RPMs

[rossman945]

For some reason, I think my rpms are higher than they should be. I just changed my spark plugs and wires, and I have a cold air intake and the RPMs went down a lil bit but I think they can go down more? Is there anything else that I can do so I can lower the RPMs and mabye get some better gas milage? Going 60, my RPMs are well above 2000 RPM and thats at a cruise. Is that normal for a 1999 V6 auto?

Thanks,

Ross

[Jackass-Jeff]

80 mph = 3000 rpm +/-

[rossman945]

thats normal, ok that makes me feel a better

[DDH1313]

RPM's at that speed should be mechanically fixed (not possible for them to be off), providing the torque converter is going into lock up. That being said, are you still able to fell the 5th "shift" once you get above 45 or so? If it's not going into lockup, it would make perfect since that the RPMs would be slightly higher.

[rossman945]

well i figured if something wasnt running efficiently inside my car, that would cause my RPMs to rise

[DDH1313]

Forgive me here as this will be a rather silly analogy that I do not mean to cause any insult with.

Think of riding a bicycle in top gear, regardless of how little or how much you push on the peddles the RPMs will not change if your speed does not. The same applies to your transmission. If you are driving 60 miles per hour, and the torque converter is locked, it is pretty much like having a chain between your engine and wheels. I know someone will eventially go off on me for saying that, but the basic comparision is sound.

[rossman945]

I get it lol

[trdkamuri51o]

THIS one will always get to me

IT IS RPM PEOPLE!!!! u dont do revolution's per minute's

Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, r/min, or min−1) is a unit of frequency, commonly used to measure rotational speed, in particular in the case of rotation around a fixed axis. It represents the number of full rotations something makes in one minute. The International System of Units (SI) unit for rotational velocity is the radian per second

[Jon11582]

RPM's at that speed should be mechanically fixed (not possible for them to be off), providing the torque converter is going into lock up. That being said, are you still able to fell the 5th "shift" once you get above 45 or so? If it's not going into lockup, it would make perfect since that the RPMs would be slightly higher.

I wasnt going to say it, but I'll say it.

I dont feel the 5th shift when I get above 45 or so.
In fact, I dont even feel the the 4th shift.

When your riding on 4 gears, your only going to upshift 3 times to get to top gear.

At 55-80 is going to put you between 2000 and 3000 RPM while cruising in 4th, at least on my 4cyl auto. I think gear ratio for the 4th overdrive gear ratio is similar on a V6 auto, so RPMs should be similar, you just get there faster.

[DDH1313]

RPM's at that speed should be mechanically fixed (not possible for them to be off), providing the torque converter is going into lock up. That being said, are you still able to fell the 5th "shift" once you get above 45 or so? If it's not going into lockup, it would make perfect since that the RPMs would be slightly higher.

I wasnt going to say it, but I'll say it.

I dont feel the 5th shift when I get above 45 or so.
In fact, I dont even feel the the 4th shift.

When your riding on 4 gears, your only going to upshift 3 times to get to top gear.

At 55-80 is going to put you between 2000 and 3000 RPM while cruising in 4th, at least on my 4cyl auto. I think gear ratio for the 4th overdrive gear ratio is similar on a V6 auto, so RPMs should be similar, you just get there faster.

Jon11582 -- thank you for correcting me. The torque converter locking up would be the 4th event that you feel happening. I will admit that it is almost impossible to feel happening however because our transmissions are so smooth but you can see it on the tach.

Here is the best suggestion i can give to tell if its going into lockup. Get going around 35 or 40mph (in 4th gear). Give the car a slight amout of throttle. You should notice that the RPM's will rise slightly but immediately, maybe 200 or so. Now, get going about 50 or 60 with the engine warmed up and running normal. Again, give it a small amount of throttle. This time you should feel the car accelerate but not see the RPMs rise in the same way as they did before. This is because at the higher speed, the torque converter SHOULD be locked and there should be a direct connection to the engine where as before at a slower speed the torque converter was allowing the engine to "slip".. the same way it does when you car is stopped but the engine is spinning.