When to shift?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,019
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From: Slatington PA
That sounds about right. 3500 is were i've seen the auto 4bangers i drive shift. my engine is a good grunter, so i can shift round 2000-2500 without problems. the dodge red lines at 3200 so that shifts at 1200 rpm. but that's a deisel.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
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I usually shift the 3.0L by sound. Turns out to be around 3500 rpm each time. If Im going to go WOT I usually will watch the tach especially in first gear. Even for a little truck with not a lot of hp a 1st gear start ratio of like 12.84 it revs fast 
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 727
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From: Mount Airy, NC
Originally Posted by wtroger
The new 2.3 love to rev even higher if you shift below 3000 they lug to much. Mine is dog below 2200 from there to 5 grand they really wind and have good power.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Yes it would. Remember that you have a four banger in a pickup truck. The power to weight ratio isn't anything to write home about. By revving it to 3-4K...you put the engine closer to it's powerband and thus making it easier to move the truck and actually in some cases improving mileage. That's also the reason the 2.3L trucks typically come with lower (numerically higher) gears such as 4.10s, it keeps the revs up and the engine in it's happy place.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 729
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From: Houston
In my older Rangers with stick shifts I generaly shifted just befor the valves float just above the 6000 RPM range - lol
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 1
From: Dexter, MI
My '91 Ranger has the 2.3 l, 4 cyl. engine; 5 spd. manual and 3.45 gears. I most often shift by feel and sound. That means most of my shifts are made about 3000 RPM. I watched my tach today and that was close to my shift speeds - a little higher in the lower gears and lower, especially going into 5th (OD). 5th is usually my cruising gear on the highway, not the acceleration gear. If you want to play around with different engine speeds to see what those translate into RPMs, download this neat, free little program:
www.locost7.info/gearcalc.php
I find it useful to try different RPMs, gears, axle ratios and driving speeds to see what would make a better combination. According to this handy dandy program I can run at 115 MPH in 5th gear at 4000 RPM - remember I've got a 4 banger. Dream on!!!
www.locost7.info/gearcalc.php
I find it useful to try different RPMs, gears, axle ratios and driving speeds to see what would make a better combination. According to this handy dandy program I can run at 115 MPH in 5th gear at 4000 RPM - remember I've got a 4 banger. Dream on!!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
There are lots of those calculators on the internet, including some on FTE.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/calculators/index.php
I love the speeds that the truck truly limits out at physically...if only...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/calculators/index.php
I love the speeds that the truck truly limits out at physically...if only...
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 729
Likes: 0
From: Houston
While your breaks are lasting longer, what is that doing for your clutch? Think of it like this, what part would you rather wear out and replace moe often, your break pads or your clutch? Maybe it's just me guys, but I would consider only using the clutch to help slow down in emergencies or extreme breaking situations.