Pretend I'm Dunder Mifflin's Michael Scott and please explain to me (slowly), what is the 6th gear for on my 2022 JLU Willys?

[InVinoVeritasty]

Ok, the 6 spd/3.6 is a lot of fun and I have zero complaints about the clutch. It is very fun to drive. The Willys JLU is still stock, so it's set up as the engineers intended. But what in the world is that 6th gear about? What were the Jeep engineers thinking? I was sure I would find a use for it on a road trip, but after a two hundred mile trip today with two passengers and no heavy cargo, the gear baffles me. What's it for? Because I can't find any use case for it. I can't imagine what would happen if I put any bigger tires on it. Thanks!

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[zrickety]

Ok, the 6 spd/3.6 is a lot of fun and I have zero complaints about the clutch. It is very fun to drive. The Willys JLU is still stock, so it's set up as the engineers intended. But what in the world is that 6th gear about? What were the Jeep engineers thinking? I was sure I would find a use for it on a road trip, but after a two hundred mile trip today with two passengers and no heavy cargo, the gear baffles me. What's it for? Because I can't find any use case for it. I can't imagine what would happen if I put any bigger tires on it. Thanks!

I have only used it on the interstate...65+mph, and that's with 4.10 gearing in the Rubicon.
You're right, it's pretty useless. I mostly use 4th, sometimes 5th at 55+.

 

[InVinoVeritasty]

I have only used it on the interstate...65+mph, and that's with 4.10 gearing in the Rubicon.
You're right, it's pretty useless. I mostly use 4th, sometimes 5th at 55+.

Willys has 3.85 gearing.

 

[OldGuyNewJeep]

But what in the world is that 6th gear about? What were the Jeep engineers thinking?

It for if you regear. They’re thinking people modify Jeeps with big tires.

 

[Deleted member 59098]

I use it all the time. If there's light traffic, everyone is going 75-85. 6th seems quieter, maybe more fuel efficient? What I don't like are grades where you're going 65-70 in a mandatory 3rd or 4th gear. Feels wrong, but well below redline.

 

[zrickety]

Willys has 3.85 gearing.

Which makes 6th even more useless, I get it.

I use it all the time. If there's light traffic, everyone is going 75-85. 6th seems quieter, maybe more fuel efficient? What I don't like are grades where you're going 65-70 in a mandatory 3rd or 4th gear. Feels wrong, but well below redline.

Considering cars used to have 2 or 3 gears, 4th is not bad at all. It's my preferred gear around town.

 

[ErAcEr]

I took a trip to TN from IN. On the portions of highway that i could get 65+ I set the cruise in 6th and watched the live MPG stat to show about 28-30. Running stock sport S (with cold weather pkg tires). 3.6 with Manual no eTorque. So yea 6th is about as useless as an automatic stapler

 

[Capricorn]

Which makes 6th even more useless, I get it.

4.10 with 33" on Rubicon should be about the same as 3.85 for 31.5" tires on Willys I guess.

 

[zrickety]

4.10 with 33" on Rubicon should be about the same as 3.85 for 31.5" tires on Willys I guess.

Yeah, I forgot about the smaller tires.
6th is pretty useless, but I suppose it's the standard these days when autos are 8 speed and up.
I use it all the time on my VW though.

 

[LCW]

There is no 3.85. It’s 3.45.

 

[azwjowner]

It's for long flat highways only at 72 mph or greater to maximize fuel economy when you're on cruise control. That was my conclusion, anyway, after I did some experiments at various speeds in 5th and 6th.

 

[Chupacabra]

I took a trip to TN from IN. On the portions of highway that i could get 65+ I set the cruise in 6th and watched the live MPG stat to show about 28-30. Running stock sport S (with cold weather pkg tires). 3.6 with Manual no eTorque. So yea 6th is about as useless as an automatic stapler

But automatic staplers are awesome, man!

 

[Petey]

Ok, the 6 spd/3.6 is a lot of fun and I have zero complaints about the clutch. It is very fun to drive. The Willys JLU is still stock, so it's set up as the engineers intended. But what in the world is that 6th gear about? What were the Jeep engineers thinking? I was sure I would find a use for it on a road trip, but after a two hundred mile trip today with two passengers and no heavy cargo, the gear baffles me. What's it for? Because I can't find any use case for it. I can't imagine what would happen if I put any bigger tires on it. Thanks!

short answer.. mpgs

 

[Deleted member 59498]

I used 6th all the time on my last Rubicon. Highway driving, it ran small grades and such with no problems.

 

[Petey]

It's for long flat highways only at 72 mph or greater to maximize fuel economy when you're on cruise control. That was my conclusion, anyway, after I did some experiments at various speeds in 5th and 6th.

as little a drop in rpms as 5th to 6th makes it still helps

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