am I lugging this thing?

[baxster]

When I'm doing my daily driving in my 04S, I like to accelerate briskly up to 4k rpm; 6k or more if I need to make a move. I'll usually shift from 3rd to 5th (missing 4th) at about 55 mph, and cruise between 50 - 55 mph in 5th on a level road. This puts me between 2k to 2500 rpm.

Is cruising on a level surface between 2000 - 2500 rpm considered lugging?

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by baxster

When I'm doing my daily driving in my 04S, I like to accelerate briskly up to 4k rpm; 6k or more if I need to make a move. I'll usually shift from 3rd to 5th (missing 4th) at about 55 mph, and cruise between 50 - 55 mph in 5th on a level road. This puts me between 2k to 2500 rpm.

Is cruising on a level surface between 2000 - 2500 rpm considered lugging?

No.

Lugging an engine occurs when you push the gas pedal at that low engine speed to try to accelerate and the car either doesn't or barely accelerates.

It's perfectly alright to cruise at low engine speed. Just drop a couple of gears to accelerate or go up a hill.

[Lordblood]

Generally when I have questions about lugging I try to think about what an auto gearbox does in certain situations. Usually autos will cruise at 2-3k at highway speeds and when you need more power to accelerate it'll drop down a gear or two and give you more torque.

Obviously, this depends from car to car but I feel it's a good general guide.

[nieuwhzn]

No need to drop into a lower gear with my Saab Viggen, enuf torque in any gear...

[Gforrest2]

My 2 cents? At least in my car, '03 base, 50 mph in 5th is borderline lugging. Not much happens when I step on the gas. Don't usually go into 5th unless I'm doing 60 +. Lugging and the effect on the IMS has got me sort of paranoid. I'm always in a lower gear than I probably need to be but I get a great response when I punch it. And I don't really notice it affecting my gas mileage that much.

[Lil bastard]

The thing to remember is that your oil pump and your coolant pump are crankspeed dependent.

Drive at too low an RPM and you're not providing adequate cooling or lubrication. And, the oil functions as both coolant and lubricant. It provides 60% of your engine cooling, and from some of the most critical areas. As it lubricates the main and rod bearings, it also carries away heat. Same with other areas of the engine, such as cam journals, where the coolant doesn't flow.

2200-2500 RPM is fine if cruising (though I prefer staying at 2500 or above).

But, there is a difference between cruising and accelerating. The engine isn't lugging if power output exceeds demand (such as cruising). But, I wouldn't mash the wow pedal from 2500 RPM in 5th to accelerate, this is where you want to select a lower gear first.

There's an old addage which is good advice: "when in doubt, downshift".

Cheers!

[baxster]

Originally Posted by Gforrest2

My 2 cents? At least in my car, '03 base, 50 mph in 5th is borderline lugging. Not much happens when I step on the gas. Don't usually go into 5th unless I'm doing 60 +. Lugging and the effect on the IMS has got me sort of paranoid. I'm always in a lower gear than I probably need to be but I get a great response when I punch it. And I don't really notice it affecting my gas mileage that much.

Just a guess but I'm thinking that 5th in a 6sp is different that 5th in a 5sp.

Good point about the gas mileage. I wonder if 500 lower rpm when cruising makes that much dif, as I'm trying to save gas. Prolly a question for a different thread.

[jbs986]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

No.

Lugging an engine occurs when you push the gas pedal at that low engine speed to try to accelerate and the car either doesn't or barely accelerates.

It's perfectly alright to cruise at low engine speed. Just drop a couple of gears to accelerate or go up a hill.

+ 1, 2000rpm is fine on the highway.