Is it normal to maintain 3500 RPM on the highway for extended periods?
3 Answers
Maintaining 3500 RPM on the highway is normal. Here are the relevant details: 1. Normal range: An engine speed of 3000 RPM at 120 km/h falls within the normal range. Some vehicles may reach up to 4000 RPM, while others could be around 2000 RPM. The exact RPM varies by vehicle model and cannot be used as a sole indicator of a car's quality. The RPM is not solely determined by engine displacement but also heavily depends on the transmission. 2. Other types: Engines with 1.5L displacement often operate above 3000 RPM, while 2.0L engines typically run above 2000 RPM. However, these figures are not absolute, as transmission type and gear ratio are the primary factors influencing RPM. If the gear ratio is made smaller, some small-displacement engines may experience increased load, potentially making it difficult for the engine to propel the vehicle normally. Even if the vehicle can be driven, the increased load may push it beyond the economical range, compromising fuel efficiency.
Actually, whether this RPM is normal or not depends on what car you're driving. Take my old 1.6L car for example - it stays around 3,500 RPM at 120 km/h, and the engine has been running fine for 7-8 years without issues. But when I drive my friend's newer turbocharged car, it only reaches about 2,500 RPM at the same speed. The key things to watch are whether the engine sounds strained and if any warning lights come on. Once when driving my friend's old Accord at 3,500 RPM, I heard the belt slipping and immediately got off the highway to check. Sustained high RPM does increase engine stress, especially for older cars that are prone to oil overheating - it's best to use full synthetic oil and change it regularly.
I just came back from a self-drive trip to Tibet, where the engine speed often reached 3500 RPM during uphill climbs on the plateau. In fact, engines are designed with RPM redundancy, and anything below the redline is considered a safe range. However, there are three things to note: prolonged high RPM can increase oil consumption—I had to top up half a liter every 5,000 km; older cars may develop carbon buildup issues—last time, cleaning the throttle body cost me 600 RMB; for manual transmission cars, it's best not to linger near the RPM limit, as it can easily burn the clutch plate. A fellow CRV owner mentioned that his steering wheel vibrated at 4000 RPM—in such cases, it's necessary to check the engine mounts.
