Driving above 3K RPMs -> engine wear?
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Driving above 3K RPMs -> engine wear?
Just got my 03 WRX a month ago, and loving it!! I am new to driving with stick, so I was wondering if driving on high RPMs especially on lower gears puts unnessary wear on the engine. Appearantly, I was babying this car shifting right at 3K most of the time and way below that going from 1st to 2nd gear.
Till last week! A friend of mine who does some racing explained a few things about gear ratios and how one should shift to get 4K RPMs on each gear for maximum torquage in WRX. That means going up to ~65000 RPM for 1st gear for example, to get 4000 on 2nd!!! I did try reving the car more this past week, and yes it's truly awesome to accelarate. But I am wondering if this is good for the car? I mean just the sounds makes me think the car's gonna fall apart or something.. He also mentioned that driving UNDER 3K RPMs can be bad, 'cause it "blinds" the engine or somethin'.. but i am not sure if i want to trust that one...
Should I go back to slow, smooth shifting at lower RPMs and expect the car to last longer?
-kord
Till last week! A friend of mine who does some racing explained a few things about gear ratios and how one should shift to get 4K RPMs on each gear for maximum torquage in WRX. That means going up to ~65000 RPM for 1st gear for example, to get 4000 on 2nd!!! I did try reving the car more this past week, and yes it's truly awesome to accelarate. But I am wondering if this is good for the car? I mean just the sounds makes me think the car's gonna fall apart or something.. He also mentioned that driving UNDER 3K RPMs can be bad, 'cause it "blinds" the engine or somethin'.. but i am not sure if i want to trust that one...
Should I go back to slow, smooth shifting at lower RPMs and expect the car to last longer?
-kord
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With the Turbo, I'd say it's more important to let it cool down at idle for a minute or so after hard driving.
But I went 136k mi. on my '96 Impreza, visiting the redline at least once a day. Never had a problem with the motor. The tranny crapped the bed, but the motor was fine.
But I went 136k mi. on my '96 Impreza, visiting the redline at least once a day. Never had a problem with the motor. The tranny crapped the bed, but the motor was fine.
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You do know that the turbo doesnt engage until around 3000rpms right?
The engine will be fine. Rev the bajesus out of it if you want, unless you care about gas milage
The engine will be fine. Rev the bajesus out of it if you want, unless you care about gas milage
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Car Info: 02 WRX wagon=dead; rollin' in a Craptastic Camry!
Revving a motor too little will do more damage than revving it too much. Said another way, if your engine is not making enough rpm for your road speed, you will be putting a lot of strain on it. Consider this example: If you are climbing a hill on a bike, do you want to be in a low gear or a high gear? Assuming you are somewhat fit, you will be spinning away in the low gear, but in the high gear you are going to be struggling and torturing your knees. Your engine bearings are akin to your knees in this example.
To sum up: don't be afraid to rev your car! In general, keep the revs above 2K. If you get caught below that in 2nd gear, *gently* accelerate until the revs build to minimize "lugging".
IMO, the most important thing to the longevity of this car (besides scheduled maintenance) is being smooth on the transmission.
To sum up: don't be afraid to rev your car! In general, keep the revs above 2K. If you get caught below that in 2nd gear, *gently* accelerate until the revs build to minimize "lugging".
IMO, the most important thing to the longevity of this car (besides scheduled maintenance) is being smooth on the transmission.
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1st and 2nd
Yeah, so I think the first two gears are more of a problem for me so far. I mean once I am moving, I can rev the 1st gear pretty high (>3K) and endure the sound before upshifting to 2nd. But when I am downshifting, before a street turn for example that goes uphill, I'd love to shift into 1st to get higher RPMs, but it doesn't let me. Is it a safety thing on the transmission to not allow to downshift into 1st once you are already moving? Because going into 2nd, instead, I do get caught in the <2K range pretty often. And I can feel the car straining to accelerate at that point especially if there's a hill after the turn.
Is there a way to shift more intelligently to avoid the strain on the tranny in this case?
Is there a way to shift more intelligently to avoid the strain on the tranny in this case?
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4000 rpm breakin
If I'm not mistakin your still breaking in this motor .But u keep on mentioning 3000 rpms . The guide advises 4000 maximum unless an emergency happens like someone is racing you I guess Don't worry about the sound of the engine , if it bothers you that much turn up your radio . bottom line is the car has a 6k redline once its broken in so use it 
Don't worry about the sound of the engine , if it bothers you that much turn up your radio . bottom line is the car has a 6k redline once its broken in so use it
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akordun, there's nothing to be gained by shifting into 1st in your car unless you are trying to squeeze that last .1 off your autocross score. Even then it's a major pain in the *** b/c the ratio is so far apart between 1st and 2nd. Just make sure you either come to a stop, downshift to 1st, or roll through w/ at least 1500 rpm in second. 2000 rpm is probably better.
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From: Sturmen Motorsports
Originally Posted by akordun
I'd love to shift into 1st to get higher RPMs, but it doesn't let me. Is it a safety thing on the transmission to not allow to downshift into 1st once you are already moving?
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I don't think you need to rev to 6500 to shift into 4000 for normal driving. That's a fairly hard launch for daily driving. If nothing else, you're eating alot of gas *shrug*
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Yeah, I shift at 3000 for good gas in the city, but half my commute is through country roads in the middle of nowhere with no driveways either. I redline every other day approx and always rev high daily at some time during the day. I run redline synthetic oil to give me some piece of mind too. You can shift in to first if you rev match the engine (meaning if you gas it while in neutral to the same rpm it would be in if it were in gear and slowly slip the clutch back in to the lower gear), but it is not easy or good to do for the tranny unless you are really good. I think the more you rev, the more you wear your engine, but not to to the point where you lose 50,000 miles of life. That is just a feeling though cause this is my first modded car. Plus when the engine goes you can stroke it or sleeve it and stuff 
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Car Info: 02 WRX WRB 4EAT VF34 Kit w/AP
Thats what the redline is for. To protect your engine. If your engine would get damaged going above 3k rpm, then that would have been the redline. Plus you have a rev limiter. Bounce it off of that a few times.
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i would think that one would want to shift so the revs donot drop below 2500 rpms. this would let the engine pull without any sort of luging.
are foresters included in the ban on suvs? i dislike the typical suv and its mindless driver. but was imprezed by the xt that i had to have one. it's the first non car ihave owned. my wife hated suvs more than me. she told me that she would be very dissapointed if i ever brought one home. but she admitts that the fxt is the exception to the rule and after driving it to california and back she is even loveing it (a bit).
are foresters included in the ban on suvs? i dislike the typical suv and its mindless driver. but was imprezed by the xt that i had to have one. it's the first non car ihave owned. my wife hated suvs more than me. she told me that she would be very dissapointed if i ever brought one home. but she admitts that the fxt is the exception to the rule and after driving it to california and back she is even loveing it (a bit).