miata RPM too high/
John Doe
no etc..
anyways my question is..
when im on the freeway... i go 60 mph on 5th gear... and the RPM is on 3000
already.. im like jesus, this doesnt feel right...
all you miata owners, is this normal? is it bad for the transmission or
timing belt? i dont want to ruin a perfectly good car.
i would appreciate some feedback,
thanks
Graeme & Christine Babbs
unlike many, likes to visit the limiter :-)
Don't be afraid to high rev the engine, the car actually likes it and it makes
the driving experience a lot more fun. Try dropping from 5th to 3rd at 3000
rpm to overtake and feel the response from the car, you'll love it.
Feel free to have a look at my archive (from the UK email group) address at
the foot of this email.
Cheers
Graeme
John Doe wrote:
--
http://www.fizzindi.demon.co.uk is the selective archive of the MX5 email list
Matthew Russotto
John Doe <sohe...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>hi, i recently just bought a 1995 mazda maita. no mods, no super charger,
>no etc..
>
>anyways my question is..
>when im on the freeway... i go 60 mph on 5th gear... and the RPM is on 3000
>already.. im like jesus, this doesnt feel right...
>
>all you miata owners, is this normal?
No. Normally on the freeway the RPM should be just over 4000. Of
course the speed is then 80mph :-)
>is it bad for the transmission or
>timing belt? i dont want to ruin a perfectly good car.
Well, if you're really worried about it and don't want to speed up,
you could downshift to fourth.
--
Matthew T. Russotto russ...@pond.com
=====
Get Caught Reading, Go To Jail!
A message from the Association of American Publishers
Free Dmitry Sklyarov! DMCA delenda est!
http://www.freedmitry.org
Iva
>hi, i recently just bought a 1995 mazda maita. no mods, no super
charger,
>no etc..
>
>anyways my question is..
>when im on the freeway... i go 60 mph on 5th gear... and the RPM is
on 3000
>already.. im like jesus, this doesnt feel right...
>
>all you miata owners, is this normal? is it bad for the
transmission or
>timing belt? i dont want to ruin a perfectly good car.
Your Miata is not even breathing hard at those rpm's. Most of us
don't even shift until 5,000 or better and that's when the Miata
engine really shows its stuff. These engines are virtually
indestructible - try running those revs up higher! Your car will
appreciate it and so will you!
And take a trip over to www.miata.net for lots and lots of info on
your new car.
Iva & Belle.)
'90B Classic Red.)
#3 winkin' Miata
John Doe
until i finish college!
hahaha, 5000 :)
"Iva" <ife...@ptd.net> wrote in message
news:YEHs7.440$Mj4....@nnrp1.ptd.net...
John Doe
"Matthew Russotto" <russ...@wanda.pond.com> wrote in message
news:HrHs7.206$fy2....@e420r-atl1.usenetserver.com...
John Doe
when do u guys switch from 1st to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd,etc
i usually do it when i reach 3000 rpm... what bout the rest of u guys?
when i go above 3000 , i feel that im wastin too much gas so i switch.
of course, in the freeway, im way beyond 3000 so im wastin gas anyways.
-sohel
"John Doe" <sohe...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:aJGs7.4430$pN2.1...@typhoon.austin.rr.com...
Dave Null Sr.
> lemme ask ya'll something
>
> when do u guys switch from 1st to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd,etc
>
> i usually do it when i reach 3000 rpm... what bout the rest of u guys?
When I'm going to get groceries? --- 6000 rpm
When I'm in a hurry? --- 7200 rpm
Downshift at 4500.
Ruxoid
>
>when do u guys switch from 1st to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd,etc
>
>i usually do it when i reach 3000 rpm... what bout the rest of u guys?
>
>when i go above 3000 , i feel that im wastin too much gas so i switch.
What the guys are telling you is absolute fact, the Miata expects and needs
higher revs than you may be used to.
If I'm just off to the grocery store I usually shift around 4,000. On the
entryway of an Interstate and I go to at least 5,000, but usually 6,000.
The engine is bulletproof provided you change the oil and timing belt at
recomended intervals. Oh, you need to learn about the sparkplugs and sparkplug
wires. Change each at 25,000 miles.
"J R"
Iva
>hahah at 5000? thats crazy, i kno it wud be fun, but i wanna keep my
car
>until i finish college!
>
>hahaha, 5000 :)
Seriously. Shifting at 3000, you're wasting more gas than shifting at
5000. The only time I shift below 5000 is when the engine is cold -
and then I shift at 4000. The engine in my car has nearly 83,000
miles on it and has had NO problems. Change your oil every 3,000
miles or so, change your sparkplug wires regularly, and make sure the
60,000 mile maintenance is done and the Miata engine will last nearly
forever!
