Redlining/revs
04-16-2002, 09:47 AM
#1
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Redlining/revs
A quick question on engine revs - with the engine properly warmed up, if one is driving enthusiastically (road or track), to what revs can you drive at?
If you redline it habitually, say for continuous driving at a track, will you damage the engine - or put another way, if you are habitually changing up a few hundred revs earlier, say at 6000, will you save the potential damage/incur less wear and tear than going on to the red line?
Assume fresh oils/lubricants etc.
Thanks
Ajit.
If you redline it habitually, say for continuous driving at a track, will you damage the engine - or put another way, if you are habitually changing up a few hundred revs earlier, say at 6000, will you save the potential damage/incur less wear and tear than going on to the red line?
Assume fresh oils/lubricants etc.
Thanks
Ajit.
04-16-2002, 10:24 AM
#3
I'm no expert on this, but here are my thoughts.
If you run up to the red line, then change regularly, sure it will create more wear than changing at say 4k.
Its not a problem though. What will be more of a worry is holding it continually at the red line.
I have often hit the rev limiter in more spirited moments, but try not to make a habit of it.
For one you lose a bit of momentum - a bit like missing a gear.
Its a trade-off really.
You need to hold a gear until it is more beneficial to change.
What I mean is, hang on until the power starts to drop off in that gear, and you are sufficiently into the power curve on the next gear to not notice a significant drop in acceleration.
I change just before the red on the track.
On the road ?
Depends entirely speed, conditions, traffic, mood, etc.
Country lanes I rarely need to get above 4th,
and use 3rd if I want to have better throttle control and acceleration out of bends.
HTH.
Cheers,
John.
If you run up to the red line, then change regularly, sure it will create more wear than changing at say 4k.
Its not a problem though. What will be more of a worry is holding it continually at the red line.
I have often hit the rev limiter in more spirited moments, but try not to make a habit of it.
For one you lose a bit of momentum - a bit like missing a gear.
Its a trade-off really.
You need to hold a gear until it is more beneficial to change.
What I mean is, hang on until the power starts to drop off in that gear, and you are sufficiently into the power curve on the next gear to not notice a significant drop in acceleration.
I change just before the red on the track.
On the road ?
Depends entirely speed, conditions, traffic, mood, etc.
Country lanes I rarely need to get above 4th,
and use 3rd if I want to have better throttle control and acceleration out of bends.
HTH.
Cheers,
John.
04-16-2002, 11:21 AM
#4
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My car stops making usable power here:
so that is where I shift at the track. Others may disagree, but with my stock USA gear ratios, you can feel it stop pulling a little so that is where I choose to change. Of course while trying to hang with guys like Greg and Chris I have been known to hit the limiter.
E. J.
so that is where I shift at the track. Others may disagree, but with my stock USA gear ratios, you can feel it stop pulling a little so that is where I choose to change. Of course while trying to hang with guys like Greg and Chris I have been known to hit the limiter.
E. J.
04-16-2002, 12:13 PM
#5
King of Cool
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Problem with USA gear ratios (IMO) is that when changing from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd, gap between gears is too big and that makes revs to drop too low.
That's why I think it's better to rev it all the way up, your closer to torque peak after the gear change (this all of course, when you're driving fast, normal street driving is different case).
ROW gear ratios really should be much better, these US ratios are not so great... <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
That's why I think it's better to rev it all the way up, your closer to torque peak after the gear change (this all of course, when you're driving fast, normal street driving is different case).
ROW gear ratios really should be much better, these US ratios are not so great... <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
