Best for your car (shifting)

[jeradw]

Hey guys! I have been thinking lately about what kind of shifting habit is the best for our cars. I apologize in advance if this seems pretty "newbie-ish".

First, I typically run in TIP just because I like the ability to up/down shift when I want. One other thing - I would like to keep the vehicle for a while, so I'm not looking beat it for a couple of years and then trade it off.

Finally, when is it good to "clean out the carbon" on the car? I have heard from a couple of people - not from AZ, that its good to really get on the car once a week - any truth to that? For me, that would be like running it to 6000 or so.

I guess I'm looking for the best mix of (long life/performance/whats good for the car)

I like the hit the following - what do you think? (these are estimates...could be +/- a few in actuality)

0 to 60 (getting on a highway, etc)
->2nd @ 3000
->3rd @ 3000
->4th @ 2750
->5th @ 2500
->6th @ 2500

city driving (30mph)
3rd gear around 2000, instead of shifting to 4th and keeping the rpms low.

Any other tips/criticisms? Looking for some comments from people that are planning on keeping their vehicle past 100k, or have their vehicle past 100k.

Thanks!!

[Sharkfin]

I push it at least once a day [:D]

[staticuxo]

you're too easy on your car.. i beat on my car and drive it hard. most of the time i shift btwn 4k and 5.5k [drive]

[ViT]

I mean don't get me wrong and Staticuxo, but you are too easy on the car. The car it build to handle high rpms. Now im not saying you should almost redline every gear, but given a little more on the gas eveyday won't kill yah :) I like to sometimes go past 4K just to hear the turbo. It's your car, so do what you like.

[Stubek]

From an mpg point of view with my manual, I try to shift around 2500 and keep it below that, if I do that, then I get about 26 mpg on a drive that is 5 miles with about 10 stop lights. If I drive it shifting at 3500, it drops to about 21. I did each of these for 10 days and took an average to filter out time at stop lights etc.

[Latin Audi]

Yea thats really low. I shift around 4k. Someone on here did a study on the best time to shift but cannot remember who.

[edwardabodnar]

your turbo doesnt begin to help until your a little bit higher in the rpms avg 3200 give or take a little

[staticuxo]

I mean don't get me wrong and Staticuxo, but you are too easy on the car. The car it build to handle high rpms. Now im not saying you should almost redline every gear, but given a little more on the gas eveyday won't kill yah :) I like to sometimes go past 4K just to hear the turbo. It's your car, so do what you like.

haha, i redline it every day also.. i'm just saying on average i shift btwn 4-5.5k during normal driving [;)]

and i love to hear the turbo spool as well as the DV, which is another reason why i'm heavy footed, haha.

[jago]

i have a 3.2 tip and when i use the paddles i like to shift near 4k also.
btw the car also performs a lot better in S than D on the hwy.
doesnt go right up to 6th so quick.
whats nice also is you can go M temporarily with the paddles to pass while leaving the car in D or S.

[Nobuttsechs4me]

staple the balls back to the va-jj and rip on the thing. Thats TFSI bubba, make her sing and dance all day long.

[AudiWxGuy]

these threads posted by fellows with auto trannies make me laugh...ahahahahahhha

AT FTL! MT FTW!!!!!!

Just run in "D" and you'll get the optimal shift points for best MPG.

[scoobycarolan]

Leave it in S all the time. 4-5k shifts are fine.

[davis449]

Hey guys! I have been thinking lately about what kind of shifting habit is the best for our cars. I apologize in advance if this seems pretty "newbie-ish".

First, I typically run in TIP just because I like the ability to up/down shift when I want. One other thing - I would like to keep the vehicle for a while, so I'm not looking beat it for a couple of years and then trade it off.

Finally, when is it good to "clean out the carbon" on the car? I have heard from a couple of people - not from AZ, that its good to really get on the car once a week - any truth to that? For me, that would be like running it to 6000 or so.

I guess I'm looking for the best mix of (long life/performance/whats good for the car)

I like the hit the following - what do you think? (these are estimates...could be +/- a few in actuality)

0 to 60 (getting on a highway, etc)
->2nd @ 3000
->3rd @ 3000
->4th @ 2750
->5th @ 2500
->6th @ 2500

city driving (30mph)
3rd gear around 2000, instead of shifting to 4th and keeping the rpms low.

