Quote:
Originally Posted by Hootie
You'd be better of in 3rd because your not straining the little 1.5 engine and whenever you add more throttle in fourth. Really all you are doing at that point is forcing the Fit to go into VTEC in a higher gear which is wasting more fuel.
I used to do the same as you by short shifting the Fit and causing it to rev high in the higher gears. (~3k RPMs@55 mph in 5th opposed to ~2.2K rpms@ same speed and gear) When I did that I used to get 24-28 MPG on a mostly flat route, after allowing the engine to rev higher (2.8k rpms 1-3, 2.5k 4 & 5) I've been getting 32+ MPG.
Also, if you haven't noticed so far. If you keep the Fit in "S" and not touch a paddle it will not upshift from 3rd to 4th until you are around 70-70MPH. (Depends on the throttle position)
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This basically gets back to the same old debate about where the Fit's engine operates most efficiently. If only Honda would publish a BSFC map for the Fit engine.
Usually one would think that the lower RPM/higher load is actually the more efficient way to go since a more open throttle reduces pumping losses and allows the engine to make the same amount of brake HP using less fuel. However, with the valve timing shift, who knows where that optimum spot really is?
I don't know if anyone with a scangauge has ever gone out and rigorously tested the instant fuel consumption on an incline at a steady speed in different gears to see what the difference is. If I had one, I'd be all over it, because I've battled myself on how to think about this problem many times.