Question about normal shift points

[acworthpatrick]

Under light acceleration on flat ground, the car seems to like to shift earlier than most auto's I have had, however the big V8 doesn't need much to get going, so I am not going to say it impacts performance. But the shift points are:

1st to 2nd = 12mph
2nd to 3rd = 25mph
3rd to O/D = between 35 & 40mph

Does that sound about where it should be, or does my cable need adjustment?

I wasn't sure what the normal shift points on this car should be, it gets unbelieve gas mileage on my commute to work though, 160 miles a day all highway - its been getting about 25-26 mpg. My chevy metro only gets 32mpg for less than half the space, power, and comfort. I am selling it, this car is awesome, and I still havent found any real issues with it yet.

[Southern_Pride]

Thats about where it should be. These engines like to lug. In daily driving you'll be lucky to see more 2000 rpm.

[Tiggie]

Sounds about right for stock, under light throttle. I like mine a little later, personally. It's better to have a little to much TV pressure than not enough.

[King_V]

Never paid as much attention to the other shifts, but 3->4 happens, at earliest, at around 39 or 40 for me.

However, once in 4th, when I slow down, I've seen my car hold 4th as low as about 32-33 MPH (maybe a bit lower even? Ii'd have to double-check) and keep it even on acceleration, IF I really just give it no more than a hairsbreadth of throttle.

[acworthpatrick]

Awesome, it does'nt usually hold O/D much under 40 unless I give it very little gas. Usually it shifts out before then.

Guess I will leave it alone then. Thanks for the info.

[King_V]

Yep . . . oh, and I should've mentioned that mine's got 2.73 gears, I assume yours is the same?

Driving today, I noticed it hold OD as low as 31 MPH, and again, if I really feather it lightly, I can bring it back up to speed without dropping into 3rd/

I wish I got the fuel economy you're getting, though!

[grandpaslincoln]

Thats about where it should be. These engines like to lug. In daily driving you'll be lucky to see more 2000 rpm.

Not really. When an engine lugs it's below it's below RPM for that gear. It's trying to make power but can't and uses more fuel when you give it more gas, instead of doing the proper thing, which is to downshift. Wear and tear increases. Fuel efficiency drops. You shouldn't lug an engine because you think it likes it. Engines like air, fuel, and to be in the power band, where they are efficient and make power.

[acworthpatrick]

I was sort of thinking that, I guess I may try to put a little more tension on that cable then.

Amazing thing with this car so far, is on the highway at 60mph which is my entire commute to work, the car does around 25 to 26mpg, but if you do stop and go traffic, I am doing good to 14 to 15mpg.

[brokebill]

mine shifts into OD between 50-55 under light acc.
shifts back into 3rd at about 45.

my gas mileage is pretty close to yours.


good luck, Bill

[King_V]

Not really. When an engine lugs it's below it's below RPM for that gear. It's trying to make power but can't and uses more fuel when you give it more gas, instead of doing the proper thing, which is to downshift. Wear and tear increases. Fuel efficiency drops. You shouldn't lug an engine because you think it likes it. Engines like air, fuel, and to be in the power band, where they are efficient and make power.

Agreed - though I think he meant more along the lines of maybe that what's lugging for a different motor isn't really lugging for the 5.0 SO motor . . but I might be reading too much into it.

That said, what you mention about where an engine likes to be (particularly, I think, near the RPM of peak-torque production), makes me wonder whether fuel economy would improve by going from 2.73s to say 3.08s or 3.23s, because, even though the RPMs would be higher at a given speed, during cruising, the engine would be sitting at an RPM where it's FAR happier.

Countered, of course, by the fact that the car will accelerate better, thus making the driver far happier to lean more heavily on the throttle . . But I digress...

[91waggin]

I know mine doesn't shift into OD until ~50 mph. I raised my TV pressure from stock, and the transmission seems a whole lot snappier and happier. Definitely raise it just a touch, and you'll be happy with the results.