Oh, and teach your Miata how to wink too!
Ken Savage
> lemme ask ya'll something
> when do u guys switch from 1st to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd,etc
> i usually do it when i reach 3000 rpm... what bout the rest of u guys?
Nobody here's BS'ing you... Car engines are all built differently;
some (like mustangs' and buick V8's) are designed to pull hard at low
RPMs, and by the time they get to 4000 rpm, are past the peak of their
torque curve. Those suckers, yeah, shift 'em at 3000 or so, cuz their
redline is probably close to 5500 anyway.
Miata engines, like those found in S2000's, boxster's, squid bikes, etc,
have a much lower pull at low RPMs, only coming into their "fun zone"
when revved higher. They're certainly designed this way; on a Miata,
peak torque doesn't even start to happen until about 4000 rpm, and at
that point you're only BEGINNING to get moving. Shifting at 6000-6500,
you'll generally go straight into the torque belt of the next gear, and can
keep accelerating.
OTOH, if you're just puttering about town, shifting at 4500 or so is
probably fine. I certainly wouldn't cruise the car at an RPM lower
than 3000. Better to be at a higher RPM in a lower gear than a lower
RPM in a higher gear. The engine has to work harder to keep the
car moving if it's not close to the torque peak -- causing added wear
to all parts involved. (It's also safer to be at 4000 RPM -- if something
is about to happen, you can punch the gas and move your butt out
of the way alot better than if you were at 2000 RPM. Also, if you
lift your foot off the gas, you'll slow down faster as well.)
My $0.03 worth, (canadian exchange, eh ;)
Ken
John Doe
so a reasonable RPM to upshift on would be.... 4500?
im thinkin anythin above 5000 is a bit rash, but u guys dont htink so...
hehe, well u guys have the experience, i just bought my car with 16,000
miles.
i wanna take good care of it.
:)
thanks for the feedback
-Sohel
"Ken Savage" <kens...@home.com> wrote in message
news:YCJs7.18918$ob.4...@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com...
Psycho cactus
the engine. I even did 6500rpm when autocrossing. Don't be afraid. It's gonna
be 3 years already this november and it is still in great shape.
Enjoy it while you can,
Bruno
Mistress silver '99
I'm not a pro, just psycho.
Propagating on rec.gardens.cacti
Web page: http://members.home.net/brunoplamondon/Index.htm
tooloud10
> no etc..
>
> anyways my question is..
> when im on the freeway... i go 60 mph on 5th gear... and the RPM is on 3000
> already.. im like jesus, this doesnt feel right...
You're absolutely right--I'd be in fourth yet with my foot planted.
> all you miata owners, is this normal? is it bad for the transmission or
> timing belt? i dont want to ruin a perfectly good car.
You won't ruin it. Beat the hell out of it--the car will take it.
> i would appreciate some feedback,
> thanks
--
tooloud10
Remove nothing to reply
tooloud10
news:3BB3864B...@home.com...
> I shift mine sometimes at 6000rpm and it's fun. That's when you get power from
> the engine. I even did 6500rpm when autocrossing. Don't be afraid. It's gonna
> be 3 years already this november and it is still in great shape.
Fun is waiting for the tach to bounce off the rev limiter a couple times before
shifting.
> Enjoy it while you can,
>
> Bruno
> Mistress silver '99
<snip>
Lanny Chambers
"John Doe" <sohe...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> im thinkin anythin above 5000 is a bit rash
The rev limiter shuts off the fuel injectors at about 7300 rpm, but the
Miata engine can safely rev to about 8000, where the valves start to
float with the stock valve springs. I strongly recommend winding it up
in second gear until the limiter kicks in, at least once in awhile, just
so you'll know what it feels like. You won't hurt anything, I promise,
although it's more efficient to shift just below that point.
Last month, I joined 11 Miatas for a take-no-prisoners tour of western
Colorado. Half the cars were turbocharged. Mine isn't, and to keep up in
the uphill switchbacks I kept my foot firmly on the floor for miles on
end, never falling below 6500 rpm in third gear, and just dealing with
the curves without lifting. In another section, I was downshifting to
fourth at 105 mph to keep from losing speed on slight uphills (you lose
a LOT of power above 6000 feet elevation!). On the entire 5000+ mile
trip, the engine used less than a cup of oil. I passed 108,000 miles on
the way back, BTW.
A few people have accidentally downshifted into the wrong gear and hit
10-12,000 rpm without breaking anything.
