skipping gears

[navyasw02]

In reading through the manual, it states several times that skipping gears is bad for the transmission, yet why does the car force you to skip from 1st - 4th to save on gas? Does everyone here skip gears occasionally or is it just me?

[Lankhoss]

I'll go from 2nd to 5th sometimes. Wind out 2nd to like 60mph or so. It's when I'm driving "civil" but feel like giving it a punch real quickly ;-)

[DDNZ06]

I always go 1-3-5 in city traffic. 3rd being my pull away gear and using 5th for cruising around at 40MPH. Did the same thing when I had my WS-6 - I highly doubt this is going to hurt the car. IMHO

[novetteyet]

Originally Posted by DDNZ06

I always go 1-3-5 in city traffic.

That's the pattern I use in my C5 for city traffic. I never heard it was supposed to be "bad" (how?) to skip gears.

[gonzalezfj]

Originally Posted by DDNZ06

I always go 1-3-5 in city traffic. 3rd being my pull away gear and using 5th for cruising around at 40MPH. Did the same thing when I had my WS-6 - I highly doubt this is going to hurt the car. IMHO

I have been using 1-3-5 in trafic since I got my 98 C5. It had 60,000 miles when I traded it in. No discernible bad effects.

I also do it in my new C6Z.

BTW, a skip shift eliminator is the first thing I installed when I got the car.

Frank

[bjaber]

Can't see how that would be bad unless you're really logging the gears. I rarely use CAGS (i.e. like maybe 4 times total).

[DomsZ06]

I think it's just their way of CTA so people don't skip gears that don't know how to drive and then lug the engine. Then again, if someone can't drive their car, maybe they shouldn't be driving a 70k sports car, IMO

[ZO6 AL-X]

They have to say that to protect themselves. The wrong person doing it the wrong way can lug the engine, like others have said. In other words, leave it only for those who can execute it properly.

Alex

[Antivenom 447]

Originally Posted by ZO6 AL-X

They have to say that to protect themselves. The wrong person doing it the wrong way can lug the engine, like others have said. In other words, leave it only for those who can execute it properly.

Alex

I have to agree here. I skip all the time and no problems here. If you know what you're doing then there should be no problems.

[proexpert]

I skip, heck the car needs two gears, three tops. Six is a bit much, feel like a big rig driver shifting every second when driving in traffic.

[JCEng]

There is nothing wrong with skipping gears - I don't do it much but sometimes do 1-3.... This is simply a matter of sound technique and matching engine and trans input speeds... just like any gearshift should....... and make sure you go cleanly through the neutral gate or the shift may have a tendency to "catch" a bit....

The 1-4 (CAGS) feature is simply a trick to produce slightly better numbers in the EPA "FTP" cycles (that's how the raw numbers for EPA mileage are generated - they are later multiplied by a "correction" factor....) It's one reason the Corvette avoids the gas-guzzler penalty. I had it in my other 'vettes, and my 94 Z28 Camaro. It's very annoying but I find with my driving style I'm using too much throttle and/or too many revs for it to engage.

[warhawkmcdaniel]

What gears do you run at speed in town?

30mph?
40mph?
50mph?

Thanks!

[Lankhoss]

Originally Posted by warhawkmcdaniel

What gears do you run at speed in town?

30mph?
40mph?
50mph?

Thanks!

I try to cruise at no less than 1600rpm, and no more than 2200. So it's usually 1 gear per 10mph. I cruise at 30 in 4th, sometimes 3rd. 40 in 4th, and 50 in 5th. But if my speed is changing, I will usually keep in the lower gear. Like, at 50mph...if I keep dipping down to like 46, then get back up to 50...I'll just keep it in 4th. It's tough on the transmission to try to make it pull at very low rpms.

I won't cruise in 6th unless I'm consistantly staying over 72mph or so.

[RocketSled]

I agree, there is nothing wrong with skipping gears. Select the gear that's right for the wheel speed and desired engine RPM and shift it. As pointed out, CAGS does exactly this by design.

It's a CYA statement on GM's part. Most standard transmission drivers barely even know how to row when just going through the gears sequentially. Skipping gears could really get someone in trouble.

It's not just lugging. The gearbox will quite happily let you engage a gear that will waaaay overspeed the motor when the clutch is released.

I'm good at the gearshift thing, but I'm man enough to admit I've shifted into 1st going for 3rd, or 2nd going for 4th, once or twice. You know as soon as you start to come off the clutch, and a quick stab at the pedal gets you out of trouble before any damage is done. But less experienced drivers would be in a spin before realizing what they'd done wrong.

If you say you've never mis-selected a gear and overrevved your engine you're a liar.

[MSiska]

Originally Posted by warhawkmcdaniel

What gears do you run at speed in town?

30mph?
40mph?
50mph?

Thanks!

30=4th
34=5th
40=5th
45=6th

Got 18.5mpg to boot!