Would driving a auto or truck conservativly be harmful? I have a 99 jeep 5 speed with a manual trans and never get the rpms up past 3k. I have heard many talk of the high rpm "italian tuneup" and was wondering if keeping the RPM's primarily in the 2k-3k range could be harmful in anyway?
Is conservative driving harmful?
- Thread starter wn1998
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Driving conservatively is one of the best ways to extend the life of a vehicle. You do want to make sure it is driven enough to get the engine and running gear up to operating temperature and hold it there long enough to drive off moisture and other contaminates. Do not lug the engine. Do not loiter too long in the lower gears. From a stop, go ahead and accelerate normally, getting into high gear before too long. Moderation is the idea. Excessive use of lower gears causes wear.
When I worked in the brake shop the codger that owned it, always was talking about how much better shape the trucks were that were driven by the owner, than by a hired hand. Besides brakes, the shop did clutches and suspensions.
When I worked in the brake shop the codger that owned it, always was talking about how much better shape the trucks were that were driven by the owner, than by a hired hand. Besides brakes, the shop did clutches and suspensions.
I personally don't think that conservative driving is harmful, but it never hurts to run the pi$$ out of a vehicle every now and then. This will help make sure that you burn off contaminants in both the engine and exhaust that conservative driving doesn't accomplish.
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Well, I'd say "sensible" driving as opposed to conservative. There's nothing wrong with exercizing an engine/drive train generically speaking. You just don't flog it. Driving 100 mph isn't necessarily beating it.
A stock TJ jeep engine typically doesn't see 3k+ much ..or rather it typically doesn't see much above 3k for very long other than the highway. In a 4.0 you're looking at between 2200-2500 rpm. In a 2.5 ..maybe 3000-3200k in highway use, less if you've got bigger tires. Just about everyone I know that owns a jeep has taken a different approach to driving. My Caravan provides more "excitment" outside of a decent snowbank. This is especially true with a 4 banger.
If you beat your SE ..I would expect your AX-5, or D35, to take a hike long before your venurable 2.5 ever got tired.
A stock TJ jeep engine typically doesn't see 3k+ much ..or rather it typically doesn't see much above 3k for very long other than the highway. In a 4.0 you're looking at between 2200-2500 rpm. In a 2.5 ..maybe 3000-3200k in highway use, less if you've got bigger tires. Just about everyone I know that owns a jeep has taken a different approach to driving. My Caravan provides more "excitment" outside of a decent snowbank. This is especially true with a 4 banger.
If you beat your SE ..I would expect your AX-5, or D35, to take a hike long before your venurable 2.5 ever got tired.
On the Ranger forums I used to see a lot of people complaining about the performance of thier rigs, and that they would say that they drove very conservatively, and when they had to push the pucker pedal, there wouldn't be any "pucker".
One of the preventative maint. suggestions that Ford offered to these types of driver would be to get on the gas!!
Apparently in some cases carbon would build up on top of the piston, and other areas and would decrease the compression. According to Ford, getting on the pucker pedal hard every so often would knock loose the carbon and restore compression.
It's really funny watching a Ford Tech hopping in a Grandma's/Grandpa's Ranger, and then peel out on the street in 2nd to the stop light!
I've cured more than one 4.0L ford this way for my friends.
Personally I'd rather buy a vehicle that was moderately to heavy (within reason) driven, than one that was light to moderate.
One of the preventative maint. suggestions that Ford offered to these types of driver would be to get on the gas!!
Apparently in some cases carbon would build up on top of the piston, and other areas and would decrease the compression. According to Ford, getting on the pucker pedal hard every so often would knock loose the carbon and restore compression.
It's really funny watching a Ford Tech hopping in a Grandma's/Grandpa's Ranger, and then peel out on the street in 2nd to the stop light!
I've cured more than one 4.0L ford this way for my friends.
Personally I'd rather buy a vehicle that was moderately to heavy (within reason) driven, than one that was light to moderate.
It can be harmful or even fatal when merging onto a highway.
