What RPM should I be shifting at?

[Nomader]

2004 I6 5 speed 33x12.5 tires.
My shift light says shift at 2000rpm but it feels sluggish after I hit 5th at 2000. What's running rpm for the i6?

 

[Nomader]

By the way I have 373 gears

 

[Winks42]

The shift light is useless and i would just remove the bulb if it annoys you. I find that 2200-2700 is a nice place to stay at while driving and I shift around 3000-3500 depending if I’m going up a hill.

 

[Nomader]

Thanks I'll try that.

 

[TJ Starting]

Yes, 90% of the time the shift light has no idea what's going on.

 

[SSTJ]

That shift light really threw me off when I first started driving a TJ. Especially given that mine's a four-banger.

 

[L J]

~3000 rpm ... higher if required

 

[MutantNinjaTJ]

2800 to 3K

 

[Fishtaco]

I dont have a shift light in my export 06?
Anyway your engine tells you when to shift! its something you learn when 99% of vehicles you have ever driven were manual.
On the flat clear road ahead between 2500 and 3000, in the City around 2500 under 3000, entering a freeway or overtaking above 3000 if you change too soon on an incline just knock it down a peg, if you have good brakes and know how to double clutch Angel gear on a downhill

 

[jjvw]

Shift well above 3k

 

[Nomader]

3000 just seems high to me. At 60mph in 5th on level ground I'm turning 2000. I appreciate all the input. Thanks

 

[L J]

3000 just seems high to me.

perception ≠ reality

At 60mph in 5th on level ground I'm turning 2000.

too low of an rpm

 

[jjvw]

3000 just seems high to me. At 60mph in 5th on level ground I'm turning 2000. I appreciate all the input. Thanks

You are undergeared

 

[Chris]

3000 just seems high to me. At 60mph in 5th on level ground I'm turning 2000. I appreciate all the input. Thanks

You have the wrong gears then, trust me. 3000 is not even close to being too high if you’re geared correctly.

 

[Nomader]

Whenever money allows I do plan on upgrading to either 456 or 513 gears I'm thinking 456 and drop down to 32 inch tires

 

[fourpointzero]

Yes, 90% of the time the shift light has no idea what's going on.

Just like Biden! The real Biden, that is

EDIT: Im clearly being an ahole and cracking a joke that I don’t want to turn into a political mess

 

[ColoJeep]

Shift below valve float and above lugging the engine.
If this is too difficult to remember, please feel free to delete the 3rd man pedal and follow
what most folks do and buy a slush box taxi cab transmission.
That way you can get a lot of hand wringing in about a overdrive ratio that's too high for anything
but a bonneiville LSR attempt. And you can stress about finding a tuner that can adjust the "perfect" shift point rpm's.
Finally don't forget to install the "perfect" auto trans cooler setup since the factory setup leaves you worried your cooking your trans.
I better stop before all the auto kids get butt hurt.

Please just listen and feel what your TJ is telling you, and you will learn when to shift to keep your Jeep
happy in almost and situation.

Have fun practicing and wheelin your TJ Nomader !!

 

[Nomader]

I've owned several manuals in my life just never a TJ and going from sound my motor at 3,500 RPM and above sounds like it's getting wound to me. Maybe not trying to go up mountains but on flat ground it does. My drive to work is about an hour highest speed limit is 55. I usually run 60 but if I run 4th gear all the way my mileage drops way down. Yes I tried it.

 

[jjvw]

I've owned several manuals in my life just never a TJ and going from sound my motor at 3,500 RPM and above sounds like it's getting wound to me. ...

Did you ask the engine how it feels? Did you know that TJs with automatics shift well above what you find uncomfortable? But for some reason the moment there is a manual stuck on there everyone gets the idea that the very same engine is a delicate flower.

 

[ColoJeep]

As others have said regearing would help!
Honestly, a 242 will never rev like a Ferrari, but stay below 5500 RPM and you will never hurt it.
Besides they have a rev limiter built in as most fuel injected engines do.
It has a REAL flat torque curve and is happy from 2000 to 4000 rpm, BUT keeping your engine at a rpm that will pull your gearing/tires
is super important, you need to keep the rpms up a little since you likely have 3.73 gears and looks like 33" Tires.
Deeper gears would help you out and make the Jeep easier to drive and cruise the highways way easier.