Hey guys, been awhile since I was on here. Anyway I was wondering if keeping the engine in low RPM's is a bad thing. My 06 5.4L has 25K miles and has never seen over 3K RPM. I just don't drive it hard or pull anything real heavy with it. My Corvette see's 6K RPM on a daily basis.

Any factual info you can share would be appreciated.

 

it all comes down to how it was broke in. its not a bad thing but if you took it easy on it while breaking it in then you will have a bigger chance in hurting something inside the motor if you get on her. everyone i know drive their trucks like they stole them when breaking in the motors and they dont have any problems.

 

Won't hurt a thing. What would you think it could hurt?

 

My dad's '92 GMC with a 5.7 rarely gets above 2k, he usually just drives it to work and back (about 4 miles) and maybe a short jaunt or two on the highway a week. If you mash the pedal, it will still pull about like my 5.4 for awhile, but it likes to ping like crazy and will loose power as the computer tries to save the engine by adjusting the timing while lighting the CEL. This is all thanks to the engine being full of carbon from the throttle rarely being opened up in any way, shape or form. The carbon buildup on the cylinders and heads increases compression, and the 87 or 89 octane fuel we get isn't enough to compensate for it. The best way to fix it is to take everything apart and clean it, which isn't too fun to do. You can try seafoam or whatever, but that can get stuff stuck in your valves, which just adds to your problem.

Just putting around is fine, for the most part that is what I do, but I wind mine up once in awhile to keep everything moving. I wouldn't do it everytime I drive it, but it is kinda fun to take it up to 4k once a week since I put duels on it.

 

Heck if it came with a Tach you might as well use it

 

just open it up thru first every once and a while

That deal goes back to the carberator days. The engines ran rich quite often and a good blast of power would blow the buildup out.

Man I owned some junk when I was a young lad

 

About the only time my 4.2L sees anything over 2000 RPMs is when I'm doing 70 or the occasional first gear "romp". It needs to be chipped, because I know 2000 RPMs where it usually shifts is no in the peak powerband when pulling away from a stop.

Otherwise, that only happens when I gas it a little bit to exercise the tranny...because sometimes I think 1400 RPMs on the highway is a little too relaxing.

 

I doubt it'll cause any harm. My truck hardly ever sees over 3-4K RPM, more in the sake of longevity and fuel mileage than anything else.

You'll have more problems if you aren't regularly getting the engine up to operating temp.

 

I don't get the 'real' sense to all this?
You do know the motor does not even reach peak power (torque) until 3200 rpm.
Running below this is a waist for a truck when loaded or towing.
Running at rpm below 2500 is the problem with poor fuel mileage and poor throttle response out of a small displacement motor when your down so far on the torque curve.
The motor is not making enough torque to move the weight 'efficiently' and so requires more throttle just to move the weight and hance more fuel.
If things are that tight, it's time to look at running a mini car.

 

Not sure why I would want it to reach peak power..torque. It's a truck and I don't race or tow heavy trailers with it. I have a bigger engine in a sports car for WOT runs. Just wondering about the carbon build up on the valves.

I did get it over 3K RPM after posting this and was seriously not impressed. Made me laugh a little and I realize why I don't get it over 3K now.

Looks like it's going to be a put putter until I have to pull somebody out of a hole.

 

An Italian tune-up every so often is in order. Just make sure you have plenty of road! These beasts eat up a lot of real estate during full-throttle acceleration.