Shifting around VTEC

[Wonk]

My first civic, my first VTEC engine, another newbie question.

Is it best practice to avoid shifting right at the 5k mark when VTEC is about to engage? Generally I commit to either shifting early or letting it roar, depending on my mood, but today I caught myself shifting almost right at 5k and I became wracked with guilt. It's a Honda, it can likely put up with anything, but I'm a fan of best practices and thorough procedures.

[9GenSi]

If you are past a reasonable break in period you can shift guilt free at any rpm you feel is appropriate at the time all the way up to redline. Enjoy your car and leave the guilt for something worthwhile.

I sometimes use the v-tec engagement LED as a shift indicator when just cruising around. My car likes it.

[lilwade3005]

it doesn't matter if you shift right when vtec is about to engage or just after it has man, trust me. sometimes ill shift right at 5500 just to hear it engage and then go back to normal cam profile...but honestly, it really shouldn't hurt any vtec enabled motor, Honda makes them with full intention of drivers to drive their car how they want, within reason, and not affect it negatively. drive it how you want! just don't have your revs see above 7 grand on the daily.

[Utahs First 2012 Si]

I did some more spirited driving today. I redlined every gear till 6th, Needless to say I was having fun! Make sure you turn your VSA off when you want go for fun rides or racing. I tried to burn out but it's only 25 degrees here so not much traction. Lol.

As far as daily driving I usually shift at 3500k RPM's. If I want to have some fun but not push my car I won't go past 6k RPM's.

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[MITCH's SI]

Like they said..if your car is past a reasonable break in period..Vtec all day!!

[Si_formeandyou]

Nothing wrong with shifting at high RPMS just be careful downshifting. Vtec is simple. You have camlifters of one size that raize the valvles to a certain degree at about 4500 RPMS+ Vtec kicks in making a camlifter of larger proportion start to open the vavles to an even high degree allowing more gas/air into the cylinder.

[9GenSi]

I am daily deep in the 6's before I grab the next gear and I don't even consider it as being harsh in any way on this motor.

It could be that I am just used to thrashing the last one daily up to 8k and it is still in the driveway after 225,000 miles of doing it since it was new. Have confidence in Honda. I even taught my kid how to drive that '00 and he has yet to destroy the original clutch. Amazing cars if you think about that.

[Utahs First 2012 Si]

Like they said..if your car is past a reasonable break in period..Vtec all day!!

I'm down with VTEC all day till I see my gas go down like crazy. Lol

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[Si_formeandyou]

I love merging onto the highway and traffic is going 70 then before i'm even halfway off the ramp traffic is behind me and i'm going 95. Vtec <3

And 9GenSI all European cars are built to last hundreds of thousands of miles and i gotta say honda does built some of the longest living engines out there!

[Wonk]

Hah, thanks for the replies and video. GUILT GONE, ONLY FUN HERE NOW.