RPM's - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

DWBOX2000 · 11-12-2018, 05:56 AM

What is an okay RPM to putt around town in or on the highway? I typically stay around 3k but do I really need to keep it that high for non aggressive driving? It sucks a lot of gas at 3k. If it's better for the motor, I will keep doing it but if there is no benefit, I will back off a bit.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
David

Anker · 11-12-2018, 01:09 PM

For normal street driving I keep the RPMs above 2000. No need to keep them at 3000 or above. I do make sure it gets to do some spirited driving on a regular basis, like on highway ramps and passing.

Racer Boy · 11-12-2018, 09:09 PM

The owners manual says to keep the revs above 1500 rpms, so that is what I do. In normal driving there is no need to rev it un-necessarily, so I usually end up shifting at about 2800 rpms. There is a resonance right at 3000 rpms, so I try to avoid keeping it at that engine speed.

Geof3 · 11-12-2018, 10:42 PM

I run mine at 2800-3500 much lower feels luggy. However, I’ll let it drop lower on the track as sometimes downshifting can upset the car and just flooring it settles the car and gets on it.

kk2002s · 11-13-2018, 08:37 AM

+1 2800 - 3000. If it drops below 2700ish I downshift to get it back closer to 3k. 3k seems to be where its is happiest. Decent RPMs to accelerate from and good RPMs' for engine braking to slow

I am always surprised how low the automatics keep the RPMs

Quadcammer · 11-13-2018, 06:45 AM

If downshifting is upsetting the car you are not matching revs properly or you are downshifting at thr wrong time

Geof3 · 11-13-2018, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quadcammer

If downshifting is upsetting the car you are not matching revs properly or you are downshifting at thr wrong time

Yeah, not the best on that second gear downshift... Just can't seem to get the timing just right!!! Part of it is mine is a little notchy, I think my syncros are a little tired, so there is a bit of a balk. Only 3 down to 2, and not always. Of course, there is NO way it's user error. I'm just too good!

The Radium King · 11-13-2018, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geof3

Yeah, not the best on that second gear downshift... Just can't seem to get the timing just right!!! Part of it is mine is a little notchy, I think my syncros are a little tired, so there is a bit of a balk. Only 3 down to 2, and not always. Of course, there is NO way it's user error. I'm just too good!

there's a fix for that ...

DWBOX2000 · 11-14-2018, 12:13 PM

Hey Gilles,
I do have a louder exhaust which I enjoy, it's the gas I noticed. I filled with the 93 on Sunday and drove to a friends. I went about 60 miles and used about a quarter of a tank of gas. At close to $4/gallon I am thinking I need to stay lower than 3k for cruising. It does sound wonderful at 3k though.
Thanks everyone, I'll take it down a notch.

Gilles · 11-13-2018, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBOX2000

What is an okay RPM to putt around town in or on the highway? I typically stay around 3k but do I really need to keep it that high for non aggressive driving? It sucks a lot of gas at 3k. If it's better for the motor, I will keep doing it but if there is no benefit, I will back off a bit.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
David

DWBOX2000
If you install a nice exhaust, with the engine singing at 3k you would forget about the gas consumption pretty quickly