Is high rpm driving really THAT much harder on a properly warmed engine?

[BD2003]

Common sense would say yes. When the engine is cold, Im sure theres absolutely no question - I keep it as low as possible until its warm.

My car is a 00 celica gts, which doesnt really show its full potential under 6000rpm due to the vtec-like variable valve timing and lift. It is very, very difficult for me to drive this car slowly. A few tears to the 8200 rpm redline anyone is going to do - that kind of rpm I would never sustain.

Thats not my real question....with such a small engine, when Im driving around town, I like to keep it around 4000rpm - seems like the sweet spot for torque, and just about halfway to redline. I could just as easily drop it down to 2000-2500rpm most of the time, but the shifter is a pain in the ass at low speeds and besides...wheres the fun in that.

I maintain my car religiously...full synthetic fluids, only the best filters etc...part of me thinks high rpm automatically means higher wear, the other part of me thinks as long as I keep the engine and tranny as well lubricated as possible, there shouldnt be that many meaningful particles banging around the engine to cause much meaningful wear in the first place. Besides, a good engine should last 150k anyway, even more so the way I maintain it...

So...over say 150k miles, assuming its well maintained, should I even worry about it, or just have at it? Its at 75k now.

 

[Heisenberg]

Higher rpm generally means more wear, but if you maintain the engine properly I seriously doubt you'll see any substantial reduction in engine life, especially with a modern motor. I'd be interested in hearing opinions from those with more experience than I.

 

[radioouman]

More heat breaks down the oil faster, wears bearings faster, breaks down seals faster.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: radioouman
More heat breaks down the oil faster, wears bearings faster, breaks down seals faster.

But is that even a typical problem requiring repair under 150k miles on a well maintained car?

 

[mercanucaribe]

Driving around at 4000rpm??? WTF? I usually shift my 240sx at 2500rpm.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Higher rpm generally means more wear, but if you maintain the engine properly I seriously doubt you'll see any substantial reduction in engine life, especially with a modern motor. I'd be interested in hearing opinions from those with more experience than I.

Teh Winnar.

ZV

 

[NaOH]

Put some synthetic in there.

 

[phantom309]

My understanding is that rotary engines wear out a lot faster that way, but it doesn't affect modern piston engines that much.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: AMDUALY
Put some synthetic in there.

:roll:

 

[DurocShark]

The biggest problems with piston engines at high rpms will be valves and connecting rods.

Those things have mechanical impacts during running. Valves slamming into the seats 4000 times per minute, connecting rods slamming into the piston pins and crankshaft 8000 times per minute.

But luckily, they're designed for that kind of use. So it's normally not an issue.

BTW: 4k rpm isn't high. I ran my 73 Bus at 5k regularly.

 

[wetcat007]

Don't know about wear but you gas milage is going to go down a bit...

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: wetcat007
Don't know about wear but you gas milage is going to go down a bit...

Gas mileage isnt a concern...the car practically sips gas as it is (premium though ).

I'm not talking about crusing down the highway at 4000rpm, thats what high gears are for...I'm talking about whipping around windy two lane highways.

 

[randomlinh]

gts takes premium? didn't know that.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
gts takes premium? didn't know that.

91 minimum - but 93 is what they sell around here. Crappy 10% ethanol, but I have no other options.

I can get 35mpg doing a good 65 on the highway - 80 will pull about 27. Pretty damn good.

Gets low 20s for me most of the time though, considering my drive to just about everything is 1-5 miles, and the engine isnt even done warming by then. But thats better than most other cars in the same conditions.

One time I even filled up right before going out on a "spirited" drive. I still wonder to this day how I didnt get ticketed twice that day. Probably never even dropped below 4000 rpm at any point but stop signs and red lights.

Filled it back up, 30mpg. Toyota knows what theyre doing.

 

[AMCRambler]

My Contour SVT red lines at 6500 or so. If I'm just going along, I usually shift at around 3000-3500. If I'm feeling like taking off a little bit, I gotta rev past 3700 because that's when the secondaries on the injectors open up. It's pretty fun doing that too. Almost like a little turbo boost there in each gear. Now I can rev the thing to 6500 and shift if I want to go like hell, but I won't do that unless I'm racing somebody off the line or something stupid.
A couple of times I've missed the shift and actually hit the rev limiter at 6500. Quite an awkward sensation because all of a sudden, no moe acceleration so you kinda get thrown forward in your seat. Now I gotta figure, revving that high stresses the engine, but the rev limiter should prevent the engine from sustaining any excessive damage. Does your car let you go past the redline or does it have a limiter on it. I would say driving past the rpm red line on a regular basis would definitely be bad for your motor. Cruising at 4000 rpms though is kinda high for my car. After driving mine for awhile I kind of got a feel for where the rpms should be when I'm cruising. Usually 1900-2400 or so. You can hear the engine is just too loud at 4000 and seems to be working hard.

 

[homestarmy]

That's what I love about my Integra. Even if I beat on it, I still get 30MPG .

It's all about the maintenance. 160k here and engine is perfect.