What RPM do you cruise the highways at??

[Roadkill]

Just curious as to what rpm other owners keep their Vipers at when just cruising down the highways. I seem to end up a little over 2 grand.. Is this the norm??

 

[MichaelP]

No set RPM.

I just put it in 6th gear once I am at cruising speed so it changes depending on how fast I am going. Is that what you meant?

 

[GR8_ASP]

Never use 6th myself. I cruise in 5th and the rpm is whatever it needs to be. The only purpose for 6th is fuel economy. Saving fuel in a Viper is like dieting while eating a chocolate cake. Just can't do it.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I do a lot of highway miles. I toss it in 6th and idle down the road 80mph@1600rpm

 

[Roadkill]

Hmm. So what is the slowest speed you'll use 6th in then might be a better way to phrase it?

 

[Nexus-6]

I like to cruise at 2K at least in all conditions, highway or otherwise. 5th works just fine for me...

 

[Torquemonster]

You guys in your Vipers are so spoiled with that 6th gear!

The Skyline runs to redline in 5th so quick its still got you back in the seat but I gotta back off to avoid over revving it... so it cruises at the redline in 5th on about 1/4 throttle..... which is around 160mph. It's singing away, so stable you could drive with one hand... Is that what you meant by cruise?

 

[Ron Hickey]

Here are my observations, but bear in mind that this is largely a matter of individual preference. In my 2001 GTS, 55 is about as low as I would want to be going to be in 6th gear; anything less and you get a lot of driveline lash as you modulate the pedal (in the event you have to lift off the throttle due to traffic, etc). When I had my 97 GTS, 65 was the minimum cruising speed for 6th gear. I attribute the difference between the two cars to the diferences between creampuff and non-creampuff model years. Realistically, it's almost impossible to lug the Viper engine. Also, of course, these speeds would change with non-stock gears.

(These observations are for expressway cruising, no special hurry, point A to B driving. If I'm looking to do a more enthusiast-type driving, 6th gear (and even 5th) isn't used.

 

[Vic]

I crusie at about 1800 rpm or so, depending on what traffic is doing. On a long trip, it gets about 21.5 MPG! Compare that to my F150, with its mouse motor, (4.6L), which only gets about 14 MPG, even if I'm babying it. The F150 has got lots more wind resistance, and with my tools, also weighs a bit more. I think that accounts for the drastic difference in fuel economy between the two cars.

 

[ledfoot]

Hey Vic, I've got Sapphire 01 GTS and a 4.6L F150 with tools also...Are you really good looking ? If so we could be clones!

 

[SUN RA KAT]

Never use 6th myself. I cruise in 5th and the rpm is whatever it needs to be. The only purpose for 6th is fuel economy. Saving fuel in a Viper is like dieting while eating a chocolate cake. Just can't do it.

I can do it with my Roe Supercharger - even with the stock 3.07 rear gear I can pull from 45 MPH in 6th gear as fast as 95% of "normal" cars on the road. Normally I use 6th gear from 60 MPH up. 1500 RPM is 75 MPH. When I frolic, I use 5th gear and sometimes 4th gear for short periods. 2000 RPM in 5th is 68 MPH, but I usually cruise around at 2200. 3000 RPM is 75 MPH in 4th and I only do this when I frolic and then I upshift to 5th or 6th fairly quickly. Hey, I have 600 pound/feet SAE corrected rear wheel torque at 3000 RPM. I got 17.3 MPG city/highway/wide open throttle a couple of gas tanks ago.

I can diet while eating a chocolate cake!

 

[ceieio]

60 seems a minimum in 6th. If traffic starts to bunch I would go to a lower gear. Have hit 23.5 mpg on several tanks running around the speed limit (75) on western interstates.

 

[ElDiablo Viper]

I cruise at below 2K or above 2500RPM since with no cats it is very loud in that range.

 

[larry milo]

I agree with Nexus. 2K and above the car feels GREAT!!!

 

[slaughterj]

Hey Vic, I've got Sapphire 01 GTS and a 4.6L F150 with tools also...Are you really good looking ? If so we could be clones!

I've got a 98 RT/10 and a 5.4L F150, I must be related too!

 

[Gerald]

when I cruise....As low a RPM as I can, the less wear on my motor the better...


Gerald

 

[joe117]

I think you guys should be telling what rear ratio you have. I changed mine from stock to a 3.55 just so I could use 6th on the highway most of the time rather than just sometimes.
I don't like to see less than about 1400 rpm. With the 3.55 that seems to be about 65 mph. With the 3.07 I had to stay in 5th at 2000 rpm or so on the highway. I think that's turning faster than needed cruising down the highway.
I also have a 96 Vette with a four speed automatic. The 4th is an overdrive. On the highway at 65 or so, that car is turning 1400 rpm. The Vette will shift down to keep the rpm no lower than 1400.
I don't think it's a good idea to make the Viper run much slower than 1400. I don't know if the car will charge the battery below that. I don't really have any science to back it up. It just seems like it shouldn't be run too slow.

 

[ACR Joe]

4th gear at 75 mph with a 3.08 differential ratio, so about 3,500 rpm, or right in the sweet spot where I can drop the hammer big time on some naive ********** stupid enough to allow me to freely administer the automotive equivilent of a [******]-slap.

 

[Vic]

Vipers and pick-up trucks!

Ahh, life is good!

 

[Nexus-6]

I have the stock gears in my Snake...

I used to cruise as low as possible but heard enough bad things about lugging engines that I don't do it anymore.

Sure, the Viper has ample torque - it's not it's lack of power that overcomes any potential damage done from lugging the engine.

(and no, I'm by no means an expert in that department - I will stand corrected if need be! )

Also, chalk me up as a member of the F150 family too - my daily driver is a - gasp - F150 Lightning!! Something about those muscle cars and trucks eh?