RPM's while on the interstate/turnpike...
 

I have had my 02 S for just about a year now and have totally enjoyed it. Love the look, ride, sound, feel and smell.............I have learned a great deal from this forum and greatly appreciate the knowledge here. I know that to keep the oil circulating well its a good idea to keep the RPMs over 3k, but what about driving on interstates, expressways and turnpikes where speeds are over 70mph for extended periods of time and 6th gear (S) is used?.......Is it alright to keep the RPMs between 2700-3000 for better mileage,quiet ride and efficiency? At what speed do you use 6th?........Thanks in advance.

I think 80 in 6th is 3k rpm so that's when I use 6th. Long flat 80 mph with cruise.

For me I'm cruising at about the same 2700-3000 RPM = 72-77 mph in 6th
that's actual speed, indicated is 75-80

+1

DBear

If the limit is 65 I'm usually in fifth around 3k if the limit is 75 I am in 6th at about the same.

I'm so glad the OP brought this up!
I have an 00S with 118K miles. I've driven the car to Orlando a couple of times over the last 6 month and noticed the same thing about cruising RPM.

Thanks to the forums, we've all heard about the concerns of driving with engine RPM around 3K,yet it seems hard to avoid on the highways.

On interstates, I too drive at an indicated 80 mph (knowing that my real speed is slightly lower). 6th gear cruising puts me just over 3K. Cruising 80 mph in 5th is not bad but not as quiet or efficient as 6th.

Ironically, if I take secondary 4 lane roads that have speed limits of 65 mph, 6th gear seems like I'm lugging the engine a bit, while 6th gear puts me right back up around 3K rpm.

Can't win!

For the record, most highway driving is fairly flat, with a few gentle hills.

While I may cruse the highway at 3k, I hit the back road twisties in 2nd and 3rd at 4-7k
I try to give her a workout at least once every week or so

of course that give you over redline of grins:D

When I'm driving my Boxster, she lives in the neighborhood of 5.5 ×100 neighborhood most of the time. Its a sports car. Drive it like one or donate it to your local Catholic church.

What is this 6th gear you`re talking about ?

And then there are us lazy automatic guys. I find the car is very quick to find 5th gear when I get even close to the highway. RPMs run about 2500 or so at 100km/h (62ish MPh?)

.84:1. Pretty much a factory gear ratio for sixth gear.

The S model has a 6 speed manual

I have a GPS in the car and look at the true MPH / RPM. In sixth gear for every 2,000 RPM there is a 5 MPH change. In 5th gear there is a 4 MPH change for every 2,000 MPH. This is on my car and my GPS. Errors may exist due to operator error, tach off, GPS MPH off. But, here is what I came up with.

'01 S 6 Speed

6th Gear...............5th Gear

RPMs......MPH........RPMs.......MPH
2600......65...........2600.......53.5
2800......70...........2800.......57.5
3000......75...........3000.......61.5
3200......80...........3200.......65.5
3400......85...........3400.......69.5
3600......90...........3600.......73.5
3800......95...........3800.......77.5
4000......100..........4000.......81.5

Total nonsense.

Well, lets hook up 'lkchris' from abq, and I'll run you up and down Sandia Peak and then you can cry nonsense or basically choke up and shut up:)

Did I mention my Boxster has 198,756 thousand original miles on her and I still push just shy of red line? Its a damn car, kids, drive it like you own it. My old crippled 89 year old ass will teach you young pumpkins how to drive a car up here in Albuquerque! I have three settings on my pacemaker; I guarantee I will smoke your spring chicken 1.7 litre crap hole. Im sporting a 1.7 litre six banger kids.lol. The retirement home I live in will testify to me smoking young fruitloops up and down Sand is Peak day in and day out. I've got pink slips. You spring chickens come look me up at the old folks home when you want to get smoked by grandpa.lol

I've never heard that. Most modern cars rarely get into the 3's they are designed so much towards fuel efficiency. Neither my Civic or Fusion run anywhere near 3000 RPMs when cruising, ever.