The recommended shift points for the 6MT are, I believe (going from memory here):

1-2 12mph
2-3 23 mph
3-4 34mph
4-5 46mph
5-6 53mph

For conservative and fuel efficient driving, these roughly coincide with my aural (ear based) upshifter and correspond to about 2800-3000 rpm in each gear. I find, however, that I tend to want to go into 3rd and 4th earlier (both speed and rpm-wise) based on gut feel. Gut feel would be trumped by lugging, but I don't sense it in 3rd at about 30 and 4th at low 40s. And anticipated need for power holds off upshifts, But around town, where 35 or 40 is speed limit, I tend to shift a tad earlier than recommended.

Anyone feel similarly?

 

In my opinion I think those shift point are already too low to begin with...I couldn't imagine shifting any earlier than those recommended shift points.
Although I shift higher than those recommended shift points, I would say around 4K and 5K RPM's regularly with an Injen SRI installed, I still experience 28 MPG consistantly...

 

You obviously do a lot of highway driving. Either that or burnout at every stop sign or redlight.

I'm talking city driving here. 35-40 mph speed limit.

 

Yes, I understand that you are talking about city driving. Shifting at those RPM's don't constitute in a "burnout at every stop sign or redlight." I am not exceeding the speed limit by shifting in this manner. Once I get to the specified speed limit, I don't keep it in that same gear or RPM, but rather shift to a higher gear which engages the engine to run at a lower RPM fit for "city driving" and cruising.

 

I have found that the car can be in 5th at 40 something mph and not lug or be pissy..

 

One would think the Acura shift points would be as low as possible to avoid lugging and get mileage. Seems odd that you can shift into 4th and 5th (mistyped above) at lower speeds/rpms comfortably.

Hey TSX, what relative %age of hwy/cty do you do? These early upshifts still get me 21-23 in 5/95 driving.

 

I guess the simplest way of putting it is that :

higher rpms/more noise = more gas
lower rpms/less noise = less gas

Thus, if you want to save gas, keep your revs to a minimum, shift to the highest gear possible without lugging the engine , which won't occur until you get below 1500 rpm.
The TSX has descent torque so it's fairly difficult to do. The A/C changes alot of this though because its using up some of this available torque.

The only downfall to running lower rpms is that if you continuously do this, your engine won't purge itself of water and other deposits. If you rev the engine on occasion then it shouldn't be an issue.

The TSX's gear ratios are very closely spaced so I sometimes will even shift into 5th from revving third skipping 4th unless I need the power. This drops the revs right down and you're saving gas.

In contrast, when merging into traffic on the highway, I need the power so I downshift to a gear which brings my revs UP to around 3000 rpms or the beginning of the powerband which depending on my speed might be 4th or 5th gear or third If I'm behind a truck going uphill. I'll generally floor it in order to get up to speed quickly.
And to hear the engine sing !


When cruising at 35-40 I shift into 6th as soon as my revs are around 2K in 5th.
So far with 6K miles, I'm getting 31-33 mpg on the average 60/40 hwy/city. I expect even better mileage once I switch to Mobil 1 !

 

The Acura recommended shift points are much lower than what I normally do. I like to keep the engine around 3500 RPM most of the time in the city. I rarely shift into 4th during city driving and never beyond that unless I'm on the freeway.

 

Just curious, what kind of gas mileage are you getting from using your method?

 

On average, I do about 15 percent of highway driving and 85 percent of city driving. With my driving style, I am still able to get 28MPG consistantly.

 

Wow. How many miles you got? Synthetic? Think your CAI helps mpg?

Maybe I should run it out some more! I thought I was being a good boy gas wise.

I get between 21-23 mpg. 1600 miles on car. Suburban short commute. Relatively few highway/freeway trips of any duration.

 

Your engine probably is still tight. I have a few more hundred miles than yours and I'm getting about 26 mpg city/freeway combined. This is with CAI and header and occasionally I like to let the engine "breath" by redline it between shifts.

 

Most of my driving is city traffic. My 1-2 and 2-3 shift is around 3500. But I routinely drive 40ish in 5th.

 

I have had my TSX for over a year now, I got it June 7, 2003 and I'm very happy with it. Within the year that I have had it, I have managed to put on about 18,500 miles on it, and counting. Since my first oil change, I have filled it with Mobil 1 Synthetic Oil. Since you only have about 1,600 miles on your car, I'm guessing that your car is still in its "break-in" period. Although the manual says that "break-in" period is only for the first 500 miles, I went easy on my car until my first oil change. As for my intake, I'm not sure if it helps me out on MPG, but performance wise, I am able to feel the gains after installing it.

 

Hmmm, so what some of you are saying is that I shouldnt be redlining it on every shift?? :devil:

 

Hmmm...shifting at redline is pure exhiliration . I'm not sure if doing it all the time will affect the longevity of the engine life, but I think every once in a while is a good thing .