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What gear do you guys (and gals) use on the highway ? With the
3.42s in the rear 6th seems soooooo long at 70-80. 5th feels better, but is harder on the engine/trans etc. If only they would raise the speed limits, or better yet "left lane for Vettes only"
With the torque these vettes have, I use 6th for anything 55 mph and above, except when I'm wanting to really accellerate quickly.
I was recently in very steep "with truck lane" interstate VA and WV mountains, and I could easily hit triple digits while accellerating in 6th going UP the mountains. I was surprised how fast it would accellerate in 6th, going up those mountains.
And, going down the other side, the 6th torque would easily keep me from accellerating over the speed limit with the cruise control on.
Soooo, while 5th will not hurt the engine, 6th will get you better gas mileage, and will not hurt the car either.
On the highway I am constantly shifting between 5th and 6th. When it feels like it's lugging a bit when I want to pass I go back to 5th, when I get around 60 or above on level roads I use 6th.
I use 6th in town at 45 or above normal driving mines a z06 the 476lbs torque. I get around 20 mpg on highway 28. But if I start using 4th and 5th it goes down. On interstate use 6th unless traffic slows to below 45.
z51vett
6th on highway(anything over about 55). But i have forgot and left it in 5th for long distances with the windows down. As stated, lots of torque even in 6th.
Use whatever gear feels best to you. Fifth is good from 30-180+ MPH. If the speed limit is 55 or above I use 6th and rarely need to shift down even to pass.
"....5th feels better, but is harder on the engine/trans"
Why would you think that? If 5th gear feels better I think the opposite would be true. Going 70-80 mph in either 5th or 6th there isn't all that much difference in RPM's....RPM's are low in either gear. You can tell, if it feels like you're 'lugging' the engine in 6th don't use it. For me, 5th and 6th gears are strictly overdrive gears used for extended highway cruising....5th and 6th are never used for in-town driving. The principle is somewhat different for extended highway cruising in an overdrive gear but in general I always want to be geared in a reasonable power band. I guess everyone has their own style of driving but I don't understand those who deliberately skip-shift or use 5th or 6th gear driving 45 mph.
__________________ 2005 Corvette C6 Coupe
Magnetic Red Metallic II/Cashmere, MN6, 1SB, F55
Lingenfelter 403 Conversion, LG Pro Headers (coated), Corsa Sport Exhaust, Lingenfelter CAI, Accusump, LGM Coil-Over Suspension & Bump-Steer Kit, T1 Sway Bars, Pfadt Control Arm Bushing Kit, Elite Eng. Tunnel Plate & Oil Catch-Can, SKF Racing Hubs/Bearings, AP Racing Brakes, DRM Brake Ducts, Custom Roll Bar, Sparco Seats, Wide-Booty, CCW C10 Wheels,Setup: LG Motorsports
Just like my underwear...depends. I have the MZ6 (Z51 package) so my 6th gear is 0.57 vs the standard 0.50...means I am a little higher rpm at speed. However, it still depends on speed, road conditions, etc.
Just like my underwear...depends. I have the MZ6 (Z51 package) so my 6th gear is 0.57 vs the standard 0.50...means I am a little higher rpm at speed. However, it still depends on speed, road conditions, etc.
Mine will go up the approaches to the Eisenhower tunnel in Colorado easily in 6th. This is the steepest section of Interstate highway in the country and required an exemption from the regular design standards to be built. Drive in whatever gear feels good to you, but don't think that the engine is lugging in 6th at 65 mph...it still has plenty of torque at that speed.
I RARELY use 6th gear, unless I am cruising highway for an extended period of time. I prefer driving at slightly higher RPM's.....feels better to me. But hey, that's just me.
Corvette Store
5th or 6th ?
use the correct gear for the situation.
