Does Revving the Engine in Neutral Damage the Car?
2 Answers
Revving the engine in neutral can indeed damage the car, primarily harming the engine and accelerating its wear. This is especially destructive when the car is not running, as repeatedly revving the engine can lead to carbon buildup, and prolonged idling can harm the engine. The throttle, also known as the accelerator or gas pedal, is the control device that regulates the engine's power (thrust). In piston aircraft engines, the throttle controls the carburetor's throttle valve opening to regulate the cylinder's filling volume, thereby determining the engine's output power. In gas turbine engines, the throttle controls the metered fuel flow of the fuel regulator, thus determining the thrust generated by the engine.
As someone who enjoys tinkering with cars, I believe revving the engine in neutral depends on the situation. Doing it occasionally once or twice isn't a big deal, but if done frequently, the engine running at high RPMs without load for extended periods increases stress on pistons and crankshafts. The lubrication system also can't provide full coverage like when driving normally, which may accelerate component wear or carbon buildup over time. More importantly, it's just burning money needlessly and isn't environmentally friendly - every rev is literally burning cash. I've personally seen a friend's car develop vibration issues after frequent neutral revving. While not a major problem, the repairs were quite annoying. So for the sake of your car's longevity and your wallet, it's best to avoid this habit - just drive when you need to drive.
