Jester

Hey, this is probably a really stuipd and really basic question. Please keep in mind I"m really new and inexperienced with car stuff and this is the first manual tranny my family has ever owned. With that in mind, on with the stupidity..... is it bad on the engine to have really low rpms (like 1.5)? My dad says I'm "bogging it down" but based on past experiences, he probably has no clue what he is talking about. I've had others say the lower the rpms, the less your engine has to work, the more the uncomfortable the ride but the better on the car. Also, what is like an ideal cruising rpm for my '87 RX7 Turbo? The other day I drove for about an hour at a constant rpm of 3 grand (thats about 75 in 5th) and my friend told me I may have hurt something in my engine and thats not a good rpm to keep for long periods of time and hes got me a little freaked out. Anyways, thanks!!!

SonicRaT

iTrader: (6)

2500-3500rpm is a good cruising range, normal driving you'll want to shift around 3500-4000 but that's just how you feel. It's not bad or harmful or anything, it doesn't matter. It's a bit boggy running in like 3rd or 4th under 2k rpm, and it burns up more fuel trying to accelerate from that low area, so I tend to downshift if I get below 2k, and shift up if I get around 3500-4000, you haven't hurt anything so don't worry

HAILERS

Dad's are ALWAYS right! Never lug an engine. To me lugging would be like driving at under 30mph in fifth gear. Not good. That was just an example of lugging. Same could be said of doing under thirty in fourth gear or say starting off from a red light in second or third gear instead of first. Or how about driving in a 30mph speed zone in fourth gear or fifth.