Almost everyone of us has revved our cars at least a few times in our lifetime, knowingly or unknowingly. It is the process when you accelerate your car by pressing the foot pedal while the car is still in the parking mode for different purposes.
However, professionals have different opinions about the usefulness of revving a car engine. Some say it is good to warm up the engine, and others think it damages the engine. So, most people ask, Is it bad to rev your engine?
Ideally speaking, you should never try revving your car unless you have proper knowledge of how the automobile engine works. Otherwise, it might damage the car engine and other parts of it and will cost your dearly.
What Is Rev In A Car?
Before we jump into the usefulness and disadvantages of revving your car, we would like to clarify what rev means in reality. It is crucial since many people are unaware of revving the car engine, although many have performed the trick at least once or twice in our lifespan.
Rev or redlining means accelerating your car’s speed without moving it forward until it hits the limiter. The rev is essential to permit the internal combustion engine of your car to reach its peak power to deliver the best performance.
The rev is linked with the engine power (HP) and RPM. For instance, a car engine tagged “200HP @6000RPM” refers to the highest 200HP, which the engine can deliver at 6000RPM or rotation per minute.
But this is the technical definition of car revs. In simple words, rev refers to a process when you press down your car’s gas pedal while it is still in parking mode and continue pressing the gas pedal until the engine reaches its highest RPM.
When you press down the gas pedal, the car speed accelerates, reaching the highest RPM of the wheel. So, the engine is forced to deliver its highest power to control the car. Although the car is in parking mode, it is much like driving the car in reality.
Also, when you continue pressing the gas pedal and the car starts accelerating its speed, its engine also starts reaching its peak. So, you will hear a roaring sound as if the car engine is growling.
Most people do it to warm up the car engine, particularly during the winter season. Also, if you are using the car after a long time, revving the engine a few times before taking it on the road is common for most people.
Is It Bad To Rev Your Engine?
Many people occasionally rev their car engine as a way to warm it up. However, some people will rev the engine while waiting in the red light or driveway for others to join them. These people should realize that revving a car engine unnecessarily isn’t doing any good to the engine.
Just think simply-
Is it good for your health if you put too much pressure on your body and test your physical ability to its peak whenever possible without any necessity? It will just stress your out soon and may hurt your health badly.
The same goes true for the car engine. When you keep revving the engine too frequently, it puts pressure on it and runs the risk of damaging its parts.
Rev the Engine Too Much: is it good or bad?
You should by now understand that revving a car engine too frequently and unnecessarily will probably damage the engine and its other parts. However, you won’t be 100% sure until you know all the possible damages that a revved engine can cost your engine and car.
Some of the serious consequences of revving a car engine include-
1. It stresses out your car engine:
There are many bad habits that new car owners develop that later hurts their car and their pockets badly. Revving the car engine too frequently is definitely at the top of this list of bad habits. When you rev the car engine to warm it up, it truly hurts the engine capacity and must always be avoided.
We understand that car owners think it is better to warm up the engine to help it reach peak performance in real life. But the actuality is pretty opposite. While people think it circulates the oil and lubricator in every part of the engine, revving doesn’t go the way you think.
When the car engine starts warming up too quickly within a few seconds through revving, most parts of it can’t cope up with the rapid temperature change. Thus, these smaller parts of the engine will start showing problems sooner or later.
2. Wastage of gas or fuel is obvious:
While you can bypass the major problems of revving a car engine, one problem will always prevail, and you can’t avoid it. It refers to the wastage of fuel or gas of the car. Since revving refers to almost driving the car while it stops, the engine still receives gas.
Also, when the engine reaches its peak performance and capacity, it needs more gas. So, you will end up using more gas in the process of warming up the engine. It adds cost to your car maintenance and driving.
3. Hurts the valve train badly:
When the engine is revved too frequently, it takes a toll on the engine’s valve train. When you rev the engine, the valve actually opens up. Also, it compels the valve to remain open more than the expected period.
When the valve remains open for too long, it may cause valve float. It refers to a situation when the valve is neither closed nor opened properly. As a result, the engine will lose its power instead of performing at its peak.
So, you will end up getting an inferior performance from the car engine. Also, it will become inconsistent with frequent revving. It would be best if you replaced the valve’s spring when it happens, and it adds up to the car maintenance cost.
4. May damage the flywheel and clutch of the car:
As a car driver, you would realize the importance of the clutch for driving the car properly and safely. When you put your foot on the gas pedal and want to accelerate the car’s speed, the clutch connects the wheel and the engine for drivability.
When you rev the car too frequently, the cultch needs to take the extra workload. So, the clutch may stop work or get a loose connection and even cause accidents. As revving increases the RPM too quickly, it stresses the clutch and flywheel due to excessive tension and heat. So, both the clutch and flywheel will get damaged.
5. May damage the connecting
The connecting rod of the car engine connects the piston with the crankshaft. When you rev the engine unnecessarily, it runs the risk of damaging the connecting rod. At the worst, the revving may throw the rod and result in a complete failure of the engine.
If it happens, you will need to go through the expensive car engine repair or replacement work. So, you must be aware of it.
Why Do People Prefer Revving Their Car Engine?
Although revving the car engine comes with extreme disadvantages, many people rev their automobile engine almost too frequently. It is not that they don’t understand the serious consequences of revving their car.
Many people would still rev the car engine even after knowing these problems. But why do they redline the car?
The possible answers may include-
- Most people will rev the car to warm up the engine quickly, especially during winter, for better performance.
- Many enthusiasts love revs as a way of showing off the engine’s capacity and power. Also, many youngsters use it for a show-off purpose on the roads.
- During races and friendly competitions, drivers want to reach the top speed, and so, they use rev to get to the peak of the engine’s capacity quickly.
Relevant:
in Conclusion: Is It Bad To Rev Your Engine?
Revving the car engine when not needed and too frequently will cause serious consequences. It may damage the clutch or the connecting rod and also consumes more gasses than necessary.
So, from your car’s performance and safety viewpoint, you should avoid revving the engine unless it is truly essential during the cold morning to warm up the engine.
