WOT runs are healthy for a car?

[VK56VD]

I know mashing the accelerator from a stand still puts a lot of stress on the automatic transmission but does doing it at 50 mph on the highway cause as much stress? Lets say a WOT run from 50 mph to 100 mph.

Is this healthy for the vehicle once in a while to help clean out any accumulation or does this cause a lot of stress on the vehicle especially the automatic transmission?

 

[cornfused]

It's always gonna put a little stress on things but I do it on the interstate every now and then. I've always been told it would or could help blow out any carbon build up.

 

[StevieC]

My dad who is a retired mechanic of over 35 years has this view...

As long as the engine if fully warmed up and you are applying WOT from a moving position then no harm will be done to a mechanically sound engine, some minute wear, but no damage...

HAVE FUN OUT THERE!

 

[JTK]

Also consider it a functionality test. If something is about to break, it's going to break!

Joel

 

[01rangerxl]

As long as you don't go past the redline or RPM limiter, you're good. I do WOT runs all the time.

 

[Eddie]

I think someone called it an Italian tuneup?

 

[javacontour]

As long as it's done gradually, sure no problem.

As others have said, fully warmed up vehicle, already moving. I'd add gradually rolling into the throttle. Don't just mash the pedal to the floor, but roll into it.

The shocks to the driveline come from sudden changes in the throttle, in either direction. Smooth inputs, rolling into the throttle, etc, instead of just mashing the pedal to the metal.

 

[saaber1]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
Smooth inputs, rolling into the throttle, etc, instead of just mashing the pedal to the metal.


Hear, hear! "squeezing" the throttle instead of stomping it also helps with traction. At speed or near the limit, squeezing the throttle and gently reducing can mean the difference between a perfect line vs. snap oversteer (and a crash). Think smooth, as others have said, both for health of car and for traction.

Just finished a real curvy run at the limit this morning, and on a front wheel drive car you can introduce mild oversteer to get a perfect line in a turn by quickly letting off throttle (on purpose) but in almost ever other situation, keep it smooth.

BTW, Lots of Porsche owners say, "a redline a day keeps the mechanic away". Always wondered if that is really true but for some cars that are designed for performance, I think redline every once in a while can be a benefit.

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: saaber1
Originally Posted By: javacontour
Smooth inputs, rolling into the throttle, etc, instead of just mashing the pedal to the metal.


Hear, hear! "squeezing" the throttle instead of stomping it also helps with traction. At speed or near the limit, squeezing the throttle and gently reducing can mean the difference between a perfect line vs. snap oversteer (and a crash). Think smooth, as others have said, both for health of car and for traction.

Just finished a real curvy run at the limit this morning, and on a front wheel drive car you can introduce mild oversteer to get a perfect line in a turn by quickly letting off throttle (on purpose) but in almost ever other situation, keep it smooth.

BTW, Lots of Porsche owners say, "a redline a day keeps the mechanic away". Always wondered if that is really true but for some cars that are designed for performance, I think redline every once in a while can be a benefit.


It's that look slow go fast. The guys with the fastest autocross times were seldom the ones with lots of smoke and squeal. That's just energy wasted. Smooth runs you almost didn't even notice were often the fastest runs of the day.

 

[mechtech2]

I don't see how a trans has more wear from a start that at 50, with full throttle. Actually, the downshift that will be encountered at 50 will produce more wear, IMO.
But yes! WOT is good for the engine. Just ask any kid who is pulled over for speeding!
But really, it helps with cleaning the combustion chambers, valves, and fuel injectors. It can make the rings work 'harder' and free up .

 

[javacontour]

Why would their have to be a downshift. Real car enthusiasts have a manual transmission. The downshift is purely optional, LOL.

 

[Kestas]

From the data I've seen, WOT is toughest on the transmission in first gear. The healthy WOT we are talking about is best done at highway speeds. Pick traffic conditions where you can slow down on the freeway, then speed up to max safe speed using WOT.

 

[demarpaint]

I'll do WOT runs once in a while, but only at highways speeds and only forcing an AT to downshift from OD to 3rd gear. WOT off the line or forcing a downshift into 1st gear from lets say 25-30 mph has to put more strain on the drive train.

With an MT I'll shift normally to 3rd gear, then leave it in 3rd gear and bring it up to about 4000 rpm and then back off the gas on occasion. Living on L.I. makes it a little harder to do.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Spartuss
Is this healthy for the vehicle once in a while to help clean out any accumulation or does this cause a lot of stress on the vehicle especially the automatic transmission?

In reality, no driving is "healthy" for a vehicle. Any kind of driving results in wear&tear. Not driving it at all, ever, would probably be more healthy, alas, that's not what the vehicle is for.

But I did hear that letting the engine run up through its allowable rpm range now and then is advisable to clear things up, although no one really clearly explained to me what those things exactly are.

 

[Colt45ws]

I do it all the time. I enjoy it. I have the shifts firmed up in my trans. The only time I do anything special is when it is in 4th gear. I either roll into it to get 4th->3rd->2nd or I hit O/D off as a direct 4th-2nd is bad for my transmission.

 

[JetStar]

YES, blows out some carbon build up. When you pull the heads of of grandmas car vs. somebody that romps on it once in a while, you'll see a difference in carbon deposits. In an extreme case, my grandma had a '68 impala custom. She drove about 1000 miles a year, short trips. Every couple of years she would complain about the car running bad. I'd take it out for about a hour drive and thrash the [censored] out of it. I could see the carbon and soot belch out of it in the rear view mirror on the first or second WOT run through the gears (after warmed up of course) Ticked over like a watch when I got back.
On newer cars I think it prevents the converter from clogging. At WOT on newer cars the system goes into open loop and into converter burn-off mode to clean it out.
I don't think you'll hurt a thing as long as the car is in reasonable condition, WARMED UP, and you don't get too crazy.

 

[OVERKILL]

I beat the living [censored] out of my stuff every once and a while (OK, for the Mustang/Capri, it is a lot more frequent, but still) and yes, the general notion is that it keeps things clean and freed up.

 

[GMBoy]

That pedal on the right goes all the way down for a reason

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
That pedal on the right goes all the way down for a reason

The factory even puts a safety device there so you won't damage your engine by pushing it too far. It's called the floorboard.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
From the data I've seen, WOT is toughest on the transmission in first gear.


My Saab 93 limits boost in 1st gear.

WOT runs are especially healthy for your car, and you, if you're merging onto a highway with a semi bearing down on you...