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Topic: What Gear To Use When Towing?

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phil75

19/6/2012 at 8:32am
Location: West Midlands
Outfit: Sprite Major 6 2011

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We have a 2007 honda crv diesel 2.2. I've never been sure what gear to use when towing our van and using cruise control at 60mph. If i use 5th gear it runs at around 2000 revs, whilst in 4th it runs at around 3000 revs. It has 6 gears but think 6th would be far too sluggish. Any advice please.

Rob12

19/6/2012 at 9:19am
Location: Kent
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The best advice I can give is do what feels best. But 3000rpm for a diesel cruising sounds high.

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Falfa.

19/6/2012 at 9:36am
Location: Bristol
Outfit: Swift Challenger 530 SE

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No brainer really.............. 2000rpm is using far less fuel than 3000rpm and being a torque (Y) diesel engine should motor smoothly..

The Vicar

19/6/2012 at 9:37am
Location: Suffolk
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I thought a diesel engine was most efficient around 2000 rpm. A manual diesel being run at low revs apparantley shortens the life of the DMF which is expensive to replace !!

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FlyFifer

19/6/2012 at 11:19am
Location: Fife
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What i found is Fifth gear is great on the crv but it can be thirsty at 60mph in cruise control mines used to struggle in 6th when you hit an incline so was always changing down gear
But then i fitted a Diesel tuning box which increased torque and bhp now it will sit in 6th in cruise which has increased mpg and no gear changing

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michael

19/6/2012 at 12:10pm
Location: Lancashire
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auto cruise control for me at 60 on the motorway.use gears on the hills parts.

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thebroons30

19/6/2012 at 12:45pm
Location: Lanarkshire
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6th gear for me which cruises at 60 mph and just under 2000 rpm.

Crankyhorse

19/6/2012 at 12:47pm
Location: Northampton
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My 407 HDi is happy in 6th at 60mph but any slower and I use 5th.

millermicm

19/6/2012 at 12:51pm
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My Laguna is happy in 6th but won't go up many hills without changing down. 3000 revs is certainly very high for a deisel. They are best at 1500 - 1800.

frederico

19/6/2012 at 12:57pm
Location: Blyth Northumberland
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Smax 2l tdci. I use 5th gear on cruise control at a patient 55mph and average 33mpg towing. At 60mph I only get 27mpg. 6th gear is only used at 60 mph + so not fuel efficient for me. Onboard computer figures.

Fred.

Andy JC

19/6/2012 at 1:01pm
Location: Clevedon
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My Outlander pulls the Pegasus really well in 6th, even up moderate hills. Quite surprised how torquey it is for a 2.0 diesel (VAG engine). Much better tow vehicle than my previous car, an ' 07 BMW 320d which, on paper, had much more BHP and torque.

Cruise control, 6th gear, 55mph and sit back and watch the miles disappear

scarletsfan

19/6/2012 at 1:44pm
Location: Llangennech Nr Llanelli S Wales.
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Quote: Originally posted by Falfa. on 19/6/2012
No brainer really.............. 2000rpm is using far less fuel than 3000rpm and being a torque (Y) diesel engine should motor smoothly..

3000rpm on my Mondeo is where there is optimum torque.

Whilst towing, I don't see 6th very often though.

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Rob12

19/6/2012 at 2:29pm
Location: Kent
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scarletsfan

If its a diesel I,m quite surprised peak torque is that high, normally diesel engines are around the 2000rpm, peak bhp about 4000rpm.

Auto express say 2.0 tdci peak torque at 1750 rpm, maybe yours is different.

markh1

19/6/2012 at 2:38pm
Location: East Lothian
Outfit: Autocruise Stardream

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Check in the handbook for the rpm at which it delivers peak torque/power and run it around that rpm in any gear that suits, consider rpm rather than gear selection

Alternatively get an auto!

janus

19/6/2012 at 3:42pm
Location: Rochdale
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Quote: Originally posted by scarletsfan on 19/6/2012

Quote: Originally posted by Falfa. on 19/6/2012
No brainer really.............. 2000rpm is using far less fuel than 3000rpm and being a torque (Y) diesel engine should motor smoothly..
3000rpm on my Mondeo is where there is optimum torque.
Whilst towing, I don't see 6th very often though.

Peak torque on a Mondeo diesel starts at 1600rpm and goes on till about 3000rpm.

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For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci

timtheenchanter

19/6/2012 at 3:46pm
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My sedona will do 60 in 5th quite easily, as long as you can keep it above 57 below that and the revs drop to 1500rpm, and theres no turbo at those revs, get to 1600rpm, turbo is in, and your fine, its much better now I have fitted a tuning box, very little changing down to 4th, except for very steep hills, Ill be trying out up the M62 in the summer.

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