Rev Limiter

[Eric5273]

Today while at a red light, a C5 corvette was in the next lane and wanted to race me. So I got so involved with getting a good start and paying attention to him, that I bumped into the rev limiter in first gear. It took me a second or so to realize what had happened -- it felt like someone had suddenly pressed the brake. Anyway, then I shifted to 2nd and everything was fine.....which brings me to my question:

Is bad to bump into the rev limiter? Does it do any damage? Also, at what RPM does it happen? Once I realized what had happened, I just shifted to 2nd, but never looked at the tach.

 

[Autophile]

I hit the rev limiter a few days ago. I think it was activated at around 8300 rpm.

I think hitting the limiter once every so often will not harm the engine, but doing it frequently and/or under sustained conditions will harm the valve springs.

 

[nsxtasy]

Is it possible that your car was cold? Remember, before the car gets up to operating temperature, the rev limiter kicks in around 7100 RPM, so it can take you by surprise...

 

[Eric5273]

No.......I had been driving for about 15 or 20 minutes already. I think I was just paying too much attention to getting ahead of the vette and not paying enough attention to my tach. Of course, once the rev limiter kicked in, he blew past me.

I'm sure it was just working properly. I'm just curious if that's bad for the car or not. It's the only time this has ever happened to me, so it's not as if it's a regular occurance.

 

[insx]

Correct me if I am wrong: the purpose of the rev limiter is to stop the engine from getting into dangerous / too high RPM zone.
So it should do no harm to engine because it was cut off before going above 8000 RPM.

 

[RP-Motorsports]

Banging the rev limiter in theory will not wreck your motor. Just don't make it a daily practice. The 4-cyl Honda crowd (civic,integra,rsx etc) does it several times a day just for kicks. They do it in neutral to rev up some intimidation at the light, or when they pass a parked domestic. I have never heard of anyone wrecking a NA motor doing this. But watch out if you are FI.

 

[MarkB]

...But watch out if you are FI....

What is the problem with rev limiter and FI? I am in the process of installing a CTSC and would like to know.

 

[Taj]

Imagine if you don't have your rev limiter, your rpm would have been way up there since your were so involved!!! You would have damaged your engine already. On the other hand, if you down shift to the wrong gear, say from 5th to 2nd, there isn’t a “down shift rev limiter” in a manual shift vehicle other than something like the BMW SMG to prevent over rev. You should be glad that the engine was cut off.

 

[Smoothaccel]

I love the sound of a high revving engine bouncing off the REV Limiter. I have done it alot and my car seems fine so rest assured.

 

[EIFFEL]

Did you take the C5?

 

[Eric5273]

Did you take the C5?

I was slightly ahead until the whole rev limiter incident. Then he passed me by.

 

[nsx24]

I hit my rev limiter at around 8400+ rpm ( I have the DINAN chip installed) and I did not notice anything but whipping a ricer eclipse , who by the way thought his turbo car was faster than the X. he thought again. You should be fine once and while.

 

[ChopsJazz]

Sounds like you need an automatic!

 

[RP-Motorsports]

.

What is the problem with rev limiter and FI? I am in the process of installing a CTSC and would like to know.

I cracked ring lands once and it happened while bouncing on the limiter with a turbo. With FI at the rev limiter there is a LOT of stuff going on i.e. more heat full rich, then full lean and so on and on. Detonation is more likely dangerous @ the limiter with boost. I would avoid it and get a autometer shift light. I did and they work great once dialed in with the correct pill.