just got a 1999 vw jetta stick shift, manuel tranny question?

Question

ive never really delt with a stick shift before, and i was just wondering, ive been putting it in 5th gear while going about 40 mph, the car dosent accelerate very good in these conditions, understandibly. i wanted to know, since the rpms don't go up proportionatly with the gas pedal, am i still using more gas? is it more economical to drive in say 4th or 3rd? is it bad for the engine to go in 5th while at that speed? it idles about 800 rpms, it stays at 1400 in 5th. thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Anytime you attempt to accelerate in a high number gear with the engine turning slowly, it puts a tremendous strain on the internal engine parts. Plus, you tend to give it more throttle which means more gas is being fed to the engine than it can digest. You would actually use less gas (or diesel fuel) if you shift to a lower number gear. The car will accelerate, faster, easier and use less fuel. If there is an owners manual check it for suggested shift points, they may be listed as Miles per hour or as rpm. See what you can find and after awhile of driving the manual transmission you will develop a feel for what the engine is doing and what makes it run at its best.

Happy motoring.

Answer 2

For optimum mileage and reasonable acceleration you should keep the engine RPMs as constant as possible, and in the range of 2500-4500 RPMs for a gasoline engine. The low side of that range being more economical that the high side. An additional problem with lugging your car in 5th, or any other gear at 1400RPMs, is that in an accident avoidance situation you have only your brakes to rely on since accelerating to avoid it is hopeless. Lugging your car does not do any real damage to it mechanically, nor does it increase your mileage.

Answer 3

this is pretty good http://www.10w40.com/individual/100186.asp

personally I don't see how driving in 5th or 6th gear at low rpms hurts the engine or puts undo strain on it, drive in the highest gear you can as soon as you can for best mileage, either the car goes well in that gear at that speed or it doesn't, practice will tell you, if your on the highway you want to be in 6th gear asap if the jetta has one, if not put it in 5th gear, I got a Subaru 5 speed and at 55mph it can handle all except the very steepest hills in 5th gear, remember for best mileage you want to get to the highest gear you can and still have enough engine power to make the car driveable. If you have cruise control use it on the highway, put it in the highest gear and leave it alone. In answer to your question 5th gear at 40mph is in most cars too high a gear, use 4th here

Answer 4

Don't try to accelerate in 5th gear. It puts a lot of strain on the engine. You should use that gear for speeds of 45 MPH or greater.