Can you rev your engine past 4500rpm when not in gear?

[blackfire99]

I know, it isn't good to do, but Iwas revving the engine to listen for some problems i had been having, when I noticed at 4500rpm, it dies and drops to idle. Kinda like fuel starvation, is this supposed to happen? Asafety to keep idiots like myself from blowing the engine, or is there a real problem here? I just replaced plugs, pcv, fuel filter, and changed the oil, so everything should be good. This car is starting to worry me...maybe it's too smart for its own good!


thanks

[Dojo2000]

If you have an automatic this is normal. Rev limiter is dropped to 4500 RPM when your in neutral. The rev limiter is just a fuel cut-off at a certain RPM.

If you keep on the gas you'll notice the tach needle kinda bounces when you get to 4500 RPM = what they call "bouncing off the rev limiter". Just stating this for newbies' future reference ;)

[strobhen]

as Dojo said, its a rev limiter

Its much lower in neutral than in gear because its a lot easier for an engine to tear itself apart when revving high w/ no load.

In gear, the rev limited is 5400-5600, though it may look like you go past that on the tach.

[predator5100]

Hmm mined goes to 5500 at least out of gear i have never dared to try more

[blackfire99]

Thanks for the clarification there, but i have a manual tranny...any difference?

thanks

[gregmondro]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by predator5100:
Hmm mined goes to 5500 at least out of gear i have never dared to try more<hr></blockquote>

you have a 3.4. Everyone else that posted has the 3.8 [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Dojo2000]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by blackfire99:
Thanks for the clarification there, but i have a manual tranny...any difference?

thanks<hr></blockquote>

As far as I know the PCM never even knows what gear your in with a manual (reverse just hits a switch the turns on your back-up lights), so no decreased rev limiter

[blackfire99]

So in this case, sould I be able to rev past this point? This is really a pain not knowing anything for certain...

thanks

[Jlo]

i have a 3.4 5 speed and my car dies right after 4500rpm i hate that but i still take it to 5500
any suggestions on how to feel power all the way

[Dojo2000]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Jlo:
i have a 3.4 5 speed and my car dies right after 4500rpm i hate that but i still take it to 5500
any suggestions on how to feel power all the way<hr></blockquote>

We're talking about when your sitting in you're drive way reving your engine in neutral. I think your talking about when you're actually accelerating on the road.

[Fat_kid_in_little_camaro]

Summary: Rev limiter is only on AUTOMATICS! Limiter seems to only be on the 3800 engine also. So, if your call is not an automatic 3800, then you may not have one. (all in a nut shell, at least thats a summary of what everyone said)

[Dojo2000]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Fat_kid_in_little_camaro:
Summary: Rev limiter is only on AUTOMATICS! Limiter seems to only be on the 3800 engine also. So, if your call is not an automatic 3800, then you may not have one. (all in a nut shell, at least thats a summary of what everyone said)<hr></blockquote>

No, no, no. All 3.8s have a rev limiter! The rev limiter is ~5600RPM. If you have an automatic your rev limiter is dropped to ~4500RPM by the PCM only when you put the transmission into neutral

If you had no rev limiter at all you would be able to rev to redline and beyond, in most cases causing internal engine damage.