S2000 Talk Discussions related to the S2000, its ownership and enthusiasm for it.

hitting the rev-limiter

Old Sep 30, 2004 | 12:00 PM
  #1  
jinuoppa's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Default hitting the rev-limiter


Hit the rev-limiter rather hard going downhill full throttle in 2nd gear. I know It is not good, but i think it can't be that bad either. any input ? Obvioulsy doing this too much would cause some engine problems down the road, but hitting it once in a while, i shouldn't worry too much, right?

Also, I wanted to experiment a bit aftter that incident/mistake, to see where it kicks in exactly (MY04). I mean, i heard people saying to let the guage flash 3~4 times and things like that, but in 2nd or 3rd gear, after one flash, i hit the limiter. hm... ?

In summary, i hit the limiter hard once by mistake, and about 4 times doing experiements this morning.
Ok. flame away~~ or help me feel better.
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2004 | 12:04 PM
  #2  
pantyraider's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,202
Likes: 1
From: San Fran
Default

You answered you're own question. IMO, as long as the car is broken in, hitting the rev limiter isn't too big of a deal. I wouldn't make a habit out of it though. I hit just before the rev limiter on every shift at the track and the car is fine. Just be careful with mechanically overreving the engine...
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2004 | 12:10 PM
  #3  
mikegarrison's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 22,888
Likes: 3
From: Covington WA, USA
Default

He said he hit it "going downhill". Be careful with that, because going downhill can mechanically overrev the engine. Not as badly as a money shift, but it's not quite as innocuous as just bouncing off the rev limiter on a level straight.
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2004 | 12:22 PM
  #4  
Nickfromny's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 0
From: Endwell, NY
Default

Hit rev limiter in 1st at auto x often. Hitting it in 2nd while looking at dash is asking for trouble on several levels. Rev limiter protects moter from throttle induce revving not downhill or miss shifted over revving.
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2004 | 12:59 PM
  #5  
jinuoppa's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Default


Did a search and found tons of posts on this. I feel better now.

I know downhill could have caused a bit of overrev, but i don't think it could have been that bad. Our engine can definitely take a little bit of "overrev" than the factory ecu setting, i am sure.
I guess I am answering my own question here. hehe... I decided not to worry about it, and just be more careful in the future.

Thanks, guys~
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2004 | 03:34 PM
  #6  
Honda F1's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,787
Likes: 0
From: Irvine, CA
Default

I hit the rev limiter quite often, but never while going downhill...just keep an ear out for weird sounds, if any.
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2004 | 07:26 PM
  #7  
Elistan's Avatar
Registered User
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,323
Likes: 28
From: Longmont, CO
Default

With no throttle in second gear, simple compression is likely more than enough to slow the car down substationally even when going downhill. So no chance of an overrev, is my belief.

As far as the revlimiter, yep, zero issue whatsoever.
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2004 | 09:13 PM
  #8  
alexf20c's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,840
Likes: 0
From: Come see me after class.
Default



It'd have to be a pretty steep hill to do any serious damage to an engine.
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2004 | 09:21 PM
  #9  
Sideways's Avatar
Gold Member (Premium)
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 9,033
Likes: 21
From: South of the pier, Huntington Beach, CA
Default

Which is it you want to do:

1. Break a rod
2. Stretch the rod bolts
3. Pistons punch the valves
4. Retainers deforming
5. Enlarge the bearing clearances
6. Other bad things?

Damage may not show up immediately but it will. Wide open down hill hitting the rev limiter is being very hard on the engine and the car. A good example of what Honda likes to refer to as "owner abuse." Going immediately from 200+ hp to minus hp would be very hard on the entire drivetrain. Doing it repetitively will definately shorten the engine and drivetrain life.
I remember back in the early 70's when Porsche lost several of their 10 cylinder 917 engines because the American driver was bouncing off the rev limiter. He thought it was faster using the rev limiter as a shift indicator. After blowing a few engines the factory mechanics were all over him.

Sideway's word to the wise: You don't want to intentionally hit the rev limiter.
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2004 | 01:08 AM
  #10  
jinuoppa's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Elistan,Sep 30 2004, 07:26 PM
With no throttle in second gear, simple compression is likely more than enough to slow the car down substationally even when going downhill. So no chance of an overrev, is my belief.

As far as the revlimiter, yep, zero issue whatsoever.


I did a lot of thinking and i realized this too. I believe overrev is not possible with just a downhill. If anything, i hit the limiter with more acceleration than usual 2nd gear accel. I do'nt see how it is much different from hitting rev limiter in, say, 1st gear.

Thanks for the input. I just won't do it intentionally again.
Reply


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:42 AM.