Italian Tuneups: What's the longest you've run your engine at high RPM?
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George Burns was once asked what it was like having sex at 90yo. He replied that it was like shooting pool with a rope.As an older fellow I find that term amusing.
Who here remembers the guy on the forum that used to buy poorly-maintained fancy used cars, invariably encounter various issues with them, ignore everyone's advice about fixing them properly, and instead try to fix whatever ails them with countless Italian tune-ups? The one I remember most vividly was a Volvo, way overdue on timing belt replacement but he sure liked throwing money at new stereo equipment and Italian tune-ups. No matter how many members suggested - pleaded! - that he get the timing belt attended to pronto.
I bought my 226k mile Camry from a lady who commuted long distances for 11 years. It runs fine. I guarantee this car never had an Italian tune up.
I get spirited at the on ramp, but never beat on my cars. There is more than just an engine. Half shafts and the transmission come to mind…
I once had to take my 12 Camry over 100, but that was a safety issue when a drunk driven Super Duty decided to pick on me after midnight on a lonely lonesome highway in Northern Iowa. Did it twice, as I backed off when I got far enough ahead. He caught me again and that is when I went back up to more than the Super Duty could for about 5 miles, then stayed at 90 for a few more miles.
It wasn’t fun, or my preference.
I get spirited at the on ramp, but never beat on my cars. There is more than just an engine. Half shafts and the transmission come to mind…
I once had to take my 12 Camry over 100, but that was a safety issue when a drunk driven Super Duty decided to pick on me after midnight on a lonely lonesome highway in Northern Iowa. Did it twice, as I backed off when I got far enough ahead. He caught me again and that is when I went back up to more than the Super Duty could for about 5 miles, then stayed at 90 for a few more miles.
It wasn’t fun, or my preference.
The highest I've ever run is probably around 3K rpms for a couple hours on trips between Western Pa. and Southwest Fl. Today you don't need to do the famous Italian Tuneups with modern vehicles. Take it out on the highway put the cruise control on and enjoy a long drive for a few hours. An eight of ten hour drive on the interstate at the speed limit or maybe five over, will solve any problem an Italian Tuneup of the old days would do. Just toss in a bottle of fuel system cleaner while your at it.
A well designed engine can be run at the redline for hours and hours without drama or damage.
Personally I’ve had several 1966 Shelby GT350’s equipped with a vintage Paxton superchargers, & On several occasions I had the opportunity to run them ran continuously at the redline in top gear until the 16 gallon gas tank was nearly empty. The Ford 289 engine is not modern by any stretch of the imagination, but in good condition it can handle hours at 6,000 rpm without any issues.
There aren’t many curves in west Texas, and only a couple of places on the Big Bend Open Road Race course, about 53 miles each way, where it’s necessary to feather the throttle even slightly.
After 85,000 miles of ownership on one of my ‘66 GT350 I did replace the head gasket prior to a sale.
No measurable cylinder wear, and no oil consumption. I do try to use a quality oil in the classics. Mobil 1 15w-50 worked very well for me.
All this considered, I’ve seen minimal evidence that an “Italian tune up” does any tuning.
Z
Personally I’ve had several 1966 Shelby GT350’s equipped with a vintage Paxton superchargers, & On several occasions I had the opportunity to run them ran continuously at the redline in top gear until the 16 gallon gas tank was nearly empty. The Ford 289 engine is not modern by any stretch of the imagination, but in good condition it can handle hours at 6,000 rpm without any issues.
There aren’t many curves in west Texas, and only a couple of places on the Big Bend Open Road Race course, about 53 miles each way, where it’s necessary to feather the throttle even slightly.
After 85,000 miles of ownership on one of my ‘66 GT350 I did replace the head gasket prior to a sale.
No measurable cylinder wear, and no oil consumption. I do try to use a quality oil in the classics. Mobil 1 15w-50 worked very well for me.
All this considered, I’ve seen minimal evidence that an “Italian tune up” does any tuning.
Z
Multiple 20 minute sessions flat out between 4000-7500rpms. Car still felt great but I blew the engine on an unrelated issue. I never felt as if the car was affected from the Italian tune up but the car regularly saw and bounced off redline.
Depending on what a person's definition of high RPMs are, 80mph in the evo was a hair under 4000rpm, so that for a ~6 hour trip.
Depending on what a person's definition of high RPMs are, 80mph in the evo was a hair under 4000rpm, so that for a ~6 hour trip.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
That was GHT (one of his 10+ names). I think his real name was Joseph
I'd say a good 6/700Km, multiple times.
Citröen C15, 1,1L engine, no tachometer. Max speed is around 125/130Kmh and that's what it did on the highway. Often less when loaded...pedal to the floor and that was it.