You certainly don't have to use high rpm on general principle,
regardless of what you may read here. But there's no need to deny
yourself the fun of using the Miata's racy powerband when you feel like
it. It's a real sport car, not a wannabee-sedan, and driving it like a
sports car won't hurt it at all.
--
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html
John Doe
i was on the freeway, on 4th gear, i went 5000 rpm, and damn i felt a nice
boost as i passed 5000 rpm. the only problem is... its so loud.. i feel
scared i'm damaging it in some way... but u guys say the car can take it,
the engine is indestructible;
i cant deny the fun in revving it up so high, but i really dont want to wear
out any parts.
and for fuel effieciency, low rpm is better... right? ( i remember readin
in one of the responses that it wasnt..)
i went 155 miles using only 1/2 of the tank (by shiftin up on 3000).. will
i get the same results if i shift up on 4500 or 5000?
again, thanks for everyone's feedback..
-Sohel
"Lanny Chambers" <la...@hummingbirds.net> wrote in message
news:lanny-5846AA....@newssvr30-ext.news.prodigy.com...
Dave Null Sr.
> A few people have accidentally downshifted into the wrong gear and hit
> 10-12,000 rpm without breaking anything.
<raises hand> OOps... I was blocked by a dangerous numb-skull while
passing on a two lane road a while back who braked back into my
space to keep me in the left lane. In the confusion to find somewhere
to go, I hit 2nd instead of 4th (I was in the middle of a downshift
to 3rd at the time of his move).
I locked the rear wheels and lost sight of the tach above the red-line.
I was quite worried about valve damage.
That was a couple of years ago, and there has been no hint of any
problems, including an extended 6000km blast through Lanny's town on
my way to Oklahoma and back home.
BTW- I hit St. Louis at morning rush hour expecting a mess.
Traffic moved at about 80mph with a fairly respectable distance
left between cars with nobody trying to dodge in and out of
lanes to get ahead. A true spirit of "let's all get there as
quickly as we can together". I hope that wasn't a fluke.
Leon van Dommelen
>John Doe wrote:
>>hahah at 5000? thats crazy, i kno it wud be fun, but i wanna keep my
>car
>>until i finish college!
>>
>>hahaha, 5000 :)
>
>
>Seriously. Shifting at 3000, you're wasting more gas than shifting at
>5000.
*Wasting* gas is right. :) Though I would think you would use less
gas. But all of it would be wasted.
> The only time I shift below 5000 is when the engine is cold -
>and then I shift at 4000.
I shift cold at 3000 and warm at redline whenever I can.
Why else did they put the redline on the tach if they do not
want you to use it?
> The engine in my car has nearly 83,000
>miles on it and has had NO problems.
Mine too, 78,000 of those with an aftermarket supercharger.
> Change your oil every 3,000
>miles or so,
I try. Once on the Alaska highway was quite enough and it is a lot
longer than 3000 miles, especially with the Florida-Virginia-Montana-
Cassiar onramp.
Total trip was 15k miles and I changed oil once on it, showing
the mechanic how to change an oil filter on a Miata if you have
arms half the diameter of the mechanic. Always the professor. ;)
7,500 mile oil changes are OK if you are driving in normal driving
conditions, instead of, say, dusty environments. Did not see a
speck of dust on the Cassiar *at all*. ;)
> change your sparkplug wires regularly, and make sure the
>60,000 mile maintenance is done and the Miata engine will last nearly
>forever!
>
>Oh, and teach your Miata how to wink too!
No Miata should be without! .)
--
Leon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
REMOVE THE "z"s -> domm...@zmiata.net www.dommelen.net
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)
Lanny Chambers
mx5...@canQada.com (Dave Null Sr.) wrote:
> BTW- I hit St. Louis at morning rush hour expecting a mess.
> Traffic moved at about 80mph with a fairly respectable distance
> left between cars with nobody trying to dodge in and out of
> lanes to get ahead. A true spirit of "let's all get there as
> quickly as we can together". I hope that wasn't a fluke.
