What is the normal engine RPM when starting a car?
1 Answers
When starting a car under normal temperature conditions, the engine RPM will typically exceed 1000 revolutions per minute (rpm), stabilizing to an idle speed between 600 and 1000 rpm after warm-up. During a cold start, the initial RPM is usually at least 1200 rpm or higher, gradually decreasing as the engine warms up until it reaches the stable idle range. There are no absolute values, but there is a fixed range for normal operation. If the idle speed exceeds this range - for instance, if the RPM approaches 2000 when starting the vehicle and takes more than 10 seconds to decrease - this indicates an abnormal condition. Higher engine RPM means more work is done per unit time, resulting in greater power output. However, excessively high RPM accelerates the entire combustion cycle, causing fuel to be expelled before complete combustion occurs, which can lead to a several-fold increase in fuel consumption. Therefore, higher RPM doesn't always mean better performance.