And many other cars from that era with small engines like that. These were different times. Many of them went to 200000Km before being trashed...but blue clouds and some oil consumption were not uncommon.
Citröen C15, 1,1L engine, no tachometer. Max speed is around 125/130Kmh and that's what it did on the highway. Often less when loaded...pedal to the floor and that was it.
And many other cars from that era with small engines like that. These were different times. Many of them went to 200000Km before being trashed...but blue clouds and some oil consumption were not uncommon.
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Like others have mentioned, thrashing your car constantly puts a strain on other components than the engine. I’ve never known anyone who constantly beat on their cars that had a good outcome in the end.
I'm not talking about constantly thrashing my car ... just a simple, high-speed run at about 3500 - 4000 rpm for a while on a comfortable, flat stretch of little-used highway. If I didn't mention it, gentle acceleration to that point ... I'd be surprised if the Camry couldn't easily handle that.
I would consider putting some premium gas in it for the drive.
The posters who shared their stories about towing should put your mind at ease. Engines are designed to work. Their operating parameters are broad.
Enjoy the drive.
Forgot to answer the question.
A 2006(?) SEAT Alhambra mini van with the 1.8 20 valve Audi engine and a six speed manual. A big Thule on the roof and six adult passengers driving over some mountains between Florence and Ancona. Foot to the floor and speedometer indicated speeds of 92 mph to 110 mph for a couple hours with a gas(espresso, sandwich) break. I had newfound respect for that engine after that trip. The vehicle is still on the road but not for that sort of trip.
The posters who shared their stories about towing should put your mind at ease. Engines are designed to work. Their operating parameters are broad.
Enjoy the drive.
Forgot to answer the question.
A 2006(?) SEAT Alhambra mini van with the 1.8 20 valve Audi engine and a six speed manual. A big Thule on the roof and six adult passengers driving over some mountains between Florence and Ancona. Foot to the floor and speedometer indicated speeds of 92 mph to 110 mph for a couple hours with a gas(espresso, sandwich) break. I had newfound respect for that engine after that trip. The vehicle is still on the road but not for that sort of trip.
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That's interesting, here's my take. Even if the engine is regularly spun up, the majority of wear will still be at lower rpms, I would think? Since that's where most of the legal driving is done, and no one is going to run around on the highway in second gear to even things out. It would have to stay at very high rpms as much of the time as it stays at lower rpms to even out cylinder wear in the high and low areas of the cylinders, where the rings only touch at very high rpms, if the rods do stretch. I don't think it's as much of an issue as people believe. JMO But I'm here to learn.
Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 505 miles from Houston Tx to Ft Stockton Tx. 9000+ RPM the whole way (13,000rpm redline)
12.4 to 1 compression ratio on REGULAR gas.
12.4 to 1 compression ratio on REGULAR gas.
I'd bet quite a bit of money your motor would have no damage being held WO bouncing off the fuel cut out for 5 min in 1st gear. Stock engines are really quite tough as long as the cooling and oiling systems are in good shape. Go to a local circle track and lots of guys in the lowest classes there will be running stock junk yard engines, and while they don't last 50k miles doing that, lots of them will go a few seasons without a problem.
For your car, I'd put it in 2nd and point it up a good size hill and floor it until you get near redline a couple times. Probably the greatest potential benefit is getting the catalytic converter nice and hot and maybe burning off some deposits? I doubt there's much carbon buildup anywhere in your engine but a trip WO to redline a few times a year is nothing but good for an engine IMO.
I towed a uhaul trailer with my almost new 127hp Tracker 2400km each way to Winnipeg and back and it spent quite a bit of time in 3rd at up around 5000rpm on the interstate into a stiff cross headwind... The drivetrain was fine for another 250k km until we sold it.
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3000-4000 is a piece of cake
Your tale reminded me of this video showing an operational cutaway of a BMW S1000RR — a 193HP superbike — bumping against its 14,200RPM redline. A cam and valvetrain at 118 cycles per second is an amazing sight (and sound) ...
8ooo for a few minutes. Topped out an Integra and she didn't miss a beat.
I just don't know how much of this opinion has any fact to it.
I mean, what rpm's, for how long, why not out of gear, does it do any good or just accelerate wear... I see the benefit of blowing some stuff loose but with modern synthetic oil and a decent OCI is anything really there to be cleaned out or lubed up with higher rpm's at a longer interval than the occasional 4k burst a few seconds per week?
I mean, what rpm's, for how long, why not out of gear, does it do any good or just accelerate wear... I see the benefit of blowing some stuff loose but with modern synthetic oil and a decent OCI is anything really there to be cleaned out or lubed up with higher rpm's at a longer interval than the occasional 4k burst a few seconds per week?
