Does Driving at High Speed in Low Gear Damage the Car?

[Kirk]

Driving at high speed in low gear can lead to increased fuel consumption, loud engine noise, and engine wear. Reasons for increased fuel consumption: The engine speed of a car can be adjusted higher or lower through the transmission. In gears 1-2, the transmission reduces the engine speed, while in gears 3-4, it increases the transmission speed. Driving at high speed in low gear requires the engine to operate at higher RPM, resulting in increased fuel consumption. Reasons for engine wear: Typically, an engine has four cylinders. When the engine is running, the pistons move up and down repeatedly inside the cylinders, converting this motion into rotational movement via the crankshaft and connecting rods. Since low gear reduces the engine speed through the transmission, achieving high speed in low gear requires the engine to increase its RPM. The higher the engine RPM per minute, the greater the wear on the engine cylinders.