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Run the engine at these speeds and you will increase its life by 10x

Low or high revs, which is better for the engine? According to the neighborhood council, low revs, according to the auto mechanic, high revs.

In what rpm range is it good to keep the engine to last as long as possible? Is it better to slightly underspeed the engine and not load it or, on the contrary, drive the aggregate to the limiter every now and then? A reader, Mr. Kozelka, contacted the editors with a question about correct working with gas and engine speed. Mr. Kozelka responded to the “advice” his neighbor gave him while they were washing their cars in front of their garages.

What rpm is best for the engine, lower or higher?

The neighbor said he read on an internet forum that it is not advisable to exceed the range of 2000 to 3000 revolutions per minute. Then the engine will last as long as possible. However, the reality is different, in fact this one retired driving style does not extend the life of the engine in any way. Parts of the crank mechanism and high pressure of the piston on the cylinder wall remain loaded. And this under conditions where the oil pump has a low output.

iZdroj fotografie: Christian Giersing / Creative Commons / CC BY-NC-SA

This is related to the rapid wear of the lubricant on the crankshaft liners and also on the pistons. The pistons start to hang on the cylinders, the efficiency of the piston rings decreases, and the overhaul of the engine is a little closer. Needlessly. But of course the Internet is full of advice from a completely opposite opinion spectrum. Proponents of another point of view recommend more often revving the engine in the range of 5000 to 6000 revolutions. Deliberately pushing the tachometer needle into the red field of the limiter.

It is advisable to occasionally crank the engine to the limiter. In moderation!

Why? Because “this will drive soot and sediment out of the combustion engine.” What does the expert say? We contacted our yard associate, an expert in the service of the most common used cars, Mr. Pavlíček. “The recommendations to rev up the engine are correct to some extent.” started by a service professional, “if the driver wants the engine to work properly for a long time, he has to warm it up enough.”

What is desirable for the proper operation of the engine? “The engine needs regular revs,” says Mr. Pavlíček, “during such a load on the power unit, the combustion chamber and spark plugs will be cleaned of soot.” It also applies according to expert opinion that a large amount of exhaust gas is suitable for cleaning the turbocharger. This only occurs at high revs. For most components, they will begin to degrade if not used properly.

In winter, the basis for proper operation is to warm up the engine

Which, of course, does not mean permanently and long-term excessively loaded. In winter, it is also really inappropriate and unhealthy to drive with an engine that is not properly warmed up. Insufficient temperature leads to condensation of moisture in the crankcase of the power unit, where it mixes with the engine oil. Thus, the lubrication properties deteriorate. Engines operated in this way consume oil. On the contrary, an aggregate that is properly heated does not suffer from moisture.

Winter - tire pressure
iPhoto source: Unsplash

Unwanted water evaporates and disappears almost without a trace. How to rev the engine correctly? Definitely when standing in the parking lot. If anything, then in good weather, on a dry, clean and flat track. Simply put, it’s a good idea to drive in a lower gear for a few minutes. Let’s put it on four, about 100 km/h. With manual shifting, it’s easy, just reach for the lever and downshift.

Nothing should be overdone, not even high engine speeds

With an automatic, the driver starts the car and then switches to manual gear and selects a lower gear. Fuel consumption will increase in the short term, but the higher costs for the engine to breathe properly are certainly worth it. According to some experts, occasionally revving the engine to higher revs is appropriate, of course it is not the same as driving for a long time with the engine revved up, it will not help to extend the life of the engine in any way.

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