Safe to average 4k RPM?

[bwu]

Anyone know if the M4/M3 can maintain 4k-5k rpm average for like 1-2 hrs without causing engine damage? Maybe staying in 2nd or 3rd gear at 60-70 mph? Ive been getting mixed information on how this can cause more wear and tear in the engine for some cars but how does the m4/m3 handle this long term?

[CanAutM3]

Why are you asking ?

I am sure the S55 can take it. At the track, I do 30+ minutes stints with the RPM above 5500RPM, so it averages considerably more than 4000RPM. However, higher RPM will inherently cause more wear than lower RPMs.

[myzmak]

Originally Posted by bwu

Anyone know if the M4/M3 can maintain 4k-5k rpm average for like 1-2 hrs without causing engine damage? Maybe staying in 2nd or 3rd gear at 60-70 mph? Ive been getting mixed information on how this can cause more wear and tear in the engine for some cars but how does the m4/m3 handle this long term?

Will mean crappy fuel economy but......assume that as a trackable car this would be fine.

Other than on a track, though, why would you be doing this?

[bwu]

Just curious lol

[Noisygriff]

I'm curious too... I've been wondering about whether I should drive everywhere with the trunk open. I've got utterly no idea why I would do this, but I think other people's opinions on whether it will harm the car will be useful. Somehow.

[nicknaz]

You'd be doing that if you were doing a high speed trip on the autobahn or a track day / enduro

I don't see an issue with that

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by Noisygriff

I'm curious too... I've been wondering about whether I should drive everywhere with the trunk open. I've got utterly no idea why I would do this, but I think other people's opinions on whether it will harm the car will be useful. Somehow.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by bwu

Anyone know if the M4/M3 can maintain 4k-5k rpm average for like 1-2 hrs without causing engine damage?

It depends.

For example, if the car is sitting with the engine off for roughly 1:59:27, and then you rev it to ~1,000,000RPM for even just those few seconds to get to your required average in under two hours, it probably won't survive.

[TeKiZeRo]

It will definitely cause some more wear and tear on rotating parts at that RPM, but I don't think it will cause much damage. My Evo X has horrible gearing and I average 4K RPM at 80MPH lol.

[FTS]

I am amazed how people can come up with these amazing questions as if there are no other topics are left in the world for us to spend our remaining tiny brain power and we are working the lowest priorities now.

[bwu]

Originally Posted by FTS

I am amazed how people can come up with these amazing questions as if there are no other topics are left in the world for us to spend our remaining tiny brain power and we are working the lowest priorities now.

Thank you

[DaBean]

Why would you stay in third gear on the highway? If you need more power, then just downshift - it doesn't take that long. If you're tracking the car for that long, then you'll hit that rev average (if not more)...

Either way, obviously keep an eye on the temp gauges. If temps go up, then slow down and let the engine cool down a bit before shutting it off.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by FTS

I am amazed how people can come up with these amazing questions as if there are no other topics are left in the world for us to spend our remaining tiny brain power and we are working the lowest priorities now.

Maybe the OP is thinking about using his car for an enduro

[04RC51]

Originally Posted by FTS

I am amazed how people can come up with these amazing questions as if there are no other topics are left in the world for us to spend our remaining tiny brain power and we are working the lowest priorities now.

Maybe people ran out of stuff to complain about? Yeah, just kidding. These freaks will always think of something else to complain about.

Honestly, these threads are getting worse and worse. I can only imagine what this place will look like in a year or so.

[solstice]

Maybe he was on an intense phone call for an hour and mindlessly kept the car in 3rd while cruising down the hwy Don't worry 4k rpm is at the lower average for a track day. It can easily take it, no harm done.

[Launch Control]

Maybe He likes the sound it makes.

[MFNATIK]

I've heard of people who purposely drive around in lower gears to hear their exhaust. Hopefully this is not the case.

[JoeFromPA]

A correction:

There is pretty much no measurable wear and tear that occurs at a steady state RPM with an operating temp engine and oil within normal engine speed operating range.

Whether that be 2,000 rpms or 6,000 rpms.

If the oil overheats, or the engine is cold, or you put an extreme load on the engine....those things create wear.

Let me put this another way:

It is worse for the engine to put it in 6th gear in 1200rpms and do 100% throttle on a significant uphill then it is to cruise at 6000 rpms in 3rd gear at 10% throttle, because in the latter there is no real engine wear occurring and engine load is low. In the former, the engine is extremely loaded at an undesirable operating range.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by FTS

I am amazed how people can come up with these amazing questions as if there are no other topics are left in the world for us to spend our remaining tiny brain power and we are working the lowest priorities now.

These can't be real people I think the forum admin just throws them out there to generate discussion.

[04RC51]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

These can't be real people I think the forum admin just throws them out there to generate discussion.

Yeah, they have to be bots to get hits to the site and boost post count. The higher the post count, the more they can charge vendors? There is no way actual people have the thoughts that start some of these threads.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by 04RC51

Yeah, they have to be bots to get hits to the site and boost post count. The higher the post count, the more they can charge vendors? There is no way actual people have the thoughts that start some of these threads.

[JoeFromPA]

Originally Posted by 04RC51

Yeah, they have to be bots to get hits to the site and boost post count. The higher the post count, the more they can charge vendors? There is no way actual people have the thoughts that start some of these threads.

Guess you were born understanding the internal combustion engine and principles of metallurgical longevity, and have never been tainted by the feather touch of marketing twisting your thoughts to believe your engine/car/401k is always on the brink of ruin unless you buy a certain product.