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Originally Posted by VroomVroom
now I know the track I feel like I can add paddle shifting next time. Tips? Default third gear, down to second for tight tight turns and maybe up to fourth for straight, or stay in third? Guess the RPMs will tell me, right?
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"Use the force, Luke".
Seriously, listen to what your engine is trying to tell you (and compare that to how hard you're driving, which might not always be "8/10ths" or whatever). And pay attention to where on the track you're considering a shift - there are situations where short-shifting slightly will be of advantage (such as to avoid making that shift midway through a fast bend).
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Which also reminds me- I get up to about 5000 RPMS, and 6-8k RPMs are red on the dial in the car. Is that red like "don't get into this part" or red like "don't stay in this part for a long time"?
I hope these questions are amusing and not idiotic...
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At some rpm, somewhere beyond 6000, your car's PCM will step in (cutting fuel and/or retarding spark) and call a halt to the skinny pedal fun in that gear.
Unless you're time-trialing and are having your laps electronically timed, there isn't any real need to be up there beyond 6000. So relax a bit and try to keep the engine between maybe 4000 and 5800, maybe 5900 most of the time. A brief excursion to 6000 that avoids an upshift just before hitting a braking zone is the most common exception I can think of.
Keep an eye on coolant temperature, particularly since your AT dumps most of its excess heat into it.
Norm