I read the recent thread here about whether engines last longer with auto or stick transmissions and it got me thinking. There was some mention of how different shifting points cause more, or less wear on the engine, etc. I've been driving manuals for over 20 years, but never really ever asked any experts about the best way to shift, or the effects of different techniques.
My impression was that if you wanted to accelerate in the fastest way possible that you shifted at the peak of the horsepower curve of your engine's output. If you wanted the most power available, like if you were towing something, then you wanted to keep your rpms close to the engine's peak torque rpm. If you wanted better MPG, you kept your rpms as low as possible. And after all of this, don't let the rpms fall so low that you "lug" the engine bacause that would cause excessive wear. After a while, I just seemed to gravitate to shifting at a point where I felt it would be an easy, smooth transition into the next gear, so that a passenger would not feel a noticeable increase or decrease in the rate of acceleration or deceleration.
So my question is what is your recommended shifting technique to optimize these various situations:
1. Maximium acceleration
2. Best MPG
3. Minimize engine wear
4. Minimize clutch/tranmission wear
5. Smoothest ride
Also, how exactly do you determine when you should downshift so as not to lug the engine?