Any other tips/criticisms? Looking for some comments from people that are planning on keeping their vehicle past 100k, or have their vehicle past 100k.

Thanks!!

Driving your car like a bitch will make it run like one. According to the recent threads in here, the exercise of "blowing out the carbon" is useless on our cars...you're going to get carbon buildup no matter what.

Here's my shifts:

Getting on Freeway:
->2nd @ 5500
->3rd @ 5000
->4th @ Cruise in Traffic
->5th @ Cruise in Light to no Traffic
->6th @ Not Used

[Sharkfin]

these threads posted by fellows with auto trannies make me laugh...ahahahahahhha

AT FTL! MT FTW!!!!!!

Just run in "D" and you'll get the optimal shift points for best MPG.

I should neg rep you just for that [>_<]

[jeradw]

Thanks for the input so far!

So, pretty much what I'm gathering is it doesn't matter what RPM you shift (it has not bearing on "wear/tear" on the engine and whatnot)?

I guess I was trying to determine if I kept the RPMs a little lower when shifting I could preserve the parts a for longer because it would induce less wear - seeing as though I want to keep it for a while. Thats all I was thinking...

[Pworld]

Damn i guess i baby my 6spd according to these reports. Oh well gas aint cheap in CA, im aiming for mpg! lol

[CBRmatt600]

This isn't a rotary, you aren't going to blow the carbon out of it by redlining it.

For that matter, redlining your car every day isn't exactly the best thing for it, nor were these engines "built to handle high RPM's". It is not a race car.

Oh, and I will add the obligatory auto trannies=fail. I had a 2.0 Tip cab for a loaner last weekend and I wanted to kill myself. Even in S mode it sucked. The only redeeming quality was watching my GF sunbathe in the passenger seat when the top was down.

[kasimmmmm]

U do blow the carbonthat sits in the exhaust system. It's a good idea to push atleast once a week...

[Tanner]

Master tech (btw the best tech in Canada) mentioned to me that the FSI engine needs to breath, so don't be afraid to push the engine after it's properly warmed up. of course, make sure it's cooled down properly (ie.: don't shut the engine off if the turbocharger and manifold is glowing red hot).

[davis449]

Here comes the failboat of myths again.[rolleyes]


For that matter, redlining your car every day isn't exactly the best thing for it, nor were these engines "built to handle high RPM's". It is not a race car.

Yes, they are made to take high RPM...there's a difference between that and redline and you're right, redlining ANY car all the time is a bad idea. If you're in the black, everything is good.


(ie.: don't shut the engine off if the turbocharger and manifold is glowing red hot).

Our turbo systems flow coolant through them after you shut the car off, hence the reason we don't EVER need turbo timers. Shut the car off...hear that wooshing sound? That's coolant flowing through your turbo to cool it down.

[CBRmatt600]

Here comes the failboat of myths again.[rolleyes]



Yes, they are made to take high RPM...there's a difference between that and redline and you're right, redlining ANY car all the time is a bad idea. If you're in the black, everything is good.






How is that a myth? This is a standard 2.0 motor, in a standard passenger car sold to the general public. It isn't a drag car with a motor built to handle high revs. The guy above made it sound like this is a 600RR. It's not. Shifting at 5k isn't "high RPM's", that is normal driving. Maybe you misinterpreted what I was trying to say.

[Tanner]

Our turbo systems flow coolant through them after you shut the car off, hence the reason we don't EVER need turbo timers. Shut the car off...hear that wooshing sound? That's coolant flowing through your turbo to cool it down.

No it doesn't, there is no sound in mine. I turn it off and I just hear the clicks and pops as the metal cools down.

Check the ETKA, I did not find anything for the Audi A4 while I did find an after-run pump for the 3.2 and 4.2 IIRC, and the 2.0T used in the VW.

[CBRmatt600]

Run the car hard and shut it off. You will hear something continue to run.

[Tanner]

Nope I've done that also. Nothing. Other than the AC coolant warming up.

[CBRmatt600]

That's weird. I hear mine just about every day. Even heard it when I shut the car off after lunch today.

