Remapped 2.4 Puma - What speeds should u do in each Gear?

[Robmacca]

Gents.....

Just getting use to the 6speed gearbox in these Pumas and I'm wondering what speeds do owners do in 3rd; 4th; 5th & 6th, especially with a remapped ECU?
With mine being remapped, it's changed the whole drive of the car where it will pull away in a higher gear but I'm obviously not wanting to put any added stress on the drivetrain as I want to try to ensure many years of trouble free issues with the running gear, so it got me wondering as to what sort of speeds do people do in the gears mentioned above when driving around the suburbs/town and what speed is it safe to use 6th gear in on the H'way and when u should change down from 6th to 5th? (I'm thinking at least 100ks/hr for 6th)

I believe 5th gear is 1:1 (the strongest gear?) which is the same as 4th in the R380 G'Box but driving around the suburbs/city doing around 60kms/hr, it sometimes feels better doing these sort of speeds in 3rd in the PUMA but in the TDi300 it feels comfortable in 4th....

Just after other owners experiences and what they have found? (I'm assuming non-remapped Pumas would drive quite different to mapped ones??)

rob

[Robmacca]

I'm assuming the following Gears/Speeds would be a fair in not stressing the transmission??:

3rd Gear 30kms/hr >50kms/hr
4th Gear 50kms/hr >80kms/hr
5th Gear 80kms/hr >100kms/hr
6th Gear >100kms/hr

[Beery]

I'm assuming the following Gears/Speeds would be a fair in not stressing the transmission??:

3rd Gear 30kms/hr >50kms/hr
4th Gear 50kms/hr >80kms/hr
5th Gear 80kms/hr >100kms/hr
6th Gear >100kms/hrAgreed. I find my 2.2 happy at those speeds/gears, depending on conditions. More engine load = more revs in my books.

[ozy013]

I also agree, you've got it pretty spot on Rob, mine is the 2.4 with the BAS remap and EGR delete, and i find 3rd and 4th to be very versatile gears, compared to the standard tune there's just so much torque on tap, and it comes on alot smoother.
What remap did you get? and how are you finding it?..........
Even my wife doesnt mind driving the Defender now......she still hates the gearshift, maybe I should look at fitting the slick shift, that way we can share the driving duties whilst away camping. But having driven trucks all my life, its never really bothered me.

[Robmacca]

I also agree, you've got it pretty spot on Rob, mine is the 2.4 with the BAS remap and EGR delete, and i find 3rd and 4th to be very versatile gears, compared to the standard tune there's just so much torque on tap, and it comes on alot smoother.
What remap did you get? and how are you finding it?..........
Even my wife doesnt mind driving the Defender now......she still hates the gearshift, maybe I should look at fitting the slick shift, that way we can share the driving duties whilst away camping. But having driven trucks all my life, its never really bothered me.

When I bought the vehicle it came with the remap which I was told was done by Bruce Davis and also included the EGR delete. It also came with a larger Air intake pipe to the Airbox + Larger radiator and Intercooler as well. The exhaust has been kept the same just with the muffler removed (might look at removing the Cat though). I'm loving the extra response/power, it's fantastic. I'm hoping it will make a great touring vehicle..... but in saying that, I'm going to keep my old Tdi300 Defender as I will then have the best of both worlds..... (T) - Technology and (BT) - Before Technology :)
I still enjoy driving old defender, so into the future it probably will become my daily driver with the puma left for touring and the odd family weekend trip. The kids didn't really like the rear seating in the old defender so that made it hard to keep it as our touring vehicle but in 3>5yrs time when the kids don't want to come with us, then I'll have a choice to make as to which vehicle I keep.....

[DiscoMick]

Generally agree with Rob. I change up at about 3000rpm and try not to let it drop below about 2000. Don't let 6th drop below about 80kmh.

[The Cone of Silence]

I have a re-mapped Puma 2.4 110 Defender from 2008. I carry a lot of weight in the car at all times; he's up to around the 3 tonne mark on any given day.

While I believe the above gear-speed ratios are bang-on, I would caution against driving in sixth gear at any speed below 100kph. If sixth gear goes, it's a gearbox rebuild....it cannot simply be replaced. The reason I know this, is because it's just happened to me.

I used to drive at 80-85kph in sixth a lot and despite avoiding this for the last couple of years, I think the damage was already done. On a 4x4 weekend with two other well-loaded Puma Defender drivers, they insisted that they don't touch sixth until they're doing AT LEAST 100kph.

I tend to stay out of sixth in Low Range too, for what it's worth.

The Puma engine, according to a resource I'm sure I saw on this forum a long time ago, LOVES to rev - so don't be too worried about making lots of noise. The noise you'll make when you are told how much the new gearbox is will be far worse!