Can anyone tell me how to determine the correct RPM setting for the tachometer in my "new" 2008 350Z? The manual says it comes from the factory set at 7500 I think. I know I won't be turning those RPMs in first gear or any gear but would like to use and see the "Rev" light come on.


The manual also has some suggested speeds like 8 MPH in first and other suggestions for the other gears. Another suggested setting is 15 MPH in first gear...it has two sets of suggested settings but to me they seem unrealistically slow and seems like those speeds might bog the engine down or worse...having people honking for you to speed up.


Is setting the redline for first gear good for the other gears too? I generally know what a tachometer is for but never owned a car that had one so haven't ever actually used one before. Maybe in time it will all come together and make sense but this car is a bit technically challenging for me having been driving a 1993 Olds Cutlass since 2003 automatic trans. If this is to much to ask in a forum it's ok and everything's good and am sure it will all come together somewhere down the road. Oh...yes I can drive a manual and I go by sound pretty much with no problems. Probably don't "need" the tach but would like to use it...correctly. Thanks.

 

Tach and shift light are two different things. The tach is set by Nissan and goes off eng RPM; it is pretty accurate. The shift light is user programmable, I set mine at 6600 rpm as a reminder. On the race track I goes off all the time, but I hardly notice it. When I had my 05 base I set it much lower, around 3000 rpm so it flashed at 80 mph in 6th gear.

It's all up to you on how you want to use it.

 

On other cars I have had a tach with light, I go to a isolated off traffic road, and do a few passes. Everyone is different, and reaction time will vary. So I will set mine a few rpms before redline, or cutout, as close as possible. The amount of time it takes me to shift one gear to the next. Some people may need 200rpms, others 100 rpms before it hits max rpms. I like to set it up that way in case I am spirited driving and in the middle of a turn, etc, dont have to be looking at the dash and taking my eyes off the road.

On a Miata I used to have I rarely went redline, but sometimes would get distracted, and forget to shift on time, redlining, and losing time and momentum if it was a drag race.
Most of the time, its just cruisin shifting low in gear, although I have heard driving low in rpms is not good for the crank. I had it with a translucent cover, at daylight would not have the cap so it will be very bright, and at night put the cap over the light, so it would not blind the f out of me, besides looking like a ricer.

 

If its not bouncing off the rev limiter your good...

I wouldn't worry too much about the tack or the light... Honestly when your driving it's hard to pay attention to either of them.

I will say the car is much funner in the upper rpm... It has a rev limiter so go enjoy your Z going from a cutlass im sure its a much different experience... Maybe its because my last car redlined higher and had no ***** untill it was over 6,000 but I always get a **** eating grin when I drive the Z to just under redline.

 

Thanks for the replies. I'll make note of the speeds, RPMs and gears today and watch for a reasonable number. Have only had the car for a few days so haven't checked everything out completely. I'll post what I find and get your opinions. Thanks again.

 

post interesting..i like it

 

Peak torque for my engine is about 4800 rpm. So when driving with gusto, I set the light for 5100 rpm so upshifts stay in the engine's strong range. I use 4800 rpm as a target for gears 2 - 6, up or down.

Just toodling around I short shift and save a little gas, and the light never comes into play. I suppose if a guy wanted to try to hypermile, the light could be set really low.