Hwy cruising speed

[Chewy]

So, here and there, I end up making trips from Victoria to Nanaimo. Since I've never driven diesels much before my deli, I was wondering what a safe rpm/cruising speed should be? I find myself going between 85-90km, and trying to keep rpms at about 2500 or so( from a feel standpoint, the engine seems to be running smoothest @ about 2500) with as little throttle as possible.

[Profister]

Your feel standpoint is correct
The rest of the discussion is here: http://www.delica.ca/forum/what-is-your ... tml#p26656

[impalator]

I feel that about 100 - 110 works best for the Deli... at least that's what the speedometer shows.... In reality (I guess due to my tires) I run about 5% slower (as measured by GPS) than indicated on the dash... but who cares.

I'd rather think I am going 110 and do 103 instead than the other way round - less risk of getting a ticket.

When I still lived in Switzerland I had a small Fiat Panda at one point (a small Box with four wheels and a cloth roof top to roll back) with a small four cylinder 1 Liter engine. This was a great (although small) car... Like the Delica also sort of odd in North American terms (although very common in Europe). Like many Italian vehicles, the speedo on that one was extremely optimistic. It would show 150 (with the small one liter screaming at the top of its exhaust pipe) but I was told that in fact it was closer to 135...

Anyway, that's my little story....

[jaggedfish]

Depending on whether you have a standard or automatic tranny... mine is auto and I have noticed that between 100-110, maybe 105ish is quite comfortable. I have watched the tach for the same reason you are asking and it sits around 2900rpm. Pushing thru 3000rpm will obviously make you go faster but it takes much more peddle to get you there due to wind resistance.

I usually just plant it on 105 and sit back and relax and let the big pickups pass by blowing black smoke everywhere.... have at 'er, guys.

[Chewy]

thanks for the info guys. With that said, I'm going to carry on at low speed (only adds 10-15 minutes to the trip anyways)

[jessef]

I've logged miles on both auto and 5spd with 215/235/30"/31" tires on both.

This is on the I-5, flat, flat, flat. Hills will change the final speed ratio.

Best highway cruising speed while maximizing your mpg on an auto is 95-100 km/hr with 235/75/15 tires.
Best highway cruising speed while maximizing your mpg on an auto is 100-105 km/hr with 30/9.5/15 tires.
Best highway cruising speed while maximizing your mpg on an auto is 100-110 km/hr with 31/10.5/15 tires.

Best highway cruising speed while maximizing your mpg on a 5spd is 80-85 km/hr with 235/75/15 tires.
Best highway cruising speed while maximizing your mpg on a 5spd is 85-90 km/hr with 30/9.5/15 tires.
Best highway cruising speed while maximizing your mpg on a 5spd is 90-95 km/hr with 31/10.5/15 tires.

[lrp374]

With all the various tire sizes do you change the speedo gears or guess what the real speed is?

Larry

[jessef]

GPS. Once done, I just make a mental note.

Cruising at 100 on the speedo with the 31's in reality I'm at 109

[FalcoColumbarius]

With my GPS there is a constant exponential difference between it and my speedometer. At 105 on my speedo I am doing 100 on my GPS. The higher the number, the greater the difference ~ which makes sense to me.

On the other end of the spectrum: I was driving through a school zone one time and there was a cruiser parked by the side of the road and a sign displaying my alleged speed. To be sure, I checked my speedometer and it read 28KPH, which would put my actual speed at say ~ 27.... The sign said I was doing 31. Just an observation.

Falco.

P.S.: I sit on 235/75R15's.

[TardisDeli]

My preferred cruising speed is 70 to 75 kmh. Because my delica has a Sweet Spot there, where it drops to 1750 rpm (wow !) and barely sips fuel, and runs smooth and quiet (automatic transmission).

But when I want to push it, it doesnt like 95 km (boxy handling) but then at 105 to 110 kmh it has another sweet spot (but rpm about 2300). I try never to get my rpm over 2300 for extended times.

Cheers, Christine.

[marsgal42]

Gumdrop also has that highway sweet spot at 105 klicks (speedo accuracy confirmed with GPS). A bunch of resonances come together and she sounds exactly like a Greyhound bus. Just the thing for zooming across the Cariboo on Highway 97, or hurtling down I-5 to see what's on special at Fry's.

...laura

[Chewy]

interesting to see the variances, my tires are 235/75/15's so my speedo should be about dead on, though I find when she's colder, at 2500 I'm doing about 95, and after driving for a while, it's nearer 100. kind of odd, I absolutely love japanese vehicles though, you'd never find something of this style and vintage with a tach in north america unless it was a paid option.