How to Drive Properly..Help!

[al agustin]

Hello, I've looked in the manual and there's really nothing there other than during the break-in period and downshifting. Could somebody please enlighten me on the recommended 'rev' range when changing gears eg. First gear=RPM/Second gear=RPM/Third gear=RPM vice versa. Unfortunately, it makes it very difficult living in a high density city like Melbourne, Australia where we spend 95% of our time driving and not exceeding 60kph (occasionally 80kph if I'm lucky and need to use the highway). I have driven on the highways in LA and it's a hell of a lot more fun there!
It feels like I'm lugging the engine because I can't drive it at the acceptable rev range as it just accelerates far too much..there are countless speed cameras everywhere. Most commercial zones are only 40kph and suburban streets at 50. If one exceeds the speed limit just by 25kph, we pay a $443 fine and automatic loss of licence for 3 months!!! I feel like I'm harming the engine by staying on either 2nd and 3rd gear. I'm an old bugger and quite conservative with my driving....I now know why people are so addicted to this cars, it is so much fun and beautiful to drive! By the way, I 'only' have a 1968 912 Targa but with a 1968 Flat6 911 Sportomatic engine and a 901 gearbox. Thank you so much and I hope I haven't put you off coming to Oz!

[a911s]

Imagine what it's like to drive a modern GT3 with all that power and an 8K rev limit!

Once the engine warms up, you can shift so it's at above 3K most of the time. In a 912 you will need to be ready to step on it to keep up with today's traffic anyway. Shift 500 rpm below the redline or take it to the limit. Have fun! It's the perfect car for around town.

[raspritz]

Melbourne is a wonderful city; nothing to be apologetic about in that regard. You can be comfortable driving up to redline on the tach. The powerband does not kick in until about 3000 RPM. So, in city driving you will indeed spend most of your time in first or second gear, occasionally third, never fourth or fifth (if you have a fifth gear). Frankly, it is just not much fun driving an early 912 or 911 in stop-and-go city traffic.

[al agustin]

Thanks for your responses!

[edmayo]

In my opinion there is no hard and fast rule re. RPM. You just simply want to avoid "lugging" the engine. I define "lugging" as the point in a specific gear where further opening of the throttle doesn't result in an increase of RPM. For example, it's okay to be cruising along in 4th gear, for example, at 1500 RPM as long as you are not trying to accelerate, because if you do at that RPM in that gear (4th) you will be lugging the engine. Since the engine is air cooled it depends on engine fan speed to blow air over the heads and cylinders, "lugging" creates more heat, that is not carried off if the fan speed is low due to lower engine speed. Basically if you want to increase engine loading, then you need to increase engine cooling by going to a lower gear that increases cooling fan speed. i.e. you don't need to be at "high" engine RPM if you're just driving at a constant speed not loading the engine. Much of this is 'urban legend' from the days of the roller crank engines.

[remi]

My black ‘71 Targa says hi- will look out for you in traffic!

[SM911]

Change whenever it feels right Al. These engines can take a hiding, so it won't hurt it if you shift early or late. For inner city cruising I normally rev it out a bit in 2nd, then just cruise around in 3rd. If I'm feeling pretty relaxed, I'll short shift and change early/at lower revs. I'll occasionally sit in 4th at 6o km/h, but not too often. I like making a bit of noise

[RSTarga]

I try and stay above 3500rpm. I think these engines prefer that to lugging.

[911pcars]

There is no harm if the engine speed is <3000 and there's little load on the engine (e.g. coasting, little to no acceleration). Avoid low engine rpm with mild to significant throttle openings.

Excuse my seemingly constant reminder that transmission synchros are more of an issue. That's partly a result of the synchro design used by PAG in 901 and 915 transmissions. If you own one, you know what I mean. It doesn't happen in a gearbox in good or just rebuilt condition. It's largely a result of years of accelerated synchro wear (mainly affecting 1st and 2nd gear) by many who think synchros should last forever or at least a very long time. That's quite possible in other car makes but not with a 901 or 915. The antidote to long or extended synchro life is to adopt the strategy of downshifting by double-clutching. It's either unknown and/or ignored by most owners, and there's a right and a wrong way many assume to know. There are sufficient threads on the subject and the proper technique on this and other Porsche forums.

This is how most drivers downshift (start at 5:45 to end). Does that mirror your downshifting techniques? Fortunately, he's rowing a G50 so this otherwise good tutorial on basic shifting can be somewhat forgiven:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laAq46VKVk0

Comments welcome.
Sherwood

[RSTarga]

My syncs were still decent after 147k miles when I had my box rebuilt. Although I do double de-clutch downshift so maybe that's why.
I may be in the minority, but I remember when the speed limit was 55, and my car did not enjoy cruising at 2750rpm.