Stupid question, RPM's and hills

[fishunterx]

I was driving today, and was thinking.

After doing the throttle cable mod I now have power to muscle it up hills without having to downshift, I dont have to go WOT, but I do have to give it more gas. I was wondering what the difference in gas usage is between hitting the gas in low RPM's as to downshifting and hitting high rpm's. When you hit the gas aren't you dumping more gas into the engine even though you aren't hitting the high RPM's anyway? What kind of a difference is there? Or is it just better to downshift rather than trying to keep the low RPM's?

 

[Hahnsb2]

Depends on what RPMs you're at and how much throttle you have to use, if it's lugging, shift down. I used to pull the sunset hill on 26 (I'm sure you know where that it) in 3rd gear at 60 MPH with my 2.9, over 4000 RPMs, (also done the same thing in my dads 2.3 ranger) I was never afraid to let her sing on the long steep hills. But when it comes to the point of having to use 3rd up steep hills because the other gears are too high, your gas millage will suffer no matter what.

 

[Accord4tehloss!]

How much gas are you giving it? if I have to use half or more I downshift

 

[Sunk]

Well obviously you want the engine in its powerband. It's more efficient (generally) to have your foot barely on the gas and have the engine at a higher RPM than to have your foot on the floor and be turning 2K RPM. Especially with a 2.3, they need to spin.

 

[Will]

A good rule of thumb is that if you can't accelerate, you are in too high of a gear. You should not be driving with a dead throttle. The engine is making too much torque for sustainable living. Torque=heat.

 

[fishunterx]

Cool, that answers the questions I had. I would definaly rather pay for more gas, than have to replace my engine, less headache and hassle.