You were going west, while nearly everyone else was headed east into
town. You're lucky you didn't get a ticket. The normal pattern is
continuous fluctuation between 80 and zero. Still, folks here do not
have any idea what real traffic is like (I'm originally from the DC
area).
matthewchidester
coming to a stop do you keep the clutch engaged till... 2K rpm? I think
you're supposed to be in gear (legally) at all times.. or somthing like
that..
how high in 1st do you guys go for *normal* acc.?
usually I cruise around 3K... (I know I know I heard the posts ya need to
gun it and raise the rpms... but a bit too loud for me lol and I usually
switch at around 3300 - 3500... )
or how about this... starting out from a stop where do you try to keep the
rpms at startout... (ya know when you engage.. check it out next time you do
it normally from a light.. I'm interested to hear what you guys say)
thanks,
Matt
SLC utah
R.E.D
if you dont like 5000rpm or better. and leave yours to the rest of us.
whom know how to drive a miata the right way. and not whimp out on the
fun! my 1990 1.6 has just 88,000 on it. and it knows what 7200rpm looks
and feels like very often.
REMEMBER! TANLINES ARE IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.
EMMM
normal though it takes some getting used to after driving cars that
cruise at 80mph @ 2750. The new six-speeds wind slightly lower on the
highway.
A mental adjustment is required.
On Thu, 27 Sep 2001 14:29:26 GMT, "John Doe" <sohe...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
Kevin_...@hotmail.com
On Thu, 27 Sep 2001, John Doe wrote:
> yea, im at 4000 on 80mph also :)
Wow, you're a really good typist then!
KeS
Kevin_...@hotmail.com
On Thu, 27 Sep 2001, Jim Hayter wrote:
> I usually shift between 6000 and 7000 rpm. Any lower and you miss
> what the miata is capable of.
Which ain't much, so get all of it you can!
KeS
(ex-C5 Corvette owner. Shifted at 3500 around town in the Vette, shift
around 5K+ around town in the Miata, run both to redline when I'm in a
hurry.)
Kevin_...@hotmail.com
> Alright well how about this... when you are aproaching a stop and slowly
> coming to a stop do you keep the clutch engaged till... 2K rpm? I think
> you're supposed to be in gear (legally) at all times.. or somthing like
> that..
Personally, when I'm coming to a light, once I've seen that my path is
clear I slide the car into neutral without using the clutch. Technically
this is poor, because you *are* supposed to be in an appropriate gear at
all times so that you have full control of the car if you need to make an
emergency maneuver. Realistically there are a ton of situations where
that just doesn't apply (there's nowhere to go).
If that's not the case, say I'm coming up to a stop sign where I'm going
to immediately leave againI usually skip-downshift 5-3-1 or 4-2-1 and
declutch somewhere around 2K.
> or how about this... starting out from a stop where do you try to keep the
> rpms at startout... (ya know when you engage.. check it out next time you do
> it normally from a light.. I'm interested to hear what you guys say)
The easiest thing to do for your clutch is to keep it fully engaged or
fully disengaged as much as possible, and cycle it as few times as is
necessary. Obviously other criteria intrude, but it's always best to do
as little clutch slipping as possible.
KeS
Dave Null Sr.
> In article <3bb3b1d5....@news.aei.ca>,
> mx5...@canQada.com (Dave Null Sr.) wrote:
>
> > BTW- I hit St. Louis at morning rush hour expecting a mess.
> > Traffic moved at about 80mph with a fairly respectable distance
> > left between cars with nobody trying to dodge in and out of
> > lanes to get ahead. A true spirit of "let's all get there as
> > quickly as we can together". I hope that wasn't a fluke.
>
> You were going west, while nearly everyone else was headed east into
> town. You're lucky you didn't get a ticket. The normal pattern is
> continuous fluctuation between 80 and zero. Still, folks here do not
> have any idea what real traffic is like (I'm originally from the DC
> area).
While traffic was moving at 80, I'm not dumb, I always travel at just
less than the faster traffic, hiding among the larger cars, thus avoiding
undue attention. I'm always quite cautious when I'm not in home territory
and don't know the habits of the local enforcers. I watched quite a few
BMW owners zip by me into the hands of the law on my three day, 6000 km
trip.
Traffic did slow a couple of times approaching with the arch in the distance,
but again, nobody made a mad dash to try and gain a couple of extra positions
either when slowing or starting again. Compared to some towns in Ohio they
were the model of civility.
I've driven rush hour D.C. ring road traffic (first time was at night
in the rain not knowing where I was going) bumper to bumper at about
70 or stopped, so I know what you're talking about. Montreal traffic is quite
similar, but they travel a bit faster.
Lanny Chambers
"matthewchidester" <matthewc...@home.com> wrote:
> Alright well how about this... when you are aproaching a stop and slowly
> coming to a stop do you keep the clutch engaged till... 2K rpm? I think
> you're supposed to be in gear (legally) at all times.. or somthing like
> that..
Forget about numbers. Experiment to learn what works best in different
situations, and use whatever technique is appropriate at the time.
