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.