6th Gear?

[Jym65]

I have a 2022 with manual 6 speed. Rolling down the interstate at 80 in 5th I am running about 2500 RPMs. Does anyone even use 6th? It doesn't seem to have the juice to run hilly country at 75-80 in 6th and 75 is about the top end of speed limit around here.

Sponsored

 

[sailscall]

Your #s seem right. I can get it into comfortably into 6th gear running downhill with a tail wind.

 

[cgagnon99]

I have a 4dr Sport Altitude and really only use 6th at 75+ and on flat highways. We drive from MD to Charlotte a couple times a year and that's pretty much when I see 6th. Otherwise I cruise in 5th most of the time.

I'd love to regear to 4.56s at some point and sounds like that will make 6th deep enough to use regularly

 

[JeepKev]

I have a 2022 with manual 6 speed. Rolling down the interstate at 80 in 5th I am running about 2500 RPMs. Does anyone even use 6th? It doesn't seem to have the juice to run hilly country at 75-80 in 6th and 75 is about the top end of speed limit around here.

We just wrapped up a cross country trip from Maryland out to northwest and back. Rarely used 6th gear. Sometimes maybe for short stints with no wind or a tail wind on the flats. Hilly sections ok with 5th gear with hill anticipation. Mountain country, get in to 4th gear and in the higher elevations 3rd gear for stretches. Was never trying to max out speed, hugging the right lane, never over 65-70mph. Enjoyed the ride!

 

[azwjowner]

My pet theory is that 6th exists only because Jeep uses the same gearbox in the Rubicons and to a Rubicon with 4.10 gears 6th is essentially 5th gear in a Sport.

 

[Chugiakguy]

I have a 2022 with manual 6 speed. Rolling down the interstate at 80 in 5th I am running about 2500 RPMs. Does anyone even use 6th? It doesn't seem to have the juice to run hilly country at 75-80 in 6th and 75 is about the top end of speed limit around here.

I haven't used 6th yet in my 22 Willys Sport, and I seriously doubt that I ever will. But I never drive over the low 60s mph, so it's kind of pushing it to even put it into 5th for me.

 

[Jmos4]

Hi,

If you're Jeep wasn't a Rubicon or XR it most likely only has 3.45 gears so 5th and 6th might not be very good for keeping pace on the freeway. And if you're going with taller tires it will be worse.

I have a 22 JLUR 6mt with 4.88's on 35's and 6th is still a little lax on steeper inclines, although downshifting works to keep up.

Regards,
Jim

 

[Jym65]

My pet theory is that 6th exists only because Jeep uses the same gearbox in the Rubicons and to a Rubicon with 4.10 gears 6th is essentially 5th gear in a Sport.

That makes a lot of sense.

 

[Bback58]

I have a 21 Willys 2dr and hardly ever get it into 5th. Hopefully in the coming month I will get my 4.56 gears installed and then I will be able to use them all. I'm anxious to see how well they work out.

 

[Chugiakguy]

I have a 21 Willys 2dr and hardly ever get it into 5th. Hopefully in the coming month I will get my 4.56 gears installed and then I will be able to use them all. I'm anxious to see how well they work out.

So I'm not the only one!

I'd be very curious to know how your regearing goes for you, BBack, especially as we have virtually the same Jeep (mine is a 2022 2-door Willys Sport).

 

[58Willys]

I use 6th anytime I’m at a low throttle setting, and going 70+. Downshift when I need to. Better mileage and less engine wear.

 

[Bback58]

So I'm not the only one!

I'd be very curious to know how your regearing goes for you, BBack, especially as we have virtually the same Jeep (mine is a 2022 2-door Willys Sport).

I'll let you know how I like the 4.56's. Right now my daily drive is a 55 mph 2 lane and I never leave 4th. Sometimes if I'm not paying attention, I will realize I'm still in 3rd!! I also often have a 70 mph 4 lane drive and use 5th but rarely get into 6th. I don't know much about gears but when I bought this I wished I had an option as I didn't want the 3.45's. After having it for almost 2 years now, I have decided I have a 6 speed and I want to use them all.

 

[apettit7]

2018 JLUR 3.6L 6spd 37's 5.13 gearing. I use 6th quite often for steady highway cruising. I do have to down shift when climbing.

 

[JEEP4U]

I can utilize 6th gear on the highway at 70mph. But only on flat land near sea level. Running 5.38 gear on 40's with 3.6L. Usually just run 5th.

 

[txj2go]

I just got back from a long highway trip to Utah. Driving I-70 across Utah the speed limit is 80 so I was driving that or close to it, and getting near 2500 rpm with my 8-speed in 7th gear. I have a mostly stock JLU Sport with 3.6L 8speed and 33" tires. I live at lower altitudes and around here I can stay in 8th gear. Our speed limits go up to 75 and at 75 in 8th gear I'm going about 2000 rpm. When I get 3000 or 4000' then the computer wants to stay in 7th gear at about 2300 rpm.

Whatever gear you can maintain on the highway, the computer will want a lower gear for anything slightly uphill or even some headwind. When I'm on the freeway on roads that I think are flat, I find that there are lots of little uphills thrown in that make the computer want to downshift. If you regear so you are running 3000 rpm at highway speeds you won't need to downshift as much but your fuel economy will go down.

I wrote that I was playing with manual mode shifting. I found flat roads where the computer wanted 7th but I could manually shift to 8th and it would keep the same speed, and the instantaneous mpg indication on the dash showed that I was getting 20% better mileage in 8th. This was at 3000 to 4000' elevation, and a slight uphill in 8th gear and I couldn't hold the speed limit.

When I have to drive to my office I don't like taking the Jeep because the computer hunts too much on the freeway, I prefer driving my other car with its higher horsepower.

Sponsored