What gear is 60 mph?
3 Answers
When driving at a speed of 60 mph, the gear selection depends on the road conditions. If it's an uphill road, use 4th gear when the RPM is between 1500-2000. If it's a downhill road or a flat road, use 5th gear. Lugging the engine refers to using a high gear at low RPM, also known as high gear lugging. While this approach can achieve lower RPM, it inevitably increases the torque load on the engine. If the torque load on the engine becomes too high, the engine efficiency will decrease. Therefore, lower RPM doesn't always mean better fuel economy. Deliberately pursuing low RPM can lead to higher fuel consumption due to excessive torque load. Take 60 mph as an example: on a flat road, 5th gear with low RPM results in lower fuel consumption. However, when climbing a hill in 5th gear, the output power at low RPM is insufficient, leading to increased torque load. Although the engine RPM remains low, the load per cycle on the engine increases significantly, causing higher fuel consumption. Hence, it's better to use 4th gear when climbing hills. The gear and speed matching for manual transmission cars are as follows: 1st gear: Used for normal starts or climbing very steep hills. The speed is generally around 10 km/h in this gear. 2nd gear: Used as a transitional gear for acceleration after starting, or for low-speed driving or climbing steep hills. The speed is generally around 20 km/h in this gear. 3rd gear: Generally used at speeds between 20 km/h and 40 km/h, often used for city driving. 4th gear: Can be used at speeds between 40 km/h and 60 km/h.
When someone asks what gear to use at 60 mph, it really depends on the car! Having driven manual transmission cars for over a decade, I know that at 60 kilometers per hour, the gear isn't necessarily fixed. For manual transmissions, on flat roads, you might be in 4th or 5th gear, depending on your shifting habits and the engine RPM. With an automatic transmission, you're usually in D (Drive) mode, where the system handles gear changes automatically for convenience. The key is matching your speed with the appropriate gear—too high wastes fuel, too low strains the engine. I recommend keeping an eye on the tachometer while driving, aiming for around 2000 RPM for optimal fuel efficiency, or listening to the engine sound—smooth and steady means you're in the right gear. Safety comes first, so don't focus solely on gear selection; stay attentive to the road.
With years of experience in car repair, I often get asked what gear corresponds to 60 mph, but there's no standard answer! It varies by vehicle model. For manual transmission cars at 60 km/h, small-displacement cars might use 3rd gear to keep RPMs high, while larger engines could cruise in 5th gear for fuel efficiency. Automatic transmissions simply stay in D mode with internal shifts. The easiest way to judge: check the gear display on your dashboard while driving—if it's not shown, pay attention to whether the car vibrates or shifts smoothly. Remember, road conditions greatly affect this; uphill driving naturally requires downshifting for power. If you notice any issues, promptly check the electrical or transmission systems to prevent bigger problems.
