What RPM should i run my engine before i shift to the next gear? Or, is it better just to listen to the engine and shift when it sounds like it needs to be shifted?

 

the only way to get a proper answer is to dyno your car. the dyno chart will tell you more or less where you will be able to shift and not be out of YOUR power band. but other than that route most people just shift before the rev limit.

 

Do you mean during normal driving, to save gas, when racing?? what?

 

You really need to provide more info dude. If you are being kind to your engine (HA! Yeah right... )) Then you change lower in the revs, like around 3500, which is where 90% of factory produced manuals tell you to shift. If you are racing you need to shift just before redline, preferably double clutch or quickshift. lilol89crx is right, get your car dyno-d and that will be a little more specific. the best thing to do is go and do some courses and get a racing liscense. I have my Grade 3 CAMS (Confederation of Australian Motorsport) liscense for both Rally and Circuit and it is the most fun you will ever have... Really helps if you are into running fast downhill, touge style (like Keichii Tsyuchia), and even if you are into drifting... good luck...
Love DQ
xxx

 

If its a VTEC then ALL your power is in the upper spectrum of your RPM's

 

yeah. what kind of car is it? ive seen focuses that gain like .3sec. in the 1/4 mile by shifting 300 rpm below redline, but only first to second. personally ive got a chipped ecu on a b16a2 with an 8600rpm rev limit, i usually try to shift at about 82-8300 when im racing, and only that high because my vtec kicks in at 5700 and it will drop out if i shift lower than that. but dont shift higher than your redline or you will damage your motor. if its that important to you, get it dynoed. i know that some toyotas benefit from shifting below redline, although most hondas are low torque, high HP motors, so its best to shift at redline when racing. as far as gas mileage goes, i drove for a week without hitting vtec, wide open throttle, or anything over about 4000rpm, and i got 29mpg versus my 26-27mpg when i drive like an ***. ill take the driving like an *** having fun for the dollar more a week.