage to accelerate at all shifting that quickly.

I usually drive around 3K-4K

 

I typically shift between 2,500 and 3k and, often as not, skip a gear. As long as you don't ask much of the engine in the 1,500 rpm range I can't see that it is harmful to the car. There are folks that suggest I should have gotten an automatic if I didn't want to shift so much. That's not the point. There are times when only 6 forward will do. Other times 4 (1,3,5,6) do quite nicely.

 

Well, if I cared that much about gas mileage, I wouldn't have a Z. I pretty much drive it like I stole it about 90% of the time. So that's 3000-4500 rpm for most shifting, but when getting on the highway and stuff I'm well over 6000. Why not have some fun with it?

 

Yes, thats pretty close to optimal for me. The one thing I see in all the dyno runs and stuff is 6200rpm is the hp peak and the power drops like a rock after. My car is dead stock, so I really don't need to go much past 6200 unless I am at WOT. Modified engines that are developing more power in the mid and top range could benefit going to redline and beyond for racing or just because their owners want to do it. Why not?

 

One of the things I love most about the Z is that I can drive it differently depending on my mood, and it's very capable at doing all of them.

If it's a) raining, or b) engine's cold, or c) I'm just in a laid back mood or d) I'm on a date - I can change at less than 3000 rpm and the Z just burbles happily along using all that low torque.

On the other hand, if I'm in more of a "spirited" mood (which is much of the time) I can press the go pedal harder and frighten passengers

I just love freeway on-ramps

Steve in AZ

 

Well to really answer this question....you need to get your car dyno'd.

Then you can see how your particular Z is doing.

With mine, if I want to maximize torque and pull...then 5000.

If I want to maximize hp and more speed then 6200.

Course this is for ***** out driving. For daily driving right around 4k.