31 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH5th or 6th Gear on Highway?
Leading reported evidence
Use 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th almost exclusively
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Leading evidence: 'Use 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th almost exclusively' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'best indicator of what's going' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check manual' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I use 4th and 5th for street use and 6th on the freeway.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I don't go into 6th until 75-80mph; below that I use 5th.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
I use 6th on highways running (70-85) if I know I'm not going to be changing the pace a lot, or know it's a deserted highway and 5th is too low....(ahem).
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
"On the highway, going between 60-80 mph, is it OK to drive the car in 5th gear at 3500-4500 rpm to maximize responsiveness (accelerating, changing lanes, etc) or is it better for the engine to plug along in 6th- fuel economy notwithstanding"
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
I use 6th on highways running (70-85) if I know I'm not going to be changing the pace a lot, or know it's a deserted highway and 5th is too low....(ahem).
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
best indicator of what's going
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that suspect a cause
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suspected cause
As long as I'm over 2000 RPM I feel it's okay...I do keep an eye on the oil pressure which I feel is probably the best indicator of what's going on in the engine.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
31 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T144035Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
This question was posted on the 997 board.
I am wondering what the thoughts are of 996 owners?
"On the highway, going between 60-80 mph, is it OK to drive the car in 5th gear at 3500-4500 rpm to maximize responsiveness (accelerating, changing lanes, etc) or is it better for the engine to plug along in 6th- fuel economy notwithstanding"
I drive about 30 miles on the highway to work each way every day, and I generally cruise in 6th gear at around 70 mph. It's not hard to drop it into 4th should the need arise!
I think 6th gear is there for whenever you get an urge to see how "stupid fast" these cars really are!!
Seriously...I keep in in 4th/5th depending on conditions when there is traffic and cruise in 6th at 70-75mph when it is open highway.
Pete
For highway use it's almost pathetic for me. I use 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th almost exclusively. I skip 4th and 5th gear altogether.
There is so much torque with the GT3 you really
never
need to drop to 5th (or any other gear) to pass anyone.
For the C2 and C4 there should be no problem running it at those RPMs if you want to stay in 5th, but you may notice a little elevation in water temperature when it is hot out.
I use 4th and 5th for street use and 6th on the freeway.
The gears are there to be used and it's not a big deal to downshift for more torque if you need it... not that there's a shortage of torque even in 6th gear.
I use 6th on the highway all the time, can't imagine why I wouldn't. Check the manual, it provides speeds and RPMs appropriate for each gear.
Lower RPM = better fuel economy. Just don't lug it.
I've only taken one long road trip in my car and during that time I used 6th gear. Even on the highway locally during my commute I'll hit 6th gear if the road is wide open and there is no use for extra power.
I have found though that there is still plenty of passing power at the highest gear but do generally drop it down to 5th or 4th when passing.
As long as I'm over 2000 RPM I feel it's okay...I do keep an eye on the oil pressure which I feel is probably the best indicator of what's going on in the engine. If those levels look okay, then 6th gear is acceptable in my opinion.
The older air cooled cars (esp. 356's) had minimum recommended rpms to keep enough air flowing over the engines to keep them cool. Later 911's tended to do better with regular high rev's as the fuel metering was not as precise as new cars, so the plugs tended to load up with low rev's.
By the time you get to a 996 with precise fuel metering, unleaded fuel and water cooling -- as long as you're not lugging the engine, there aren't practical minimums.
But, you're hearing all the opinions.
I'm more concerned about lugging. Flat surface or down hill -- 6th at 60 or above -- no problem. Lower than 60 or up hill -- I use 5th (or lower).
An old rule of thumb was that (for average driving) keeping your revs at about half or less than redline without lugging produced the longest engine life. (supporting Riad's 3,500 rpm choice)
While I don't think the engine wear increases dramatically into the 4,000rpm range, the simple truth is that the greater rpms per mile, the greater fuel & wear per mile (even if it's not a lot greater).
I understand the attraction of cruising in 5th to get a more instant response. One could argue that good driving allows you to anticipate traffic so you don't need instant responses.
Have fun.
Funny. I was about to post a similar thread.
For around town driving, I normally drive with the tach between 2500 and 3000 RPM.
My rule of thumb is that gear selection matches the speed divided by 10:
0-20 = 1st
20-30 = 2nd
30-40 = 3rd
40-50 = 4th
50-60 = 5th
60 plus = 6th
The engine is not lugging in those gears at those speeds and I still have ample torque for a quick burst among the pachyderms around me. I shift at 3,000 unless I am accelerating aggressively, and then I generally shift around 4,000 or so. None of this applies to track time. As a result, I average about 22-24 miles per gallon during the week. It is possible to average over 31 MPG if driving at a consistent 60 mph in 6th - the tach is still above 2500 RPM at that speed. I average about 27-28 on the highway at 70mph (tach still only at about 2750rpm).
At the track, it is a very rare moment that the tach is below 3,000. Even my cool down lap rpm is above 3,000, usually around 3,500.
My technique works for me and my driving sensibilities. It may not be anyone elses cup of tea.
I have only been in 6th gear twice since I have owned the car *
* I have owned it for about a month, and have not traveled far on the Interstate as of yet without a ton of people in their cars as well.
I use 6th on highways running (70-85) if I know I'm not going to be changing the pace a lot, or know it's a deserted highway and 5th is too low....(ahem). 5th normally if there's traffic.
But I do not see any purpose to high rev 5th for long periods if you're going to go the same in 6th...
I usually cruise in 6th on the highway, this way when I need to pass and hit the gas at 70mph it's more gradual than 5th or 4th (which when I hit the gas the same way - will get me into trouble a lot quicker!)
