It's been a couple of years since I owned a MT vehicle. When I did own them they where mostly beaters (or work trucks). The cobalt is the first nice MT car I've ever had.

I've always driven MT's at very low RPM's to save gas. Like just above shaking low. Around the city I like to stay right around 1000 RPM. I've been reading here, and it seems I should be screaming around at 2500-3000 RPM's to get better gas mileage. I'm having a hard time believing this, except for the fact I haven't seen better than 18mpg in my non-charged 2.4.

Isn't even 2500 RPM's a bit excessive for everyday driving, let alone 3000 or more?

 

you'll be fine. The cobalt models that are sensitive to shifting are the SS/sc models, and I believe that's just on a stock clutch. They don't really like to be shifted at low RPM's.

 

No way. You shift at 2500rpm normally? You serious? Take this car anywhere from 3-4K in first gear IMO. There is a pretty big gap into 2nd gear, and if you shift too quickly in first, you will bog down. Also, this car does not like to be driven at low RPM, at all, ever. Just stay out of boost, easy to do.

I never shift into 5th unless im going 50-55mph or above. Mind you, this concerns the SS S/C, i cannot speak for other trim levels.

 

he's not a ss/sc. Read the last part of his post. He's a 2.4 n/a

 

I have 2.2 which shares the F23 with the 2.4 and I find that shifting at 3500 RPM or above makes the transition to second a lot smoother.

 

I misread that part, but it still goes without saying, NO engine likes to be bogged. You will get worse fuel economy bogging the motor down so close to idle and putting a load on it than you would just winding it out. Its a 4cyl, they are meant to revved.

 

agreed. I'm just not familiar with the 2.2 or 2.4 as much. My best advice as far as saving gas is to keep the shifts at a constant rate and stay in cruise as much as possible. I'm not sure about 2.2's, but I know the 2.4 has vvt, which will allow filler to come into the combustion chamber during cruise (hence, less gas to be used).

 

i own a 2.4 and i usually shift around 3.5-4.5 sometimes.. its a 4banger there ment to be revved... its not some steroid infused V8 that you have to wrestle the brakes to stop hehe.

 

Good stuff everyone, thanks! I'll try some modified driving habits.

 

my 2.4 na i shift at around 2k in city. i keep it anywhere from 1500-2000. whenever possible i pop the clutch and coast along in neutral too. i get around 21-22mpg city and 30-32mpg highway

 

one of my pet peeves is the clutch on this car!

Fuel economy :"give" her 12L/100KM... 10L/100KM Highway.

 

you canadians and your crazy metric system....go eat a royale with cheese... j/p

 

Coasting in neutral as opposed to engine braking will actually use more fuel. If you're coasting in neutral the engine has to be kept ideling so fuel has to be used.

If you're engine braking (IE In gear and off the gas) the injectors will actually shut off and you'll use no fuel whatsoever.

 

^^^^ Truth

These little motors (and the 2.4 is TINY compared to what I have had in the past) will not be happy at 1000 - 1500 rpm, and seems to burn more gas that way because it is so far below the power band.

I shift my 2.4 at around 3000 - 3500 (5500 - 6000 if I'm in a "hurry"), little bugger gets me 36 - 38 mpg on the highway

 

I have to say I usually shift my 2.2 around 35-4k and my DIC says I am getting about 25 city.

 

yeah I used to shift round 2k but then I realized it shifts a helluva lot smoother at high RPMS.

Not only that but the Fuelshut off on the 2.4 is anywhere abover 2k... so I usually drive 80-100km/hr in 4th at about 2.5-3K rmp so everytime I'm not touching the gas the injectors are off.

My coasting RPMS are usually 3000

 

omgwtfhax

are other people getting this at highway??!?!?!?!

 

What gas mileage are you getting with your ss/sc? Curious cuz I also just got mine a few weeks ago and its my first MT. I heard shift at low rpms to save gas so I shift at 2000rpms every time when i try to save besides 1st to 2nd. I'm getting 26 right now.

 

I get low 30s doing 80mph on the highway. Like I said before, you aren't doing your car any good by shifting so soon. This car and tranny don't like short shifting really. Just stay outta boost and take it up to 3-4k

 

Thanks hopefully this helps. I'll start doing this tomorrow :P

 

I almost never shift until at least 3k, and on an open road it's more likely to be 4k (or 6.5k if I'm feeling energetic). I've always been taught it's a no no to be in neutral anytime other than an emergency (your accelerator is stuck...haha) or you're almost stopped. It's not particularly safe in terms of reaction times, and you'll also burn through brake pads faster that way.

By the way, I get around 24 in the city and up to 34 on the highway. Even when I'm trying to hypermile it under the speed limit I don't get higher than that.