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Does shifting at low RPMs really hurt the engine?
Hi guys, i have an AT and my daily drive is PURE traffic. My "average speed" reading on the gauge is usually just around 20kph.
So i tried experimenting on different shift styles, shift points, sport mode D on off etc, and such and the most significantly economical fuel saving i get is driving this way -
(1) featherlight throttle - never past 1600 rpm (unless uphill i let it go 2000, you can feel it anyway when the car needs more)
(2) driven in M mode - I shift when the arrow comes up which i recorded to be at 13kph to 2nd, 27.5kph to 3rd, 38kph to 4th, and 52kph to 5th. (i never reach 6th because of traffic)
Result, I normally get 15L/100km instead of the usual 18. So i get to travel about 260km before fuellin up rather than 215km.
Q.. i dont really "feel" the engine lugging, and if it DOES lug, like when going uphill, i give it more gas and let it hit 2k rpm. Point is i just accelerate really slow since its traffic anyway.
Is this in anyway "bad" for the engine or transmission long-term? Because i noticed my manual shift points are even earlier than D with sport mode off and an eased throttle.
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