Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Any reason I shouldn't use 5th gear in town in my GQ TD42 Patrol? At 60kph it easily handles it, but am I running the water pump or other stuff too slow by doing this? It certainly doesn't appear to get any hotter, but the weather's pretty mild here atm.

I jumped in my GF's new Mazda3 to go for a spin 'round the shops yesterday afternoon, after having not driven it since I got this Patrol. I couldn't do it......I kept almost stalling it on takeoff, trying to take corners in 3rd and wondering why the gearstick felt about 10mm long

I do it in my MK SD33T no probs - less RPM's = better fuel economy which is something you got to want with fuel prices atm.

Just be carefull your not "Lugging" the engine. Big end strain may occue.

bazzle

bazzle wrote:Just be carefull your not "Lugging" the engine. Big end strain may occue.

bazzle

That's the part where, when the revs drop below a certain point, the entire car vibrates wildly and sounds like it's about to fall to bits yeah? If so, then yes, I'm trying to avoid that

My mechanic said never tow in 5th - not up to it.

Dont make it too a common routine mate. 4th gear is direct drive from input shaft to output shaft. therefore is very strong and able to take torque engine makes very easily. 5th gear is input shaft , mainshaft and then through another gear. and this gear is the gear that will stuff up. First you will lose 5th and then reverse as thay are on the same shaft. i dont change to 5th until im goin over 80 kays. and soon as i hit a hill thats gonna slow me down i kick her back to 4th and nail it. also dido if your pullin a trailer. 5th is usually always the first gear to go in patrols and cruisers and such especially ones with lots of towing work. so pretty much the little bit of fuel you save by kickin her into 5th will soon be wasted when 5th gear shits the tin. it's the same deal for trucks and such with overdrives. drivers will hit her back to top gear "not overdrive, the equivalent of 5th in a 4wd" and give it all she's got!