Lugging or Applying Too Much Throttle at Low RPM

Riker · 09-26-2016, 12:31 PM

Hello all,

I have a few questions about the LT1 and the stress put on it.

What RPM is the lowest you recommend to cruise at without lugging the LT1 on a flat grade.

What gears in the A8 (or M6) would you recommend not going full throttle. I'm guessing gears 7 and 8 should not get a lot of smashed throttle. Higher gears are weaker from what I understand.

What is the lowest RPM, say in 2nd, 3rd or 4th gear, I can smash the gas and not provide an unreasonable amount of stress on the engine.

Thank you all!

fastball · 09-26-2016, 03:20 PM

Don't even try to find the lowest RPM in any gear. Sure fire way to damage the crank bearings, among other things.

Just shift where it feels natural, usually in the 2k-3k RPM range unless you're having fun with it. Then take it up to red line in each gear.

1st-4th are your acceleration gears. 5th-6th (or 8th) are your overdrive gears. No need to floor it in those gears. You want to go at highway speed, downshift to 4th and let it rip.

But don't try to shift at low RPM.

tcal780 · 09-26-2016, 03:26 PM

Good questions. I'm curious, also.
I just use 1300 as as my minimum. It just sounds/feels right.

1BlueSS · 09-26-2016, 03:49 PM

There's no need or reason to floor it at low rpm's. If you need the power, downshift...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lafourche1 · 09-26-2016, 03:55 PM

Doesn't an automatic downshift when you floor it, unless you are driving in a manual mode?

Oil Man · 09-26-2016, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1BlueSS

There's no need or reason to floor it at low rpm's. If you need the power, downshift...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah. This.

On freeways in SoCal, I rarely find 6th gear. I usually run along in 5th at around 1800-2200 RPM. The engine will respond surprisingly well at low RPMs, but it's not an ideal operating condition, and making a habit of it is asking for problems long-term. If I am cruising at less than 1800 RPM or so, I am in the wrong gear.

SSDan · 09-26-2016, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcal780

I just use 1300 as as my minimum. It just sounds/feels right.

I agree. I shift down a gear if/when the rpms drop to the 1300-1400 range. This keeps the engine out of the lugging range.

Riker · 09-26-2016, 04:51 PM

I used to have a manual RSX and then a manual FR-S and in the FRS it was almost night and day below 1500. You drop below that and the engine sounded like thuds and definitely less torque.

With my Camaro, partly because its an auto/torque converter and partly all that American torque down LOW, it's not nearly as obvious. Cruising in auto and the thing keeps RPMs at about 1-1.2k only. A gentle but firm pass of 1/5 throttle still has it shifting before 2k. Shifting at 2-3k is good for quick passing but definitely a waste of gas if you aren't trying to have fun, but just cruise/commute. Considering my FRS had no issue with 1.5-2k cruising, I figure the Camaro can do less. Sounds like anything below 1200 is gonna lug.

The question about giving lots of throttle in a high gear/low RPM is for passing but not sounding like an ass. I like being able to stay in a high gear, not necessarily top, in manual and pass quickly and not sound like I am ****ing with someone.

I passed in 6th/top gear in my FRS. Of course at 70mph it was at 3k in that thing. So it had peak torque and passing on any slope less than a steep hill was easy in 6th.

bybcous · 09-26-2016, 04:57 PM

Can anyone tell me if cruising around 2500 rpm at times will damage my tyranny(a8). Sometimes when driving around town, i will drive the car in 4th or 5th gear just to hear the exhaust (35-45mph), and sometimes on the highway I will cruise in 7th if im at 70+ mph or 6th if im around 55 mph, this is still only done just so I can hear my exhaust, i will stop this if I am damaging anything.

SSDan · 09-26-2016, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bybcous

Can anyone tell me if cruising around 2500 rpm at times will damage my tyranny(a8). Sometimes when driving around town, i will drive the car in 4th or 5th gear just to hear the exhaust (35-45mph), and sometimes on the highway I will cruise in 7th if im at 70+ mph or 6th if im around 55 mph, this is still only done just so I can hear my exhaust, i will stop this if I am damaging anything.

You are just using more gas and adding just a tiny bit more wear on the drivetrain. In the long haul - not a big deal. Enjoy!

tcal780 · 09-27-2016, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bybcous

Can anyone tell me if cruising around 2500 rpm at times will damage my tyranny(a8). Sometimes when driving around town, i will drive the car in 4th or 5th gear just to hear the exhaust (35-45mph), and sometimes on the highway I will cruise in 7th if im at 70+ mph or 6th if im around 55 mph, this is still only done just so I can hear my exhaust, i will stop this if I am damaging anything.

on the A8, the trans will simply deny you the gear selection if the RPM's are too low.

