Any danger in hitting redline every once in awhile? Engine warm of course.

 

No, the computer cuts fuel to the engine at redline so you don't do any damage. Just don't make it a habit and you'll be fine.

 

Come on, whats the fun in NOT hitting the rev limiter from time to time?

 

Hmm,..I have never hit the red line. There have been three occasions I hit 6,000 RPM in the 5800 miles i have driven Romi.

 

As long as you don't hit redline because you downshifted, the computer will save your engine.

 

Only if you're going faster than traction allows for. I assume you mean bumping up against the rev limiter? There is no danger, Will Robinson.

 

There are people who don't?

Huh -- learn something new every day.....

 

Lets see, yep every time I track the car, once in a while autocrossing, once in a while on the street ( of course in the lower gears, as I don't speed) ha ha
Really why did we buy these cars if we weren't interested in performance
To answer your question, I don't think occasionally hitting red line or untill the computer shuts you down will hurt the car, how ever if you are going to drive the car hard I would recomend more frequent oil changes.
Dennis

 

To answer this question, there are many who bought the car because it is fun to drive, it is fuel efficient, easy to park, and it is a great commuter car.

There are those, like myself, who do not need to go fast to have fun. Romi does the speed limit just fine and is a hoot to drive.

 

Hitting the redline doesn't hurt anything, and I do it frequently........it's part of the fun of owning this car. The rev limiter is actually a couple hundred RPM above the redline on the tach, I usually stay off the rev limiter as I don't like the way the engine shuts down suddenly when you hit it........

What will damage the engine is staying on the redline mile after mile, that will wear the engine out pretty quickly..........

 

... because of it's performance!

Smack that tach!

 

I can imagine both Skuzzy and Ubdylan both saying "Man, how can you drive like that?"

MINIs sure spans some gaps!

 

A related follow-up question: Is the turbo engine, being designed from the get-go for high(er) performance, better able to survive frequent red lines and extended period of high rpms than the NA engine? In other words, is it more "built to take it?"

 

You have obviously misinterpreted my post. Let it be known that my MINI is often in the unheard of area of "The Red Zone"!

 

The only thing that will hurt if you hit the redline occasionally is your face from holding the giant smile it gives you

 

I come close about 50 times a day. My limiter is 7600 and I go to 7500 all day long. Sometimes I hit the limiter but everything is good.
M

 

Re: running up to redline--why? Are you in 6th, and driving the getaway car? Or in a lower gear?

With that wonderful turbo I just don't see the point. Why not shift and save the car? Or am I missing something here?

 

go buy a demo Mini - they have ALL been to the red line way too early - lol

 

When you wind out the engine to the redline, (or rev limiter) in every gear, it's often refered to as an "Italian tune-up". It helps dislodge some of the carbon that can build up from incomplete combustion.

 

In the heat of the moment, my tach needle hits the limiter before I shift up sometimes.

 

My thoughts exactly.

My question would have been "Is there any point in NOT hitting redline?"

 

No.

Next relevant question. Is the turbo motor built stronger to take it?

Better be!

Matt

 

Um, have you floored your car lately?

In 1st or 2nd gear, you'll hit redline in the blink of an eye.

 

I put my foot in it every chance I get--but I don't need to abuse my car. I want to keep it awhile. A long while.

 

and it's just a bit more abuse, or use, I guess it depends on perspective, than not.

It's the nature of the engine managment.

Go to a track, and you'll find that this happens every now and then.

When I test parts, I go to the rev limiter and bounce of it a bit, just to make sure I get clean data that includes the same max RPM. The car just won't go any faster, as it drops one, then two cylinders from the power deliver. Such is the nature of computer controlled engines.

Matt