red-line?

[Murph00]

I've got a 2000 v6 manual, when driving hard is redlining the gears bad for the motor or is it ok to just hit a little in red? i have heard both of these that they are true, can someone help me out

[Danger Dude]

In real world terms you wont damage anything. The redline has a comfort buffer in it. The factory places the redline much lower than can do harm. For a V6, people get chips that increase the redline to 6000 rpm as long as you install a valvetrain to handle the increased rpm

[lowflyn]

But...running the engine that hard can be bad for it over long periods of time...

[Ponycarman]

:no:

Redline is the safe maximum operating speed.

keyword is safe.

I wouldn't try to run in 1st gear @ 6000 rpm for hours on end but drive it up to redline and shift won't kill anything. Assuming of course you have a properly working and maintained vehicle.

As for the factories low redline setting that's usually because of the valve springs used. The stock cam reall isn't gonna pull all that well up at higher rpms and that's usually what sets the redline. I used to run big blocks up to 6200 rpm when I shifted, never had a problem. But I built them to run hard at that rpm. No need to shift a stock 3.8 that high since you are long past the torque peak and will actually go slower than if you shifted sooner.

Steve

[stangin99]

6k is fun.

Like was said..stock springs can't take that rev. Otherwise the motor could take it as long as you dont go lean up there.

[97Stallion]

Also, if you're watching you tach go to redline and then shifting, you're actually no where near the redline. You stock tach is almost about 1000 rpms slow, so when it says you're at 6000, you're really only at about 5000.

[Danger Dude]

Originally Posted by 97Stallion

Also, if you're watching you tach go to redline and then shifting, you're actually no where near the redline. You stock tach is almost about 1000 rpms slow, so when it says you're at 6000, you're really only at about 5000.

This is totally correct factory RPM gauges in most cars are off 500-1000 RPM. It is also true that shifting anywhere including the track will not get you to 5000 RPM in a stock V6

[97Stallion]

Originally Posted by Danger Dude

This is totally correct factory RPM gauges in most cars are off 500-1000 RPM. It is also true that shifting anywhere including the track will not get you to 5000 RPM in a stock V6

Maybe I should modify what I'm saying. When you're gunning it, or flooring the gas pedal your tach is off a decent amount(the 500-1000rpms), but when you're cruising it's usually dead on or close to it.

[Danger Dude]

Originally Posted by 97Stallion

Maybe I should modify what I'm saying. When you're gunning it, or flooring the gas pedal your tach is off a decent amount(the 500-1000rpms), but when you're cruising it's usually dead on or close to it.

I understood what you we saying the lag in the Tach to the actual rpm can be as much as 1000RPM off

[97Stallion]

Originally Posted by Danger Dude

I understood what you we saying the lag in the Tach to the actual rpm can be as much as 1000RPM off

I knew you understood, i was just making sure others did, i.e. the guy that started the post. After reading my post he might have thought that his Tach was always off up to 1000 rpms. i just wanted to clarify that.

[Danger Dude]

OH OK never mind

[lowflyn]

If you have a car with digital odometer...ford put a little extra in there that lets you view your speed and tach and such digitally. I've found this to be closer to your actual speed and rpm's.

[WhiteStang99]

it is.

When it reads 100, the gauges read 97ish...