Yep, so far we have driving around with no air filter and now lugging the engine. Marlon, show that fine car some respect so it will be around for a while.

 

Our cars have a 6th gear?

The way these things are geared for the US market, 6th gear is almost no usuable unless you are going over 120mph. Even on the highway, if I'm going less than say 99mph, I'll keep the car in 5th gear.

I find that 3.5K to 4.5K is a happy range.

I could probably sell my 6th gear as almost "mint" on ebay one day.

 

Something must be wrong with me.....I don't think my 993's motor starts to sounds good until at least 4000rpm and sounds better and better at rpms above that! At 1600 rpm it sound like any old sewing machine.

But what do I know.....my Road King sounds great at 1000rpm!

Pete

 

Yup:

1-3-5
2-4-(A)utobahn!

 

Well, I just drove home from work and let me tell you something - I'm staying put!! Low-revs for me! Driving my car around at a constant 3500-4500 RPM (let alone higher!) is like telling a crack head to walk around w/a loaded pipe all day and not take a hit!!! I'll be the first to admit that my right foot simply lacks the muscular will power to obey the speed limit while feeling that fabulous beating heart beneath my foot at that rev range (and again, let alone higher!).

Sorry fellas, maybe I'm "immature" or just plain irresponsible. In the interest of public safety, my police record, and possibly the full-employment of 993 mechanics down the line, I'm sticking w/my previous "low rev" (not lugging) style.

 

Great post OB! I certainly understand. I don't lug it, but I don't stay at 4k and above either. 80 in 6th = 3k. However, I've been known to merge onto freeways at light speed. I think someone's tag line on this board was "an onramp is a terrible thing to waste." I know whenever I saw a 911 "on duty" I would smile...I figure I'm paying it forward.

 

One cold day, when you start the car, you'll hear...knock, knock, knock
Those are your rod bearings telling you "Thanks for squishing us all that time!
Now, pay the man!

 

Also, never rest your foot on the clutch pedal when driving...it will also wear out the release bearing. Further, never rest your hand on the gear shift lever...it can cause premature wear of the synchronizers.

 

There's little torque down there...one's ability to get out of harm's way quickly is lost.

Keeping the revs up is overwhelmingly the correct way to run these engines.

 

I would keep the revs at least in the low 2000's rpms with a light throttle if you want to lug the engine at all. The only engines I have driven that were happy being lugged at 1000 to 2000 rpm were modern diesels such as the 1.9L TDIs.( but they only rev to approx. 4500 rpms) The have relatively big torque at low rpms ( max at 1900 rpm)

 

Exactly- that would be fine in a Corvette. American V8s love the chug-a-lug dance. Those of us with experience on such cars need to be re-trained for P-car work...

Was reading a very good article in Panorama about the experience Zurkas-Duntov's (SP) (AKA "Father of the Corvette") racing a 1100cc 550 for Ferry. Something tells me that the revs were up in that car ALL the time!

 

I'm telling you dude, you're killing that engine! I've driven 911s all my life and if there's one way to put one in an early grave it's "lugging" the engine around. Agreed the early cars with the carbs needed some blowing out now and then that the "new" FI engines don't really need. But the stress induced on the crank, rods, bearings, etc. by running that motor under 2000RPM in any gear higher than 1st is pure crazy.

I can say I have almost never ever used 6th gear even on the interstate. I never drive the 993 below 3000RPM. I just can't! I cringe at the thought of that motor at 1500RPM!

Please for the sake of the good Dr's soul-- run that car out. That's what it was engineered for.

 

Maybe I should be specific on the rev-range I use: Normal "around town" band is 2500-3500 RPM. Still too low from reading these posts but is it "damaging" at those levels?

 

2500 IMO is probably not "damaging" but believe me 3000 and above is probably in the "ideal" range. These engines are made for that, remember. I know I have a problem with about 30 MPH. I usually use 2nd gear even though it's bringging the revs to about 4K. I'd rather that than go to 3rd and drop to under 3K. Just 2000 and below in anything but 1st is not in my book and I wouldn't do it.

Remember, these 993s are not luxury cars. If you're use to an automatic tranny in most Toyotas, Lexus' or Hondas, this is different. Those cars will run at that low of an RPM. My Girlfriend's '02 Camaro Z-28 with the LS-1 will cruise at 1500 all day long on the interstate, but it's engineered for that.

You're fortunate enough to own a real sportscar. Not a car built with the image of sprotiness.
The 993 is truely a race car for the street. Don't worry these cars are tougher than tough -- it can take it -- it begs for it.

Why do you think Porsche leaves so much power on the table with the 911 Turbo? Sure they could max it out like RUF does to unbelievable HP but they build the car as a comsumer car that will LAST for over 100K miles. They split the difference and opt for longevity.

 

If you for the 993 there is a stern warning against lugging the engine, followed by a chart showing the minimum and maximum speeds for each gear. It is a very bad idea to lug the engine in 6th.

And, I agree with others that the engine "sounds" best above 4000 and, above that, the higherthe rpms, the better the sound.

On a somewhat related subject, and maybe this goes without saying, but I find the car to be most dynamic when you carry 1st gear to at least 5000 or 6000 RPM's before shifting, because when you do so your shift into second will place you at the high end of the torque curve and the engine is already alive (as opposed to merely using 1st gear as a launch gear and shifting out of it at 3-4K RPMs.