manual trans shift points
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
When trying to get maximum fuel milage shift as early as possible perhaps never exceeding 2000rpm. What trying to get maximum acceleration shift at the RPM where the engine makes peak HP, that will be engine specific so you'll have to look it up.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,516
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
Your owners manual will tell you.
Heres what the owners manual for my 87 2.9 tells me.
Upshifts normal acceleration:
1-2 9 MPH
2-3 22 MPH
3-4 34 MPH
4-5 45 MPH
Upshifts ford best fuel economy:
1-2 10 MPh
2-3 19 MPH
3-4 30 MPH
4-5 43 MPH
You can also skip gears if you want,. Example when i'm getting on the freeway I take it up to 70 MPH in 3rd & shift from 3rd to 5th. Might waste a little fuel, but it's a lot more fun.
Heres what the owners manual for my 87 2.9 tells me.
Upshifts normal acceleration:
1-2 9 MPH
2-3 22 MPH
3-4 34 MPH
4-5 45 MPH
Upshifts ford best fuel economy:
1-2 10 MPh
2-3 19 MPH
3-4 30 MPH
4-5 43 MPH
You can also skip gears if you want,. Example when i'm getting on the freeway I take it up to 70 MPH in 3rd & shift from 3rd to 5th. Might waste a little fuel, but it's a lot more fun.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 1
From: abilene kansas
I've been trying shifting 1-2 at 15, 2-3 at between 20-25. I hardly ever go into 4th in town unless I'm going over 35-40
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 23,849
Likes: 20
From: McKenzie River
There used to be small marks on the speedometer indicating shift points at certain mph's but I don't know if newer Rangers still have them.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
Abilene KS is pretty flat. Even the 4 cyl can pull these things around easily in 4th @ 30-35 MPH on fairly flat terrain. Hills are a bit different.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: The Golden State
That sounds about right for a Ranger. My F-150, on the other hand, has a 5.0L and 3.55:1 gears...I shift that thing into fourth at 25 MPH!
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 94
From: Stanton, Michigan, USA
Realize that a tachometer is a more important guide tool when determining shift points than a speedometer. Speed versus RPMs will differ with different-sized tires and different rear end ratios. Of course if you're going uphill or downhill will also effect the work load / lug on your engine.
In my opinion, it's less wear on the engine if you rev the engine up some rather than lugging the engine down. This is more important to do with the smaller engines - bigger engines (like a V8) can be lugged down (1500rpms) with less chance of hurting it.
BarnieTrk
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