Hit My R3v Limit Yesterday

[Threehz]

Pulled up to a beautiful red 80's Porsche yesterday, the girl and I were admiring it and I decided I wanted to really hear it. Older man was driving but I decided to go for it.. So I floored it on green, he was all in right from the start, I was grinning like a dog.

Anyhow I got carried away and let the old M42 hit the limit in first, she jumped and revved back down a little. There was a puff of smoke, don't know if it was from him or myself but I'm guessing it was me. After the lanes merged on the other side of the light I was a little worried but my baby has been driving a little smoother and feels a little stronger since that, I'm guessing I cleared something out..

Just never done this before, the limiter is to protect our engines correct?

End result the girl and I loved it, later on down the road when we passed the Porsche I gave the thumbs up and the old man had a big smile so I think he had fun.

Just wondering, if you have your foot down, letting it all out, will your car just sit revving a the limit?

[Jparkr]

Yes, it is there to protect the engine and can be raised to a higher RPM via performance chips and such.

The only time you need to worry about damaging the engine is if you were to down shift while the engine speed is still to high. The rev limiter will do nothing for you then, the engine would mechanically blow right past it.

[110stx]

Rev limiter cuts fuel so you get an intermittent on-off situation -- BAHBAHBAHBAHBAHBAHBAH -- until you let off the gas or upshift.

I've ridden on the rev limiter for brief intervals on my M20 car with no ill effects. I have a chip with a 7.1k rev limit.

My m42 car has a custom chip and I'm not even sure what the rev limit is. As I approach 7k, I upshift. :pimp:

d.hitchcock

[Wh33lhop]

You can ride the limiter for seconds or even minutes (less advisable) at a time with your foot to the floor without engine damage, and many do. Don't fret.

[ak-]

You've experienced the Italian tune up

[Cletonius]

You've experienced the Italian tune up

This

[Threehz]

Jparkr good tip about not downshifting up that high, never thought about that.

You've experienced the Italian tune up

:D

[MattAvino]

You've experienced the Italian tune up

hahaha, the best kind of tune up.

[M3Philipp]

It could be that just before or meanwhile you hit the limiter, the road was bumpy or something.
Meaning the rear wheels did spin for a very short moment, because you got higher torque in higher revs too, and because the road was not perfect at that point.
I had that "problem" with my M42 a few times.
It feels like the car gets kicked in its butt then, jumping forward a bit.
Not so easy to explain...
But it has nothing to do with the revlimiter itself.

Just a guess though.

[slammin.e28]

The only time you need to worry about damaging the engine is if you were to down shift while the engine speed is still to high. The rev limiter will do nothing for you then, the engine would mechanically blow right past it.

Money shifting is always a good time!

[YosemiteSam]

I don't understand some people's obsession with not hitting the limiter under any circumstances. It is there to protect your engine. In many cases the engine is capable of reving much higher than the limiter without any problems. A friend of mine's dad got a Boxter S a couple years ago; recently when he had some engine trouble he took it to the dealer and when they looked at the computor they found that he had only hit the limiter once. I understand why he changes the oil twice as often as he needs to and why he never drives it in the rain but good god man, have some fun. Do it for all of us who can't afford to have cars like that.
/rant.

[lambo]

Same thing happened to me, went to 6500 and I guess black smoke shot out the rear, but it has been beautiful since then.

[FunfGan]

Only hit it a few times, honestly have no idea where the chip bumped the limiter up to.

[be34st]

Italian tune-up?

[Threehz]

You know I've noticed my baby really does like to get driven, I can feel she get restless if I don't do enough spirited driving.

In fact, when I drive spirited more often I get better gas mileage...

I'll have to hit the limiter after I warm her up on the freeway and see how she likes it. Late night, cold air, burning hot engine and just tear things up.

Good info guys