Guys, I read somewhere that not babying your engine will make it last longer, and is better for it. I seem to find cruising at about 40-45 in 5th gear to be alright, but is this too low? Im at say 1100-1300 rpm when driving in 5th gear around town. Should i leave it in 4th and cruise at 2,000 RPM? I know this will yeild faster acceleration when needed, but im 16 and pay for my gas, so im trying to save a little bit. If i wanna punch it and have a little fun I can down shift.

So
A) Is driving at 1100-1300 considered lugging your car and bad? (carbon build up, etc)
B) will MPG go down much by driving at 2000 RPM in 4th gear instead of 1100-1300 in 5th?
C) Will not "babying" your car make it last longer?

Thanks
Chad

 

i would cruise in 4th @ 2000. but that's me.
and i find that the car has a harder time acclerating in 5th gear in anything under 1500.
i pay for my own gas too and it last's me for 2-3 weeks(with me driving to school daily also) as long as i don't floor it every corner.

 

you dont want the engine to bog, you dont want that low pitched droning when your hit the gas, so as long as youre not doing that, then youre in a high enough gear.