In my 2010 Fit, I sometimes take corners in 3rd or 4th gear. During these times the tach will drop below 1500 rpm and I will get some lugging for a few seconds until I resume speed. Are these few seconds doing the engine any harm? Taking the corners in 2nd just seems too slow.

 

Being "slow" isn't about the gears.. it's about the speed.

Hum... you know... if you're at 1500 rpm in 3rd, you're only going about 18 mph (*1500 rpm in 4th is 24 mph). You pop into 2nd and keep the rev around 2500 rpm you'll still be in the speed range. Then you can actually feel faster once the "corner" starts straightening out. Rev that puppy to 5k or more.

You're not used to stick or the high rev engines from Honda.

The only reason to use a higher gear at 18 mph... is for gas efficiency. But obviously, in this case, it's working against you.

 

Usually it's better to have too many revs than too few with a Honda engine...and it also applies to the redline. Our L-series engines are surprisingly tolerant of a few extra RPM above redline or fuel cut-out.

OP:
The way you're driving isn't making use of the Honda engine's strength, which lies in the heart of its RPM band. Low-down torque is usually not a Honda strong suit, so lugging around at 1500 RPM is usually counter-productive. This is why your manual gearbox has a spread of comparatively short gear ratios; they're supposed to be used at low speeds.

 

1500 in 4th.. wow.. way to low ..

 

yah, you should be at least 2K+ on a MT. on a slush box doesn't matter cause the torque converter is slipping anyways at low RPM's.

or just learn how to heel and toe and keep the rpm higher in the 3K+ range.
on this car i find myself downshifting from around 4-5K range often to slow the car down before the turn.

cruising rpm is 2500-3000rpm range. keep the rev's up.

 

Any lugging is too much. There's not enough torque and could very easily hurt the motor or transmission.

 

When trying it in 2nd, I may be shifting to 2nd too soon before reaching the corner. Maybe I should just leave it in whatever gear I'm in, brake to about 15mph then shift to 2nd?

 

Take the corners faster, drive flat out.

 

You can lug the hell out of a Fit with no fear of ping (detonation). The problem is that at low revs you don't have enough oil pressure or flow and there is a lot of pressure on the wrist pins, rod and main bearings..... Every Honda I have owned loved to rev.

 

Or you can be like me sometimes, put it in neutral as you brake, then when you think it's time to accelerate out of the turn pop it into gear and go.

 

Suggestion: Get a friend to drive it, or ride along in their car, and watch the tach. It'll become second nature after a while.

 

it's only "too low" if it's below idle. anything north of 1K is fine.

 

That's an idiotic comment. Its a low HP 4 cylinder. Not a v8.

 

Yeah, what Goobers and Kenchan said... Take that corner like you own it! Brake in, gas out...

 

You guys really brake for a corner???? It's more fun to accelerate unless you are at twice the speed limit.

 

@TC

Braking for the corner is preferable to sliding off the road due to understeer. Which I apparently ran the risk of doing the other day as I came onto a 270 degree exit ramp still going 60 mph (I think limit on ramp was 15 or 25 mph). I could hear and feel the tires on verge of losing grip as i tried to slow down enough to not slam into the median barrier. Normally, I'm around 40 when I hit the curve of that ramp... dunno why I was so fast that time.

Once I'm past the threat of going off-road, I will gas it all the way out.

 

Ice and snow is coming soon and salt is not that much better. You need to get rid of that habit.

 

I miss my 5 speed. Automatics are OK but not being able to lug the motor and hold an rpm, theres no fun. I never had a problem with lugging the motor because I always had good acceleration at low rpm or I didn't notice it lugging.

 

I have habits for all occasions... there's no "one-size fits all" habit for me.

When snow hits, I do drive differently... but nothing compared to some other drivers. It's all about my judgment about the situation. Unlike some drivers... on one hand you got idiots going full speed on slick roads and running THROUGH ditches, flying into homes. On the other hand, you have folks slowing to a crawl.

 

Left foot braking + countersteer. It's really easy to drift the rear end of the fit and put it where you want.