How many rpm's at 60mph?

[juhvelo]

What is the usual rpm on your car when going 60mph? I've got a 2 liter engine and when I'm driving 60mph the engine is running about 4500rpm. Sounds quit a lot to me. Bought the car second hand and just wondering if the gearbox has been changed or something. Any experience?

[captbp]

About 3,000 rpm for 60mph in 5th gear. 4,500 sounds awfully high.

[Lnzbug]

sounds high to me too. i usually don't get to 4500 till about 85 or so.Do you have a 6th gear your not using?

[juhvelo]

It's very high. Wonder why. All the gears work as they are supposed to. rpm's drop when changing from 1st to second, second to third and so on, but still on fifth the engine is running much quikker than it should.

I hope I'll find the missing 6th gear...it's supposed to be 5speed.

[captbp]

That's too high. Are you seeing a definite rpm drop from 4th to 5th?

[juhvelo]

yes, rpms drop after every gear, as well from fourth to fifth. That was one of the first checks i've done.

[jdesigns]

The only NB that has a 6 speed is the Turbo S. (unless the '06's have 6 speed, but that would mean that you don't have a 2.0 then.)

[FineExampl]

If it helps, i average between 2 and 3k rpm on my 2.0 auto at 60ish. It usually levels out around 3 at high speeds unless i'm pushing the engine.

[Smileybug]

Mine runs at 3k rpms...almost seems like the car is running in 4th gear at with those rpms and that speed cuz I know it can get to about that if I'm getting on the highway quickly and dont go into fifth right away.

[Duffy]

Tire size issue?

[Oyveychris]

Could it be a slipping clutch?

[juhvelo]

Don't know what it is. Just drove through all the gears and they work fine. And the clutch is not slipping. Only thing i can think of is a wrong type of gearbox...

I used to have 18" wheels but now using 16s for winter and it doesn't make much difference. Still doing about 4,5k at 60mph. 4k at 50mph. Crazy. It doesn't bother me that much cause the cars is only for running around the city, I mainly use an e46 m3 for longer trips and stuff. Anyways it would be nice to get it fixed.

[Duffy]

Could it be just an inaccurate tach? Find some one with VAG-Com and compare readings.

[juhvelo]

It's running about 8oo rpm on idle so it's correct. And the car starts to pull harder after 2000 rpm so I don't think it's the tachometer. And the car feels like it's falling apart when driving more than 70 mph and the tach is showing like 5500 rpm. The engine is really screaming and the whole car starts to resonate so I believe the tach is ok. Have to check it though.
What makes this more difficult is that i've got a powerflow stainless exhaust that makes it even louder at highway speeds.

[tom20682]

Had thi sissue on a 1998 Automatic as wel. Turns out that after warming up, a speedometer gear in the tranny was malfuntioning. The RPM's were accurate , but the speed was not. I was showing 62MPH and 3900RPM's. Turns out the car was actually traveling at about 80MPH. I was with my daughter when she was driving on an interstate when I noticed that we were passing all the cars on the road. I told her to slow down, she says "I'm only going 62!"

Took to dealership 1 mweek before certified VW warranty ran out. They tried to replace th egear, belw the transmission on a test drive and replaced trans with rebuilt. Works swell now- 60MPH=2900RPM's.

hope that helps!