Is Driving at 3500 RPM on the Highway Harmful to the Car?
2 Answers
When the gear is within the normal range, driving at 3500 RPM on the highway will not harm the car. Calculation of car RPM: Wheel RPM equals the vehicle speed divided by the tire circumference. The tire RPM is related to many factors, such as the number of gears, tire diameter, etc. Different types of tires produce different RPMs. When the wheel RPM is constant, the tire diameter is directly proportional to the distance traveled. Differences in car RPM: At the same speed, RPM can vary due to the fundamental factor of the gear ratio. A higher gear ratio means the engine needs to rotate many times for the wheel to rotate once, while a lower gear ratio means the engine rotates once for the wheel to rotate several times.
I just completed a 2,000-kilometer long-distance trip. I drive a manual transmission car on highways all year round, and it's quite normal to keep the RPM between 3,000 and 4,000. As long as you don't exceed the redline, it's fine—modern engines are quite durable. Actually, 3,500 RPM hasn't even reached the peak torque range yet; in my turbocharged car, the turbo pressure is just starting to build at this point. However, it's important to keep an eye on the coolant temperature and oil pressure gauges. I make it a habit to pull into a service area every two hours to check the tires. I always carry spare engine oil in the car, and after a long highway drive, I make a point of pulling out the dipstick to check the oil consumption. When running at high RPMs for extended periods, remember to shorten the maintenance intervals. I change to full synthetic oil every 8,000 kilometers and replace the air filter more frequently as well.
