12-29-2006, 04:51 PM
Just curious on what you guys think. These numbers are made up using a gear/speed calculator, hypothetical, let's say 4cyl, NA, 5spd, OBD1 car if it matters, maybe good enough for demonstration purposes. Do you think the type of car would radically change the answer?
I'm going 45 MPH. I want to accelerate to 65 in exactly 10 seconds. Which is most efficient? Why? Assume each of these take exactly 10 seconds:
1) 5th, WOT, RPM will go from 2000->2900
2) 4th, maybe ~85% throttle, RPM from 2500->3600
3) 3rd, light throttle, RPM from 3400->4900
I would think staying in 5th would be best, since WOT is known to be more efficient, but the fact that WOT means a richer burn kind of leaves it an unknown for me. So maybe staying just shy of WOT gives you the best efficiency? I'm not sure!! How will I sleep at night?
I'm going 45 MPH. I want to accelerate to 65 in exactly 10 seconds. Which is most efficient? Why? Assume each of these take exactly 10 seconds:
1) 5th, WOT, RPM will go from 2000->2900
2) 4th, maybe ~85% throttle, RPM from 2500->3600
3) 3rd, light throttle, RPM from 3400->4900
I would think staying in 5th would be best, since WOT is known to be more efficient, but the fact that WOT means a richer burn kind of leaves it an unknown for me. So maybe staying just shy of WOT gives you the best efficiency? I'm not sure!! How will I sleep at night?
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a van is a good guy with a van