Are higher revs better?

C

Crash867

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Hi

When changing gears most people I know don't even go near redlining their cars. My parents especially change gears between 2 and 3 thousand revs which I find ridiculous. I don't know if changing at higher revs wears out a car faster or wastes more fuel but changing at higher revs makes me feel like I am playing NFS all over again. Personally I just love hearing the engine scream a lil before changing gears but does this wear out my car or waste fuel?
 
Depends a lot on the car...

Do that to a normal TDI and you'll shorten the engines lifespan significantly... A Honda VTec on the other hand is the complete opposite.
 
Keeping revs low is more fuel efficient (to a point) and high revs is both fuel in-efficient and less ideal for engine longevity.

If you rev it high then chances are you're outside the engines optimal power curve anyway so despite sound it might not actually be faster.

If its a manual the focus should be on matching the speed though...i.e. smooth shifts.

Also...I've got no clue what I'm talking about so lets see what the rest think. :p
 
It's not the rev that you change at, it's where you're sitting on the torque curve after changing.

Getting into a higher gear too soon often results in burning more fuel, because you'd need to open more of the throttle in order to gain or maintain any sort of speed.

This obviously depends on the car, so you'd need to find the sweet spot where you'd have a decent amount of torque available for the next gear.
 
Brawler said:
Depends a lot on the car...

Do that to a normal TDI and you'll shorten the engines lifespan significantly... A Honda VTec on the other hand is the complete opposite.
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And for OPCs?
 
Once a car has been warmed up it can be changed at any RPM before the red line.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
It's not the rev that you change at, it's where you're sitting on the torque curve after changing.

Getting into a higher gear too soon often results in burning more fuel, because you'd need to open more of the throttle in order to gain or maintain any sort of speed.

This obviously depends on the car, so you'd need to find the sweet spot where you'd have a decent amount of torque available for the next gear.
Click to expand...

Wider throttle at lower RPM is actually more efficient, as you have less pumping loss.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Your concern would be oil consumption more than fuel consumption...
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Dont understand the point about oil consumption. When best to change gears? You mentioned TDI bad idea but Vtec loves high revving? So where does opc fit in.
 
adielk said:
Dont understand the point about oil consumption. When best to change gears? You mentioned TDI bad idea but Vtec loves high revving? So where does opc fit in.
Click to expand...

With opels you ask the pompjoggie to check the petrol while he fills up the oil ;)
 
Sinbad said:
Wider throttle at lower RPM is actually more efficient, as you have less pumping loss.
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Check the real-time consumption on your car in both instances - highest gear, low RPM, full throttle vs 2nd highest gear, in the torque band, partial throttle. You'd be surprised...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Your concern would be oil consumption more than fuel consumption...
Click to expand...

Sinbad said:
With opels you ask the pompjoggie to check the petrol while he fills up the oil ;)
Click to expand...

Stop trolling you trolls :). In seven and a half years of owning my OPC I have never topped up with oil outside of it being replaced at normal service intervals. Chew on that :D
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Your concern would be oil consumption more than fuel consumption...
Click to expand...

Mike Hoxbig said:
It's not the rev that you change at, it's where you're sitting on the torque curve after changing.

Getting into a higher gear too soon often results in burning more fuel, because you'd need to open more of the throttle in order to gain or maintain any sort of speed.

This obviously depends on the car, so you'd need to find the sweet spot where you'd have a decent amount of torque available for the next gear.
Click to expand...

This. Changing to early puts wears out silly things like gearbox and clutch (I think); revving to high all the time just uses fuel and wears out the engine generally. Finding that sweet spot of torque and revs is the key....to saving fuel.
 
Absolutely stunning when passengers feel the boost
 
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