[turbo23dog]

I had much the same question and thought...

Attempting to translate Jake's most recent statement into my own words, variocam action is shockloading the IMS and a primary suspect in causing IMS failure.

I don't know exactly how Variocam works, but I assume it does its magic as RPMs increase and probably not in a linear but probably more of a logarithmic function. Higher RPMs mean more Variocam effect...

If I have all this right, then my logic tells me that for daily, around town, stop n go driving, one would have a better chance of avoiding an IMS failure by following the recommendation of the owners manual to use 3K rpm for an upshift point for every gear. I would also assume that conservative, smooth acceleration between shifts would lessen loads as well. Hmmm....

I'd also think that you'd be asking for engine failure by trying to accelerate hard with the transmission in 4th, 5th or 6th gear at 30 MPH or less. Same goes for a tip in manual mode...