Sometimes I slip into neutral at 50 mph and coast, other times I
downshift sequentially all the way into first gear. It depends on where
I am, what I'm doing, and my mood at the time. I usually upshift by ear.
Get to know your car.
Iva
>If you dont mind my asking what is the deal with changing plug wires?
>I have never hear of replacing them as a matter of course? (could
just be my ignorance - would not be the first time) But why? How
often? etc?
>Cheers
The wires are good for about 30,000 (or so) miles. Then many Miata
owners have found they're experiencing power problems, missing,
stuttering, that type of thing. Replacing the wires usually solves
those problems. It certainly did with my Miata. YMMV.
Kenneth Lyons
>area).
And probably glad right now to be *from* the DC area.
Less than 4 miles from the Pentagon,,,,,,
--
Ken Lyons
'97 Touring - Brilliant Black
'90 A - Classic Red
Inside the Beltway
tooloud10
news:Pine.GSO.4.40.0109272353240.23422-100000@speartooth...
I'd be willing to bet a lot of money that there aren't a whole lot of
Corvette/Miata owners.
Dash Fieldpaint
Iva <ife...@ptd.net> wrote in message
news:YEHs7.440$Mj4....@nnrp1.ptd.net...
> John Doe wrote:
> >hi, i recently just bought a 1995 mazda maita. no mods, no super
> charger,
> >no etc..
> >
> >anyways my question is..
> >when im on the freeway... i go 60 mph on 5th gear... and the RPM is
> on 3000
> >already.. im like jesus, this doesnt feel right...
> >
> >all you miata owners, is this normal? is it bad for the
> transmission or
> >timing belt? i dont want to ruin a perfectly good car.
>
> don't even shift until 5,000 or better and that's when the Miata
> engine really shows its stuff. These engines are virtually
> indestructible - try running those revs up higher! Your car will
> appreciate it and so will you!
>
> And take a trip over to www.miata.net for lots and lots of info on
> your new car.
>
> Iva & Belle.)
> '90B Classic Red.)
> #3 winkin' Miata
>
>
>
I can't believe it took me this long to remember this. My family used to
live in England back in the early 80's. At that time my father owned a 1972
Lotus Elan. I was 7 at the time, so I didn't pay to much attention to it.
Well, shortly after I bought my '95 Miata last August, my father was up here
and he took it for a drive. After he got back he said something about the
car reminding him of his Elan, and how it was "Happiest when the tach was
pretty much pointing straight up."
Speaking of convertibles and England... I lived there from 80 to 83, and I
only remember seeing the sun ONCE. I'm half white and half Filipino, so I
can tan with a mini-maglite. When I got back to the states in early 84 I
was college-ruled notebook paper white. No sun in that part of the world.
Oh and... I have yet to convince my dad that I DID NOT punch a hole in his
plastic rear window.
Rick
95 Red
Terrence Chan
wrote:
:Seriously. Shifting at 3000, you're wasting more gas than shifting at
:5000. The only time I shift below 5000 is when the engine is cold -
:and then I shift at 4000.
So you cruise at ~5000 on the freeway?
--
Terrence Chan
http://www.sfu.ca/~tchand/
Patrick
> On Thu, 27 Sep 2001 17:33:50 GMT, "Iva" <ife...@ptd.net>
> wrote:
>
> :Seriously. Shifting at 3000, you're wasting more gas than shifting at
> :5000. The only time I shift below 5000 is when the engine is cold -
> :and then I shift at 4000.
>
> So you cruise at ~5000 on the freeway?
Doesn't your rpm drop after up-shifting?
Regards,
Patrick
Michael Bradbury
> wrote:
>
> :Seriously. Shifting at 3000, you're wasting more gas than shifting at
> :5000. The only time I shift below 5000 is when the engine is cold -
> :and then I shift at 4000.
>
Jim
12,000 rpm and didn't grenade. By the way...how would you know they turned
that many rpm?
Lanny Chambers <la...@hummingbirds.net> wrote in message
news:lanny-5846AA....@newssvr30-ext.news.prodigy.com...
Lanny Chambers
"Jim" <jb...@applink.net> wrote:
> Me thinks you may be going through wishful thinking that they hit 10 to
> 12,000 rpm and didn't grenade.
I trust the man who told me about a track incident. His engine blew a
few weeks later, IIRC, due to using an underdrive crank pulley. The lack
of damping mass killed the oil pump, again on the track.
>By the way...how would you know they turned
> that many rpm?
He calculated it at something over 12,000 from the mph. He had wound out
3rd on the track and was upshifting to 4th...but hit 2nd instead. Oops.