Hey i was wondering what was wrong with 4th gear. Ive read numerous posts where you guys said that you were racing and then hit 4th and it sucked. Can someone tell me why or how 4th gear sucks. Im not a racer, in fact ive never hit vtec on my TL-P rofl. Thanks in advance

 

Fourth gear is just to high as far as the gear ratio goes. The trans shifts into fourth gear and the engine is 1000 RPMs or more out of the power band so acceleration is slow. The TL transmission gear ratios could have been closer in all gears, but the gap from third to fourth is not good.

 

Yup ... when you accelerate your TL, you should be able to notice the engine RPM will not drop so much when the transmission is shifting from 1st to 2nd and from 2nd to 3rd. But once the transmission shifts from 3rd to 4th gear, the RPM will drop as much as 1000 like SeCsTaC said since the gear ratio between 3rd and 4th is pretty far apart and will cause the acceleration to slow down.

I am not a racer either but when you are doing 50-60mph and trying to overtake a vechile in front of you, it's better to shift to 3rd (instead of 4th) since it gives you more power.

Hope this helps.

Cheers !!!

 

Its because 4th and 5th are overdrive gears. (ie gear ratio is < 1) Its the price you pay for a quiter engine and better fuel economy.

 

yep... damn auto tranny...

the mph which allows you to downshift to "good" gears are

55mph will allow you to go down to 2nd
85mph will allow you to go down to 3rd

it does annoy me thou that 4th and 5th are geared so close... almost feels like Honda/Acura just took an easy way out and added a "5th gear" to old existing 4 spd trannies...

on that note... 4th gear VTEC does begin once you pass 115mph

 

if you hold 3rd to redline or a liittle more in ss when you go into 4th you are in vtec , but yes 4th is a little to tall