[Tanner]

I'm wondering if they put in an after-run pump on newer A4s... I think I'm gonna see if I can find it.

[Tanner]

Did a search for 'additional water pump' and the only one I found is for the 3.0 and 3.2 engines (06C/E 121 601).

[Nobuttsechs4me]

Tanner....All I know is that all 2.0t fsi motors transverse or longitude will not require turbo timer because of the cooling system provided. Search it!

If you dont hear yours momentarily...Push the car harder[drive]

[Tanner]

Everything I've read and learned on this car is that it doesn't have an after run pump. The logitudally mounted engine has no punp while the transversely mounted does have the pump.

I've even asked the question in another post as a vendor claimed that there was but there was no answer given.

So unless somebody can show me the part that pumps the coolant while the engine is off I'm still on the page that we do not have an after-run pump.

[nycmalu]

Our turbo systems flow coolant through them after you shut the car off, hence the reason we don't EVER need turbo timers. Shut the car off...hear that wooshing sound? That's coolant flowing through your turbo to cool it down.

I heard this same thing too and I assumed it was what you said (the turbo being cooled down). Then one day it didn't do it and I got a little worried. You are in Texas so I assume you are running with your AC on all the time. Try turning your AC off about 2 minutes before you get to your house. Then, when you turn the car off, let me know if you still hear the same sound.

I'm not trying to discredit you or anything. I am just trying to see if I can duplicate what happened for me. Maybe I'm just hearing the wrong thing. The sound I'm referring to is the one that has made various people exiting my car say that it sounds like an airplane that just landed.

[CBRmatt600]

It sounds like a fan running.

[DarkNite]

I'm a heavy foot driver myself, but also you should remember that your seals break in according to how you drive. If you drive light all the time, you might not want to change that later down the line, for once you do start to "bring it to life" you're going to have alot of seal issues. Just my 2 cents.

[CBRmatt600]

Seals are broken in from the factory in the vast majority of vehicles today. Even if you did manage to get your hands on a car with a motor that has never been turned over or revved, your rings are going to be seated within the first 10 miles.

[bmc333]

I heard this same thing too and I assumed it was what you said (the turbo being cooled down). Then one day it didn't do it and I got a little worried. You are in Texas so I assume you are running with your AC on all the time. Try turning your AC off about 2 minutes before you get to your house. Then, when you turn the car off, let me know if you still hear the same sound.

I'm not trying to discredit you or anything. I am just trying to see if I can duplicate what happened for me. Maybe I'm just hearing the wrong thing. The sound I'm referring to is the one that has made various people exiting my car say that it sounds like an airplane that just landed.

That sound is the AC powering down if you shut off the car with the AC running...

[bmc333]

It sounds like a fan running.

What you've described hearing is indeed a fan running - Radiator fan

[DarkNite]

Yea that is true and I agree with the seal's being broken in from factory. It's just with an older motor, you're more likely to break seals faster and start noticing leaks, especially if coming from the head gaskets.

[Alkemix]

I did hear that it is better to beat on your car during break in periods; my friend pointed to how race teams break in rebuilt or new motors by immediately taking it to the track and running hot laps.

I unfortunately didn't hear of this and went with the old school driving it like my grandma was in the car the whole time for 5k miles. I beat on the car daily now. Should I be worried of possible earlier than usual leaks?

Also, sorry for jacking this thread, so here's my input.

Moderate to quick city driving:
2nd @ 4-4500
3rd @ 4k
4th for steady speed/cruising
5th for coasting
Down shift down through gears till 3 for stops, down to 2 if I wanna impress the ladies. Never to 1, unless for the quick go again.

When not beating on the car:
I will shift @ about 3-3500 for any gear. And never shift down past 3.

[Subaru71]

I have a manual.. so I don't know how accurate it is for you, but I shift at 3500 RPM, seems like anything below that there's not enough power so you end up using more gas..

I'm APR STG 2 with TP, FMIC, intake, exhaust..

I get around 25mpg combined.. pushing it at least once a day.. I get around 21-22 pushing it all the time.. and well over 30 hwy..

[eskimopunk]

Sport mode all day lol. I wish I had a manual [:(]

edit, wow bad grammar error lol** I get on it most days, if not every day.