how to drive a 3.0

[Dead Ranger]

i just moved from a 300 straight six (3 speed plus od) to this little 3.0 v6

am i supposed to shift it to keep it above 2500, or 2000 anyway?

it does seem to protest below 2000. and do i hafta be doin 80 to use 5th

 

[HareRazor]

In my 3.0 Ranger I rarely ever see 5th gear even on the interstate because it just seems like it takes more work for it to stay at the speed than it is in 4th.

 

[sonyes]

Mash pedal to floor...........................wait.....................wait..........................you'll get up to speed eventually.

 

[thegoat4]

Yeah, shift at high rpms. Upshift at 3,000 or better, downshift around 2,000 if you want to use engine braking.


I typically drive mine in the 2k-3k neighborhood. Driving at 4k and hitting 5k+ on a regular basis when accelerating won't hurt it either--it's a tough engine.

If you have oversize wheels and fast gears you'll hate it--very low torque.

If you still have stock gears/wheels and can't hold OD below 80, you probably need a tuneup.

 

[michowski]

I try to keep mine around 2500-3000rpm and shift around 3500-4000rpm. I used to keep it at like 2000rpm for just steady driving but because of the powerband of this motor it likes to rev and will also give ya better gas mileage keeping it around the 3 grand mark.

 

[98ranger4x4]

IMO my jet performance module and gibson catback made a huge difference on the freeway, mine was the same way i had to be doing 80 to use od but now i can cruise at 65 no problem, even pull hills in od. (truck in sig) it has 3.73s and 31' tires. just my 2 cents but i think it was well worth the money. and yes the 3.0 likes to be revved, i usually shift around like 3500.

 

[arkantor]

Yeah I have 31's and 3.73/ You just have to get used to driving it. You get used to it. They are definitely indestructible. I burn the carbon out every once in a while.

 

[almostclueless]

Mash pedal to floor...........................wait.....................wait..........................you'll get up to speed eventually.

OMFG that made me laugh.

 

[Dead Ranger]

where i live there is no freeway im lucky to see 4th

 

[Mutant Pony]

I can shift as low as 2500 but, If I want to jump out into traffic I shift between 4000 and 4500.
I only use over drive on the e-way, empty.
This motor runs the best between 3500 and 6000.
If you make a WOT run in a factory Taurus it shifts around 4500. I have to do things like that at work, I love my job.

 

[Kdawg532]

in mine with the 4:10's i can be in fifth gear going 30 at about a little under 1500 rpms and i can still go up a hill flooring it without loseing any speed. all i gots is a couple of mods that dont really do much for power, ie dual flows and a knn

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

cruising at low speed (under 40MPH) around town i usually keep the RPM below 1500 or so (i just love the way the dual pipes sound at that speed). anytime i need power, its up to 3500+, shift at 4-4500 or so. for cruising, i enter 5th gear at 60 MPH (about 2k rpm).

 

[Kdawg532]

cruising at low speed (under 40MPH) around town i usually keep the RPM below 1500 or so (i just love the way the dual pipes sound at that speed).

oh yeah, with the flowmaster SI/DO on my truck going through the city it sounds AMAZING

 

[99ranger4x4]

i shift around 3500-4000, around town the speed limit around here is 25-30, so i keep it in second or 3rd, i havent put my truck in 5th or OD in like 3 months on the highway even while doing 80

 

[MUDDING B-3000]

ya with my truck its a 3L i have had my truck only a couple months now and i have only used OD once on the high way its just seems to slug alot in OD, and i lose speed goin up hills in OD but im hoping with the magnaflow exhaust and intake it will help me out, i have 31" tires and as far as i kno stock gears, if im driving around the city i usually shift at like 3 maybe 3500, but if i want to really hear the sound of the magna flow or to put a lil civic to shame ill shift at like 4500 to 5500