What is the RPM when the vehicle starts?
4 Answers
When the vehicle starts, the RPM is around 1200 to 1500. The starting procedure for an automatic transmission car is: 1. Sit in the driver's seat and press the start button, the ACC light will turn on; 2. Press the start button again for the vehicle to perform a self-check; 3. Press the brake and press the start button to ignite and start; 4. Press the foot brake, shift to D gear, and release the handbrake. The starting procedure for a manual transmission car is: 1. Sit in the driver's seat, press the clutch, turn the key to the ACC position, wait for about 3 to 5 seconds, then turn to the START position to ignite; 2. Press the clutch, shift to first gear, and release the handbrake.
I've been driving manual transmission cars for ten years, and the starting RPM varies depending on the situation. On flat roads, releasing the clutch at around 800 to 1200 RPM is the smoothest, just coordinate the half-clutch with the throttle. For hill starts, you need to rev up to 1500 RPM, otherwise it's easy to stall. Once I drove a friend's turbocharged car, and it lurched forward at just 900 RPM—different cars really vary a lot. Beginners should pay attention not just to the tachometer but also listen to the engine sound; a sudden spike in RPM means the clutch was released too quickly. Cold starts may require slightly higher RPM, but it drops back after a couple of minutes of driving, which is normal.
Recently, I accompanied my cousin for his driving test (Subject 3), and the examiner was very strict about the starting RPM. The training car has a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, and he always revved it above 2000 RPM, causing the tires to slip. Actually, starting an automatic transmission car is much easier—just shift to D gear, release the brake, and the car will move on its own at around 800 RPM idle. When following traffic in a jam, lightly pressing the throttle to 1000 RPM is enough. Remember, if the RPM suddenly jumps to 3000 and the car doesn’t move, you might have forgotten to release the handbrake—I made that mistake just last month.
The experienced mechanic at the repair shop taught me a rhyme: Naturally aspirated cars start at 1,200 rpm, turbocharged ones subtract 300. Old Jettas with naturally aspirated engines need to rev up to 1,200 rpm, while newer turbocharged cars can start smoothly at just 900 rpm. The key is to watch the tachometer needle—if it suddenly drops when releasing the clutch, it means poor coordination between throttle and clutch. On rainy days when tires slip, keep the rpm 200 lower than usual. Last time I replaced the clutch kit on a Fit, the owner had been starting at 2,000 rpm for years, which burned it out.
