At what speed do you shift your manual Bronco into sixth?

[amazingjason]

At what speed do you typically shift your manual transmission Bronco into sixth gear?

Jason

Sponsored

 

[CarmeloS]

6th gear?

 

[amazingjason]

I have found myself cruising in fifth on the freeway when I thought I was in sixth a few times.

Jason

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

Majority of my driving is in town/rural highway (speeds from 20-55 but realistically 70) so if I even remember I'll maybe hit fifth, rarely 6th. Typically I'm between 3rd and 4th just because of the power band for my scenario!

 

[amazingjason]

I tend to keep the revs above 1700 when cruising.

Jason

 

[Tricky Mike]

Never. Even at 80 MPH it uses less fuel in 5th than 6th.

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

Basically never. It gets worse fuel mileage even if I'm out of boost.

 

[dmj]

If I use 6th it's around 75+ on the flats or going downhill, but I usually stay in 5th at highway speeds. I have a Badlands with 33's, 4.7 axles and live at 5000' if that makes a difference.

 

[wigglysqiggly]

I just shift as I go but usually around 40-45 mph. Just used to it.

 

[orion]

Never. Even at 80 MPH it uses less fuel in 5th than 6th.

Bingo, we have a winner!

When I go 37's, I'm going to go to 5:38 gearing too. Maybe then I'll be able to use 6th gear...

 

[Tricky Mike]

Bingo, we have a winner!

When I go 37's, I'm going to go to 5:38 gearing too. Maybe then I'll be able to use 6th gear...

I ran the calcs earlier today, 5.38 and 37s in 6th is still a lower RPM at a given speed than 4.70 and 37s in 5th. But it's pretty damn close to 4.70 and 33s in 6th.

 

[RagnarKon]

I ran the calcs earlier today, 5.38 and 37s in 6th is still a lower RPM at a given speed than 4.70 and 37s in 5th. But it's pretty damn close to 4.70 and 33s in 6th.

Speaking of....

And in case the embedded Google Sheets sucks: Direct Link

 

[Willub]

I just shift as I go but usually around 40-45 mph. Just used to it.

Excuse me?

 

[BroncoAZ]

I generally don’t use 6h gear under about 70 mph, and then only if it’s flat. If there is any grade I’ll be pulling full boost trying to climb any hill in 6th. I don’t have enough highway driving time on my Bronco to know how much of a fuel economy hit there is, but the truck seems happier in 5th. I’m on 33.9” tall tires, I can’t imagine that 6th is at all useful in a Mansquatch with the 34.5” tires.

 

[Ehucek]

Never. Even at 80 MPH it uses less fuel in 5th than 6th.

is this based on the instantaneous gauge or have you calculated it somehow? Genuinely curious, I drive a lot of highway and hadn’t noticed this but I’ll watch more closely this week

Sponsored