Re: Driving cars hard (high rpm's)

[Jason Cammisa <jcammisa@sprintmail.com>]

At 08:41 AM 8/25/98 -0400, Wm. Josiah Erikson wrote:
>    Maybe running cars up that high IS really bad? I never really thought
it was.
>I mean, I know people THINK it is, but is it really?
>    -Josiah

I am of the firm belief that the red line was placed in a certain spot for
a reason... therefore I assume it is safe to rev my engine to that point.
However, there are limitations.
	For those of you who have been in my car when the oil is under 90'C, but I
push that pedal absolutely no more than 1/3 of the way down, and never,
ever exceed 3000rpm.  People behind me HATE me, but that's the way it is.
	Assuming my oil is (a) in good condition and (b) warmed up over 100'C, I
have no qualms about redlining my car (7200rpm)... however engine wear does
increase exponentially with engine speed.  Why?  Because, remember, those
four little pistons are under a tremendous amount of force.  The force
needed just to get them to go up, stop, go down, stop, go up, etc... is
enormous.  And those forces increase exponentially.  So, while I have no
problems smacking the rev limiter when baby's warmed up, I don't hover
around those speeds for long (unless for some reason I need to, obviously).
	I tend to drive like an automatic transmission- I shift a lot.  I tend to
stay in the highest possible gear- but generally once I reach that second
intake stage on the throttle (2/3 throttle) I'll start downshifting.
(obviously earlier at lower rpms).  
	So, bottom line, if you car is healthy, rev it.  There is a reason that
red line on the tach is where it is.
			YMMV etc etc..
				Jason
				87 16v

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