will the car keep switching between cams if i drive around 6000 rpm?
if so, is it bad for the engine?

 

vtec engagement occurs at ~6000 rpm(5800-6200 depending on load, temperature,etc). the car was designed to rev high. as long as the engine oil is fully warmed up, you will be fine. revving the engine high when the car is cold is the worst thing you can do. i know this might be excessive, but i never vtec until i see three bars on the temp gauge and THEN another 10-15 minutes to fully ensure the oil temp is up to spec. i know most people won't hit 10 minutes before they arrive at their destination, but i just like to play it safe.

according to honda, the car is ready to vtec with 3 bars on the temp gauge so its up to you.

 

But, you're not saying that you just drive around casually with the engine spinning at 6000 RPM are you? Why would you want to do this?

 

good advice razor. thanks for the info, i never knew that honda recommended that it must have 3 bars.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Uncle Fester

 

What if 6000rpm in 6th is your cruising speed?

///Robin

 

I am at 93 MPH in sixth at 6000 RPM's. Regular cruising here in S. FL. on the highways. I haven't had any problems yet, just get crappy gas mileage 16-18MPG

 

i run 4.77 gears, and at 85 mph i'm sitting at 5500 rpm's. 6k isn't out of my range of cruising speeds on the highway, which is why i try to avoid them where i can.

 

I've never seen VTEC engage below 6000 rpms regardless of conditions, but that may just be my car. Even with the SC, which in theory should produce higher MAP readings at lower rpms and create a higher "engine load" it still always waits till 6k to kick in. In my case I'm not guessing when VTEC engages by using my butt-o-meter, I have an indicator light on the dash, so I am pretty confident of the 6k lower limit.

But I have seen it wait till nearly 6500 rpm, depending on throttle position. I would bet that at 6k rpms and cruising at a steady speed, VTEC will never engage. And you would probably be able to speed up and down by a few hundred rpm without hitting VTEC, as long as you are easy on the throttle.

 

If this is the case (whew! you're hauling a$$) then at least the car is moving fast enough for airflow to help with keeping the car cool. If I had my way, I would put a 04+ transmission in my 01. Shorter gears 1-4, but taller ones for 5th and 6th. This would help with the high speed cruising.