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Preamble
In Part-1 we Surfed trough some of the basics, followed by how to take
off on a gradient without landing in a ditch !
In part-2 now, we continue with yet another tricky maneuver and try
to analyse some real life failures – otherwise purported to be the
‘occult’ kind by their hapless ‘victims’……………
Overtaking/sustaining cruise on a gradient
Now this is an interesting yet a tricky maneuver for most motorists,
but not all that difficult to follow provided one has managed to assimilate
the appropriate chapters on it in one’s Owners Handbook. A brief
recap as below – assuming the Car is in as fit a state as it’s
‘designed’ to be :
1) The most safe and economically sustainable engine rpm for a Car is
the one at which it develops its ‘peak torque’, i.e ~ 2500-3500
rpm.
2) For most Cars, in turn, it’d correspond to a road speed of 20
kph in I, 30 in II, 50 in III and 80 in IV Gear. V gear is out of question
when really going up a hill !
3) Switch off AC if on – particularly on Cars < 100 bhp/Ton.
4) Select a gear, well in time – this being the most critical part
- such that the car not only pulls happily within the above bands but
also accelerates reasonably well, such as being willing to overtaking
a crab of a truck ahead of you without down shifting, provided the road
ahead is quite clear.
5) Besides brief bursts of overtaking – say not lasting > 10
secs - DO NOT race up a hill – no matter in which gear.
6) Likewise on descents, use the engine power to brake/keep you within
above speed limits – by selecting the same gear you used to climb
up - if not one lower. Foot brakes are to be used in short bursts only
for ‘course correction’ and NOT for controlling the speed
over a stretch as such. If you do, you’ll burn out your brakes sooner
than you realise what hit you.
7) Make sure your Tank is > half full – both on the way up/down
– for understandable reasons – especially on EU-I type cars
having an engine driven mechanical Fuel Pump.
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