When am I lugging?
 

Hi guys.

I've only been driving stick for 3 months, and I want to learn more. I've heard many things about lugging your engine, and how it can lead to Transmission stress and Engine pings/knocks.

However, I really don't know when I am lugging my car. Is there a sound I should hear when I'm lugging my engine?

Here are some scenarios I think I lugged my engine:
-48mph in 6th gear at 1.8k rpm
-12mph in 3rd gear at 1krpm
-16mph in 3rd gear (forgot the rpm)
-30-35 mph in 5th gear (forgot the rpm)

Are any of these lugging the engine? Is it better to over rev?

Thank you!

You are probably lugging any time that you are dropping much below 1,000 regardless of what gear you are in. If the engine starts rattling and the car is sort of lurching then you need to bring the revs up. I personally try to keep my RPMs at a minimum of 2,000 all the time although you can go lower without lugging. The other benefit of keeping down a gear with slightly higher revs is that if you have to motor out of an issue you can get some speed up way faster.

Below 2k is lugging territory.

I can't even picture doing 12 mph in third. Gotta go try that and see what happens.

For me, the lowest MPH I can cruise in 6th is 36mph. Anything under that and you're lugging the engine even while cruising...

Either way, I wouldn't accelerate in 6th at all (its very stressful on the drivetrain) unless you are over 70mph.

Listen for the sound of baby Jesus crying.

No, over revving isn't good either. Keep in the normal/correct rev range for the speed.

Clues that I was lugging when driving stick:
1. Engine revs were too low to hear, but could hear clunking noises when I tried to accelerate.
2. No acceleration - just deep vibrations.
3. Almost stalling/ lurching.

Don't do it!

https://media.giphy.com/media/uup7PcjFpnGAE/giphy.gif

only time i get below 1k is in first gear. think stop & go traffic on relatively flat road less than 10 mph, you can creep along without pressing the gas (eventually) to avoid clutch in clutch out, brake, repeat just to go 15 feet. even then when accelerating from that low of a speed, its easy on the throttle to get it back into operating range. i believe when your car starts bucking back n forth is lugging. m2c.

a) over rev is not the right term, and no, it's not any better than lugging, in fact it'd be worse

b) if your car is under load (moving) and your car is near idle engine speed, it's not good.

c) picture yourself on a bicycle, if you are in a high gear and you're going too slow, your legs are gonna feel a lot of stress. just like the rods in your engine will feel if engine speed is too slow in relation to road speed.

Finally, FRS engine is not very tolerant of low RPM and you'd get a ratchety sound at low rpm under load. you have an entire safe rpm range from 1000 to 6000 (7000 if you really wanna rip it). Use it, over shifting your gear box doesn't do it any favors.

higher RPM up a hill is easier on your drive train as the engine can get the torque to apply to your wheels on a hill.

for educational purposes, you might try an obdII Bluetooth dongle to watch how much your timing gets retarded (knock) when you give the throttle input in the higher gears.


i drive most cars about 3000 rpm unless i am on the interstate. most cars seem the most efficient in the 2800-3000 range.

Turn on the shift indicator might be able to help you.

I've done 12MPH in third a few times, usually when cruising to a stop due to traffic on the highway. Only tried to accelerate from 12MPH in third like once... also due to traffic on the highway. The car was not happy.

I accidentally started in third from a stop the other day. The car CAN handle it every now and then.... It's just not good overall.

OP, you're unlikely to do real damage in the short term by lugging. Just don't make it a habit to put the car in a place where the car shudders or vibrates as though it is having a hard time.

Thank you guys! It now gave me a better understanding of lugging. I was just worried, since I want to keep this car for a long time. Maybe in three years I'll do an engine and tranny rebuild, but for now I'll save them as much as possible.

As for the 12 mph, I was breaking into a traffic from 25mph. And then I was cruising at third with 12mph for 30 seconds or so. I didn't hear any horse dying. So I guess I was good? Hahaha