Honda Car Forum

Hello everyone..i have a 2007 honda civic si. When shifting gears, around what rpm should i be at? I understand shifting at lowest possible rpms is better for gas milease, but when should i shift to accomplish a smooth and healthy transition??? Also has any one experienced rough shifting in the si and times where 3rd gear simply wouldnt catch and end up grinding?? thanks in advance and happy new year.

During normal driving, you should shift at around 3500 rpm or before the VTEC kicks in (yo).If the rough shifting occurs when you are hard on the throttle, then the torque of the motor is rotating the motor back towards the firewall and effectively shortening the shifter cables. You may be able to take care of this by replacing the rear motor mount with one that is stiffer.

theres no right time when to shiftif your not going fast, then shift early, but dont lug the engineif you wanna race, then shift before it redlinesbut i guess the average shifting point is about 3000 rpmsand theres no certain rpms when you get the smoothest shiftits all about rev matching when you change gears

You are wrong on a few things.Shifting at the lowest possible rpm's suggests what some call "early shifting". If you switch from 1st up to 2nd too early then you put unnecessary strain on many of the parts working together to move the car. Shifting at a lower, rather than higher rpm will save fuel, no doubt.The best time to shift from any gear upwards, with the exception of 1st gear, is when you feel that the engine is pulling with less strain. With my Civic that is around 2500 to 3000 rpm. If I hold the shift longer and achieve greater rpm the car will continue to move forward at a greater rate until the next gear is selected. As you drive around and choose different shift points you'll see what I mean. Also, it is better to shift a bit later ( slightly higher rpm) than too early as rpms will not do any damage to that engine.3rd gear issues are yours and not the car's gearbox.Consider how the shifter moves and the distance it will travel. It is common, if we slow it down for a second, to move it upwards from 2nd, a bit to the right, then upwards into third when performing the 2-3 shift. Try this instead. As you clutch in to disengage engine from gearbox simply push the shifter with a light touch upwards towards where it needs to go to grab 3rd gear. The shifter will move upward from 2nd into 3rd on a "path" and you don't need to be deliberate with the movements. The same technique can be used for 4th to 5th movements.I'm on my 4th Honda Civic and they are by far the smoothest, best feeling manual gearbox equipped cars on the market and I think you may just need some practice.