when should i shift?
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 62
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when should i shift?
I have an 89 f-150 with 163,000 on a 300 ci I6 5 speed. I was just wondering when everyone shifts theirs. I normally dont take mine over 3,000 rpm's. I never have and when it gets up there im afraid its going to break or something. If i continue to drive it like this will i get more life out of it or does it not matter. I heard peak hp is around 3,500 rpm's but i never see that. seems to pull great in lower rpms.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 222
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From: Cumming, GA
obviously high RPMs put more stress on the engine, but you shouldn't be afraid to let it rev a little high. It's consistently driving at high rpms that wears out your engine. I have a 351 automatic tranny, and I usually feather the throttle so it just shifts at 2000. But I do find myself punching it for fun and getting it up to 4000. I try not to do it too often, however.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Shift around 2000 when you're not trying to accelerate hard. Shift at about 3800 if you're trying full out acceleration. Doesn't matter if you do it often or not, high-reving an engine is more wear and tear than keeping the RPMs low. How much it shortens the life of the engine, depends on how much time it spends at high rpm.
