Does suddenly flooring the accelerator harm the car?
2 Answers
Flooring the accelerator can be particularly damaging to a car's engine. Normally, the engine operates through the coordinated movement of multiple components via the crankshaft connecting rod mechanism and valve train. However, when the accelerator is floored, the engine essentially runs at full speed with no load, which can lead to misalignment errors among the internal components. Here are some extended points: 1. Low gear with high throttle: This can cause excessive friction and overheating of internal engine components, reducing lubrication and heat dissipation efficiency. Poor coordination between parts accelerates engine wear, significantly shortening the engine's lifespan. 2. Good road conditions: On wide, uncongested roads, it's advisable to floor the accelerator occasionally. High RPMs ensure more complete fuel combustion, preventing carbon buildup. Since carbon deposits are known to damage engine components significantly, this practice can be beneficial for the vehicle. 3. Poor road conditions: In heavy traffic, frequent acceleration increases fuel consumption.
Last time during maintenance, the experienced mechanic mentioned that sudden hard acceleration depends on the situation. If you floor it right after a cold start before the oil fully circulates, the piston rings and cylinder walls will grind directly without proper lubrication, which definitely harms the engine. Occasionally doing it when the engine is warm is acceptable, but making it a habit is risky—the transmission shifting mechanism can suffer impact damage, and the chain tensioner can't handle violent fluctuations. My cousin’s SUV, which he always launches with full throttle, started experiencing transmission slippage at just 60,000 km. It’s even worse if the engine has severe carbon buildup—sudden acceleration can cause imbalanced air-fuel mixture and increase the risk of knocking. In short, a quick stomp for overtaking is fine, but don’t make it a habit.
