Recommended shifting speeds (M/T)
 

I'm curious to know at what speed (roughly) everyone shifts in each gear, but mainly from 4th to 5th and 5th to 6th. I didn't see anything in the manual but perhaps I missed it, so if it's in there, please let me know where to find it.

I find myself shifting from 4th to 5th at around 40 MPH, and 5th to 6th at 50-55 depending on the grade. If it's a level road I'm in 6th at 50, otherwise 5th since I've got very little power in 6th gear at that speed. What about you guys?

I look more at the tach than the speedometer when shifting (if I look at either)

If I'm not in a hurry, I usually shift around 3k 1st to 2nd, and between 2 and 2.5 between other gears.

About 3k rpm for most gears unless I'm in a hurry

i tried to shift for a whole day at about 2-2.5 like some ppl said in the MPG thread, but after like a couple stops it totally goes out the window and im taking off at lights and shifting at 5k rofl, no wonder i get 21 mpg

Like mightyp I shift at around 3k unless I'm getting on it or in a hurry. I Just never go under 1800 as it puts more stress on the crank and rods then necessary. Nor do I get on it at lower RPMs. If the motor is not pulling like it should then it's time to down shift. Youll be getting a lot of mixed reactions on this and everyone will tell you different lol. I get 29mpg though and do mixed driving and if I'm on the freeway doing 75 about 50% of the time. Just remember that too low of RPMs require more load and use more gas then just driving conservatively and letting the motor rev freely.

^Well said

I shift at 2-3k while pressing lightley on the throttle, I get 31.7mpg. Yeah, I drive like a grandma. I'll admit to it.

Revisiting this old thread, I'm curious to know what gear you guys are in at various speeds. I'm most interested in 35 MPH, 40 MPH, 45 MPH, and 50 MPH. The reason for my sudden interest is that I normally upshift very early, into 5th gear at 40, and 6th at 50. I've been doing this to reduce the gear lash felt in lower gears when getting on and off the throttle but I wonder if I'm sacrificing fuel economy by doing so.

That is possible. I have a Scangauge 2, and it shows instant MPG. Shifting too early is often worse than redlining it, beleive it or not. You can get the gauge from Autozone for $160. I think it is one of the best purchases I have made for the car, but I also use it on the wifes car too, because it can clear codes. Her car threw all kinds of codes when I replaced the spark plugs...lol.

Judging by other peoples shift points wont help you much. For example, if I am in 4th @ 30 Mph, I may be getting 36 mpg, but thats on a downward, or flat road. If it turns into a hill, and I leave it in 4th, my mpg drops to like 5mpg, unless I down shift, and the mpg will go up to about 20.
Basiclly, if you live in a flat area, and drive on flat roads, you can shift early and not cause engine lugging, which s the worse way to drive for high gas mileage. Before I bought the sacngauge, I was lucky if my avg mpg meter showed anything above 25. Now it sits at a pretty consistant 28 mpg. Get a scan gauge, you wont be dissapointed.

http://www.scangauge.com/products/scangaugeii/

I have an ultra-gauge but I don't use it. I found it to be a distraction. You don't find the gear lash in lower gears to be annoying?

Im not sure what you mean.

The little jolt when you get back on the gas after coasting, even for a moment. The lower the gear/higher the RPMs the worse it is.

I think that's a combination of the injectors turning back on, after turning off when you let go of the gas (DFCI), and also the stock OEM (soft) motor mount. This problem reduced somewhat for me when I swapped in a firmer motor mount. Basically any sudden change in power flow (engine braking vs. accelerating with the engine) will rock the motor a bit because the flow of power reverses, kind of like pulling vs. pushing with your arm, your ligaments/tendons/whatever give/take. When you're pulling, your arm's just a little longer. And so on.

i shift at 3500-4000 rpm, and I think im somewhere around here:

1st - 0-20
2nd - 20-35
3rd - 35-55 (can go up to 60ish if your in a hurry)
4th -55-70 (obviously you would shift before 70, but if you need to pass, its there)
5th - I pretty much just use to drop down to when I have been in 6th and need to pass
6th - freeway speeds (65 and up)