correct speed in 5th gear

[frenchman96]

what is the lowest speed you can drive in 5th gear without engine labouring. The car is a 1.4 Citroen C3

[McNoodle]

Don't know, haven't got one. Why don't you try it and see instead...

[Cockney_si]

It all depends on the engine specification and the gear box.

Most smaller engine cars will happily drive around at 30mph in 5th gear whereas some bigger engine cars don;t like it until around 35mph.

You should check in the handbook under recommeded gear changing speeds.

[frenchman96]

Cockney

Will check the book but apart from the fact its 1.4 manual and diesel, what else do I need to know.

[frenchman96]

Its simply that the soonest you get into 5th gear you save diesel, I dont take it to extremes like 50mph in 2nd or 10mph in 5th.

I very simply want to know if the car should start juddering when doing 30-35 mph in 5th.

It also has done it at 30mph in 4th.

[frenchman96]

Bellend??

[seare]

surley a 1.4 diesel manual in a tiny car is economical enough?!

[Brooksy]

I believe that bellend in common parlance is often used instead of dipstick. ;O)

[frenchman96]

Ah! yes I understand, nice friendly site eh?

[Brooksy]

Usually is, don`t take a bit of ribbing personally. As to your original query, the Clio only has what used to be regarded as a small engine for automatic transmission, being low on torque despite diesels usually having more "grunt" than petrol. Therefore it will only like 5th @ low speed in a very light engine load situation, eg flat or downhill roads. Many years ago I had a couple of cars fitted with a vacuum guage showing the efficiency of the engine as one drove. If one didn`t use the gears as 3ight8ball says to match load to speed then one could be using twice as much fuel at say, 30mph in 5th up even a slight incline than if one was in 3rd. If the car judders, it`s telling you to change down, simply put! Soyez le bienvenu.

[frenchman96]

Brooksy

Dont worry, I dont take offence, I am an ex doorman so have heard it all. I am only insisting this scenario as I dont want showroom to get away with it IF I AM RIGHT.

I will put it another way...if it is possibly the way I am driving it, WHY, after coming with me as passenger, did the head mechanic--service manager--citroen trained consultant in garage and finally, a techo employed by Citroen, did they take clutch out, exchange 2 fuel injectors.

If I was in their shoes and I thought driver was driving it wrongly, I would not go to that expense, and lets not forget, 4 experts have driven with me, I rest my case.

[Brooksy]

Sorry, I meant to say " a small capacity engine for a diesel" not automatic! Got to rush off, will think further on it.