Over the years I have noticed the normal cruising RPM on modern vehicles going up and up. Somehow lower geared, high RPM driving is preferred.
I remember my first vehicle, a 1978 F150 w/ the 400ci V8 would run 1500rpm at 65mph. A buddy's 1969 Ford Ranchero w/ the 302 V8 was similar.
Even modern pickups with high torque OHV motors, the same trait shows. 65mph cruising often bring RPM's over 2600. What are the advantages to this?
I see the same thing with cars. My old 2.5L '89 Dodge Daytona would run 2000 rpm @ 65. Most cars I drive nowadays will happily rev close to 3000rpm at 65mph.
My "old" 2001 Jetta, a 2.8L VR6 (a torque monster for it's compact size) would run 3200rpm at 75mph, which had always seemed counterintuitive to me. I must be missing something..?
I remember my first vehicle, a 1978 F150 w/ the 400ci V8 would run 1500rpm at 65mph. A buddy's 1969 Ford Ranchero w/ the 302 V8 was similar.
Even modern pickups with high torque OHV motors, the same trait shows. 65mph cruising often bring RPM's over 2600. What are the advantages to this?
I see the same thing with cars. My old 2.5L '89 Dodge Daytona would run 2000 rpm @ 65. Most cars I drive nowadays will happily rev close to 3000rpm at 65mph.
My "old" 2001 Jetta, a 2.8L VR6 (a torque monster for it's compact size) would run 3200rpm at 75mph, which had always seemed counterintuitive to me. I must be missing something..?