09-26-2016, 12:31 PM	#1
Riker Drives: 2017 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Thousand Oaks Posts: 46	Lugging or Applying Too Much Throttle at Low RPM Hello all, I have a few questions about the LT1 and the stress put on it. What RPM is the lowest you recommend to cruise at without lugging the LT1 on a flat grade. What gears in the A8 (or M6) would you recommend not going full throttle. I'm guessing gears 7 and 8 should not get a lot of smashed throttle. Higher gears are weaker from what I understand. What is the lowest RPM, say in 2nd, 3rd or 4th gear, I can smash the gas and not provide an unreasonable amount of stress on the engine. Thank you all! __________________ TPNS5F 7/11/16 - 1100 - Ordered 2017 2SS at dealer 8/7/16 - Order requested to be cancelled TRBTXD 8/9/16 - 2000 - New order placed 8/10/16 - 3000 ~8/16/16 - 3400 9/20/16 - 6000 Delivered to Customer (That's me)

09-26-2016, 03:49 PM	#4
1BlueSS Drives: 2017 Camaro 1SS Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Texas Posts: 219	There's no need or reason to floor it at low rpm's. If you need the power, downshift... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 2017 1SS Hyper Blue M6

09-26-2016, 03:55 PM	#5
Lafourche1 Drives: 2019 CLA 450 Mercedes Join Date: May 2016 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 1,107	Doesn't an automatic downshift when you floor it, unless you are driving in a manual mode? __________________ 2019 Lunar Blue Metallic Mercedes CLS 450 2021 C43 AMG Mercedes Coupe Metallic Cardinal Red 2014 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost (The Bus)

09-26-2016, 04:51 PM	#8
Riker Drives: 2017 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Thousand Oaks Posts: 46	I used to have a manual RSX and then a manual FR-S and in the FRS it was almost night and day below 1500. You drop below that and the engine sounded like thuds and definitely less torque. With my Camaro, partly because its an auto/torque converter and partly all that American torque down LOW, it's not nearly as obvious. Cruising in auto and the thing keeps RPMs at about 1-1.2k only. A gentle but firm pass of 1/5 throttle still has it shifting before 2k. Shifting at 2-3k is good for quick passing but definitely a waste of gas if you aren't trying to have fun, but just cruise/commute. Considering my FRS had no issue with 1.5-2k cruising, I figure the Camaro can do less. Sounds like anything below 1200 is gonna lug. The question about giving lots of throttle in a high gear/low RPM is for passing but not sounding like an ass. I like being able to stay in a high gear, not necessarily top, in manual and pass quickly and not sound like I am **ing with someone. I passed in 6th/top gear in my FRS. Of course at 70mph it was at 3k in that thing. So it had peak torque and passing on any slope less than a steep hill was easy in 6th. __________________ TPNS5F 7/11/16 - 1100 - Ordered 2017 2SS at dealer 8/7/16 - Order requested to be cancelled TRBTXD** 8/9/16 - 2000 - New order placed 8/10/16 - 3000 ~8/16/16 - 3400 9/20/16 - 6000 Delivered to Customer (That's me)

09-26-2016, 04:57 PM	#9
bybcous Drives: 2016 Hyper Blue 1SS Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: hampton roads Posts: 2,763	Can anyone tell me if cruising around 2500 rpm at times will damage my tyranny(a8). Sometimes when driving around town, i will drive the car in 4th or 5th gear just to hear the exhaust (35-45mph), and sometimes on the highway I will cruise in 7th if im at 70+ mph or 6th if im around 55 mph, this is still only done just so I can hear my exhaust, i will stop this if I am damaging anything. __________________ 1ss/Auto-Hyper Blue acs carbon flash spoiler, bmr springs, gm clear tails. Texas speed cam, 223/227 .635/.635 116 LSA, Kooks Long Tube Headers with green cats, MSD Atomic Air Force Intake, CAI Cold Air Intake, QTP cutouts. 503 hp Best so far 11.5 at 123 with a 1.83 60ft. BMR lower and upper trailing arms and upper control arms,E85 DELIVERED 12/29/15 http://youtube.com/bybcous " no talking only racing on my youtube"

09-26-2016, 03:20 PM	#2
fastball Banned Drives: 2017 Camaro 2SS 6MT Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 4,361	Don't even try to find the lowest RPM in any gear. Sure fire way to damage the crank bearings, among other things. Just shift where it feels natural, usually in the 2k-3k RPM range unless you're having fun with it. Then take it up to red line in each gear. 1st-4th are your acceleration gears. 5th-6th (or 8th) are your overdrive gears. No need to floor it in those gears. You want to go at highway speed, downshift to 4th and let it rip. But don't try to shift at low RPM.

09-26-2016, 03:26 PM	#3
tcal780 Drives: 16 1SS White M6 Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: NEPA Posts: 155	Good questions. I'm curious, also. I just use 1300 as as my minimum. It just sounds/feels right.

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