[ochoa1101]

I have been playing around with the best fuel economy on my drive to work now and have found that in 7th gear the car consumes more gas even at lower RPM then running in 6th gear from speeds of 70 - about 85..... now unless you are scooting along at about 95 or 100 I really dont see when you would use that 7th gear..... Have you guys played around with this at all?

 

[Area 473]

I'm seeing the same thing, better mpg in 6th at those speeds.

Kurt

 

[joshg]

Is that even possible? seems like lower rpm at the same speed would have to burn less gas right? I wonder if something else is at play in the engine to make this happen.

 

[Liner Boy]

this has been discussed on another thread and that seems to be what others have been saying. I posted a there about a recent trip to central Texas, about 500 miles round trip and i never used 7th gear. I got better mileage than a previous trip when I used 7th gear.

 

[jagamajajaran]

I'm going to have to test this...I've been running in 7th when I'm at 70-80. Interesting...

 

[coupeguyz51]

Okay, I hear what you're saying, but again, it makes no sense....lower rpm at steady cruise control highway speeds seems like it has to be better gas mileage than higher rpm in 6th gear....any rational explanation for this?

 

[PoconoG]

Think this depends on terrain. I got 29.4 through West Virginia using 7 th. Are you guys doing better than that? Avg 72 mph.

 

[jagamajajaran]

If the load on the engine is too great in 7th at the lower RPM, then the engine can spin at a higher RPM and actually get better fuel economy than when it is under too much stress in 7th at the lower RPM.

 

[53Vette]

The trucking industry is having the same issue. The trucks that get governed to lower speeds get worse mpg then trucks without goveners. And you always run in your high gear at highway speeds.

 

[Corvette7Tuning]

I had trouble using 6th gear on my C6 vette. Mostly stuck with 5th.

 

[Bigdog]

That's why the 8sp. auto will be a joke. It's going to be shifting up and down all the time.

 

[digitalstingray]

I actually prefer 6th mainly because I like to keep my right hand on the shifter...7th is too far away!

 

[Ragtop]

That's why the 8sp. auto will be a joke. It's going to be shifting up and down all the time.

Perhaps it will never even shift to the highest gears unless you are on the track.

 

[Randy WS6]

Heck, I can't remember to shift seven times, lol....