5th gear

Hi all

I was just wondering at what speed you change up into 5th gear. I tend to change up at about 40mph on the flat. I've had water ingress into my gearbox because of a leaking scuttle which has now been sorted. But I have been depressing myself by reading all the problems people have had with gearbox's and in particular 5th gear. I hope that on a van conversion the problems would be reduced. What do you think?

I change up at 40 plus and down when down to 1500 rev in 5th

Gary

Much better to not let the engine labour at low revs - I always try to keep it in the power band and when I change up depends upon "feeling" as much as anything else

Hi there,

Day One - Minute One and my Driving Instructor told me:

"This car is my living. I will decide what top speed you will go at and in which gear; but you will NEVER run the engine in ANY gear with less than ONE on that dial there! The dial dial shows how many thousand revs the engine is doing."

He then explained the workings of an engine/gearbox combination and the stresses that entailed. Apart from a few juddering moments round tighter than expected corners I cannot recall running an engine in gear at less than 1,000 revs even going downhill.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Ian

PS I was a Policeman at the time I took my Driving Test. On the day I realised that my Examiner lived in the same town that I was policing.

As I threw my helmet into the back seat and looked at him over the roof of the car we just knew that I wasn't going to fail.

If the van has been sitting for a length of time its best to stay in 4th for a few miles to ensure the gearbox oil gets splashed around the 5th gear assembly, which is on the outside casing on most 5 speed PUg/FIAT/Citroen/VW boxes. The oil can drain from 5th when standing for weeks at a time.

dandywarhol wrote:If the van has been sitting for a length of time its best to stay in 4th for a few miles to ensure the gearbox oil gets splashed around the 5th gear assembly, which is on the outside casing on most 5 speed PUg/FIAT/Citroen/VW boxes. The oil can drain from 5th when standing for weeks at a time.

I agree Dandy. There are so many references to the Pug 5th being a 'bolt-on' to an existing 4 speed box and the design and lubrication compromises which then affect 5th gear. At the end of the day the more torque going through a gear the greater the wear and loading upon bearings. Accordingly, my policy is to accelerate in lower gears, then to shift to 5th to sustain the speed. I don't see a problem in going slowly in fifth if the engine can handle it, but only at low throttle levels.

Bartfarst

Bartfarst wrote:

dandywarhol wrote:If the van has been sitting for a length of time its best to stay in 4th for a few miles to ensure the gearbox oil gets splashed around the 5th gear assembly, which is on the outside casing on most 5 speed PUg/FIAT/Citroen/VW boxes. The oil can drain from 5th when standing for weeks at a time.

I agree Dandy. There are so many references to the Pug 5th being a 'bolt-on' to an existing 4 speed box and the design and lubrication compromises which then affect 5th gear. At the end of the day the more torque going through a gear the greater the wear and loading upon bearings. Accordingly, my policy is to accelerate in lower gears, then to shift to 5th to sustain the speed. I don't see a problem in going slowly in fifth if the engine can handle it, but only at low throttle levels.

Bartfarst

Aye - but there'll be less torque going through the 'box in 5th

dandywarhol wrote:Aye - but there'll be less torque going through the 'box in 5th

Well yes, in fifth there will be less torque going through the gearbox as a whole and, in particular, the final drive. However, without wishing to state the obvious, fifth gear is only used in fifth. Therefore it will have been designed to handle a range of torques experienced by that gear all the way up to peak engine torque which, for a common rail, is across a fairly wide engine speed range. My point is that generally to give fifth, which is dodgey by design, the best chance of a long life, it simply might be best to minimise the torque put through it by going easy on the right foot.

I'm taking your point Bartfarst but the "bolt on" 5th works pretty well and is strong enough for white van man - it's when the van isn't used much the problems can arise

Dandy,

Sorry to be picky but the various information I've seen doesn't as much relate to lack of use as to the way in which it is used.

Your average "White van man" will not be the owner and will be wanting to complete the job ASAP and get home, preferably whilst having as much fun as possible using someone else's fuel. So generally high revs, low gears and foot to the floor: this is the 'fleet' condition the vehicle is (or should be) designed for. i.e. fifth for high speed cruising, and engaged so the driver can hear the radio better.

Your average motorhome owner is the reverse of WVM: low revs, high gears and generally easy on the right pedal. The manufacturers probably don't design or test for this. As I understand it, it is tootling around in fifth at low revs using the available torque from the engine at these revs to go up hill and down dale that contributes to the problem. Sure the problem will be exacerbated when the oil is thick when the gearbox is cold. Hence the general advice to minimise use of fifth until the van has warmed-up.


Bartfarst

Hi Bartfast


Agree 100%


Andy

Ok.Happy Motoring

woodlice wrote:Hi all

I was just wondering at what speed you change up into 5th gear. I tend to change up at about 40mph on the flat. I've had water ingress into my gearbox because of a leaking scuttle which has now been sorted. But I have been depressing myself by reading all the problems people have had with gearbox's and in particular 5th gear. I hope that on a van conversion the problems would be reduced. What do you think?

I usually select 5th at about 40mph

PB

I prefer 5th Gear and Vicky B-H rather than Top Gear any day !!!