My friend drives the bag off his 3.1 cavalier and it never has break downs related to his driving (just stuff like starters and alternators that you can't blame on high rpm's)
he says I baby my car too much and should drive it harder. I started taking his advice and it seems to like it (the car)
he says I baby my car too much and should drive it harder. I started taking his advice and it seems to like it (the car)
Nothing chaps my a$$ more than drivers who don't use the "acceleration" lane the way it was designed to be used, to "accelerate" to the speed of people on the freeway as to make merging "safe". And to top it all off, when you try to make them aware of their pi$$ poor driving with a simple gesture, 9 times out of 10 you get a dirty look as if it were you who are in the wrong.
**** right!
Let's not confuse conservative driving with slow driving. The people you guys are complaining about are just slow. I consider myself conservative. I accelerate at an APPROPRIATE rate, I leave room in front of me, I don't get agressive and I signal when turning or changing lanes. When merging onto the highway, I LOVE to jump on the gas pedal and wind out that 3800 V6, blowing past the grandma in front of me trying to merge onto a 70 mph freeway at 40. Once I get up to speed though, I settle down and go with the flow, maybe a little faster depending.
So don't complain about conservative drivers, complain about the slow ones. And for the record, I think taking it easy will certainly enhance the longevity of the powertrain and a regular dose of Fuel Power, or another good cleaner, will eliminate any carbon problems that might crop up.
So don't complain about conservative drivers, complain about the slow ones. And for the record, I think taking it easy will certainly enhance the longevity of the powertrain and a regular dose of Fuel Power, or another good cleaner, will eliminate any carbon problems that might crop up.
conservative drivers arent the same as slow drivers, and at the same time you can get on your car and drive it hard without beting on it.. personally i drive conservatively most of the time.. but i do get on it from time to time, when safe to do so.
Patman
Staff member
It's funny this topic should come up, because I've honestly worried about the condition of my engine since I haven't been able to go full throttle very much at all now that the roads are wet and/or covered in salt.
On the plus side, my MPG has been pretty awesome.
On the plus side, my MPG has been pretty awesome.
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I drive very liberally.
i drive the **** out of my vehicles.
driving a automobile conservatively can get you in a wreck. if you dont keep up with the flow of traffic you are an endangerment to youreself and to youre fellow motorists.
please people, ATLEAST keep up with traffic flow and not lag behind.
theres not much worse than getting stuck behind a driver who refuses to accelerate along with the rest of the traffic. espically if the driver causes you to not get through a light.
my dad does alot of lagging behind. hes 60 and drives like hes 90. it upsets me so much that i cant be in the same car with him anymore. people honk at him and give mean looks and its embarassing however he is more converned about fuel economy. but why does he drive a full time 4wd if he is so concerned about fuel economy?
driving a automobile conservatively can get you in a wreck. if you dont keep up with the flow of traffic you are an endangerment to youreself and to youre fellow motorists.
please people, ATLEAST keep up with traffic flow and not lag behind.
theres not much worse than getting stuck behind a driver who refuses to accelerate along with the rest of the traffic. espically if the driver causes you to not get through a light.
my dad does alot of lagging behind. hes 60 and drives like hes 90. it upsets me so much that i cant be in the same car with him anymore. people honk at him and give mean looks and its embarassing however he is more converned about fuel economy. but why does he drive a full time 4wd if he is so concerned about fuel economy?
Re: "italian tuneup." Good idea only if you drive an Alfa (Romeo).
Otherwise, drive like you are on the street, not on the racetrack.
SAY what you will But if you hurt someone these days by speeding you will go to jail or prison if you kill someone.
I doubt the judge will listen to "I was keeping up with traffic"
I doubt the judge will listen to "I was keeping up with traffic"
My previous Honda spent much of its like at 3-4k range on the highway. (normal revs for 75MPH + or -). I would occasionally take it to 5-7k for a pass. It was running like new at 210,000 miles and 9 years old.
Personally I don't think it makes much of any difference except if you constantly run the engine hard it may wear prematurely. Engines last much longer than a car typically.
Personally I don't think it makes much of any difference except if you constantly run the engine hard it may wear prematurely. Engines last much longer than a car typically.
When I started this topic my intentions were to see if indeed carbon may build up because I never "get on" my jeep. I keep up with traffic and usually am about 5-10 mph above the limit. I would say 75% of my driving is 45-55mph at a tad over 2k rpms.
Speeding? Speeding isn't what hurts people. Not paying attention is what hurts people.
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