BroncoAZ
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2009
- Location
- Flagstaff, AZ
- TDI
- 2015 Touareg Lux, 2015 Passat 6MT, 2009 Jetta (long gone), 2011 Touareg (bought back 02/18)
Should I be in 5th or 6th gear for best efficiency on the grades?
I’ve had my Passat for a couple years and I’m curious is I’m driving it wrong. My regular commute includes I-17 between Flagstaff and Phoenix, this road includes a couple long 6-7% grades that I drive at 72 mph (speed limit 65) or 80 mph (where speed limit is 75). I’m usually the one passing everyone on the hill because I have a diesel Since purchasing my car I’ve run these in 6th gear without issue, I figured the torque of the TDI is happily shoving me up the grades. It appears that the consumption reading supports my decision as it doesn’t drop below 20mpg in 6th, but hits teens in some spots in 5th. I don’t believe I’m lugging the engine or anything in 6th, and the car never indicates a downshift on the gear indicator. When I get slowed down by traffic or dualing truckers I downshift to 4th gear and floor it up to 80-81 mph and then shift back to 6th and resettle at 79 mph.
My 2011 Touareg would usually downshift from 8th to 7th on these same grades, but the ratios are closer there than my Passat.
I’ve had my Passat for a couple years and I’m curious is I’m driving it wrong. My regular commute includes I-17 between Flagstaff and Phoenix, this road includes a couple long 6-7% grades that I drive at 72 mph (speed limit 65) or 80 mph (where speed limit is 75). I’m usually the one passing everyone on the hill because I have a diesel Since purchasing my car I’ve run these in 6th gear without issue, I figured the torque of the TDI is happily shoving me up the grades. It appears that the consumption reading supports my decision as it doesn’t drop below 20mpg in 6th, but hits teens in some spots in 5th. I don’t believe I’m lugging the engine or anything in 6th, and the car never indicates a downshift on the gear indicator. When I get slowed down by traffic or dualing truckers I downshift to 4th gear and floor it up to 80-81 mph and then shift back to 6th and resettle at 79 mph.
My 2011 Touareg would usually downshift from 8th to 7th on these same grades, but the ratios are closer there than my Passat.