Audi A4 1.8tq/Wetterauer 1.0 bar Optimum Shift
Points
I have calculated the optimum shift points for the Audi A4 1.8tqm with
a Wetterauer 1.0 bar chip. The hp/torque data was taken from the
Wetterauer web page and 205/55R16 tires were assumed. The green lines
are the rear-wheel power curves (in kWatts/10) for each forward gear, assuming
no drivetrain losses, since the Wetterauer data was wheel data. The
cyan lines correspond to rear-wheel tractive force (in Newtons, again assuming
no drivetrain losses since it' has already been accounted for) for each
gear, while the yellow lines correspond to engine RPM. As can be
seen on the graph, the points where the power curves cross each other (equal
power before and after the shift) also correspond to where the rear-wheel
force curves cross each other (equal rear-wheel torque before and after
the shift) and result in the best acceleration. Please keep in mind
that a different final drive ratio or tire size will shift the curves in
the horizontal axis (shift point speed will be different), but the optimum
shift point RPM will remain the same.
Gear Shift
|
RPM before
|
RPM after
|
Speed
|
1st - 2nd
|
6,620
|
3,800
|
33 mph
|
2nd - 3rd
|
6,110
|
4,010
|
53 mph
|
3rd - 4th
|
5,800
|
4,180
|
77 mph
|
4th - 5th
|
5,450
|
4,420
|
100 mph
|
Gear
|
Ratio
|
1st
|
3.78:1
|
2nd
|
2.18:1
|
3rd
|
1.43:1
|
4th
|
1.03:1
|
5th
|
0.84:1
|
Reverse
|
???
|
Final Drive
|
3.89:1
|
Audi did a good job of choosing the gears for a 150hp engine. The
engine would be turning just past peak hp RPM in top gear during actual
top speed of about 130mph. However, with a chipped engine making
substantially more power, the A4 1.8tqm is definitely geared too short.
So short that 3rd gear comes up before 60 mph and the car cant't reach
top speed because the engine is turning too fast making 15% less power
when it should be putting down all of it. I guess this would be good
in a very tight road course, but for everyday driving or high speed track
use, it would be benefitial to install taller final drive ratios and/or
swap 5th gear for a taller one from the A4 2.8 or the upcomming S4.
Another option would be to alter the cam timing to move up the power band
a little. Here is what the power delivery
would be like with 3.70:1 final drive ratios and 0.79:1 fifth gear. For
those with FWD A41.8t's, I have also gone thru
this exercise. The stock A4tqm is geared
just right, except for the slightly short 5th gear.
This page was last modified on 9 June 1998 by Luis
Marques.