Why Put a "Red Zone" on a Tach?

[WaKeMaN]

This seems pretty stupid... but why would an auto manufacturer put a red zone past the red line on a tach, when we all well know that we should never be there...

It's not quite like putting a speedometer up to 140 mph...  We know we shouldn't be there either, but if a car can do it there isn't the damage associated with running your car past redline...

Just curious for insight... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

[toddnappi]

i also thought this... why is it always like 2k-3k long too? If the car redlines @ 7200, the tach should go to 7500 max, not 9000! whats with always having km too! on modern cars with digital gauges you should be able to switch back and forth.

[SaintlyCharBoy]

on some cars the red zone is a warning before redline, redline as difined by total valve float (bad)

if you notice our rev limiter kicks in around at 6k,and redline is at 7.2k, that covers a full 1k of red... as for the rest... looks cool? &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

[nrcooled]

I think it's for mods. &nbsp;and also for different standards in different countries. &nbsp;i.e. in Europe the autobahn you can go fast as hell so a Ford Escort has no governor and car go that fast but in the US we need governors ::i guess <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> :: &nbsp;As far as redline the stock 240 tach that I have comes in handy since I now can rev higher w/ the SR than w/ the KA <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> &nbsp; That's why I think

Cliff's notes:
1. Maybe for future expantion of engine capabilities
2. Generic layout for all markets
3. Comes in handy when you do mods

[AKADriver]

It's pretty simple: mechanical over-rev. &nbsp;Shifting to too low a gear and dropping the clutch. &nbsp;The electronic rev limiter can't stop the engine from spinning that fast. &nbsp;Besides that, before the days of EFI, cars didn't even have rev limiters.

The SR and CA-powered cars have a 9000rpm tach vs. our 8000rpm tach, so there goes the "other markets/engines" theory.

It's better to have extra capacity than not enough.

[WaKeMaN]

...so... you think it can be used as a measurement of just how badly you over-revved your engine...

I can picture talking to a mechanic now...

"...I dunno what happened but I downshifted and revved to 8500, then there was this loud clicking sound, you think I did somethin' bad...?" <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[HippoSleek]

Another great use of it is that when you are not 100% focused on the tach, it is a large area that can be picked up in your perripheral vision and help you shift at the right times. &nbsp;

Example, when I track my car, there is way too much to pay attention to and I can't really just stare at the tach - but I'll notice w/o really looking when the needle starts creeping up near the red. &nbsp;Then I can glance at the tach and shift properly.

If there weren't such a defined area of red, my eyes wouldn't pick it up as well.

[sykikchimp]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (SaintlyCharBoy @ July 07 2002,01:23)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">on some cars the red zone is a warning before redline, redline as difined by total valve float (bad)

if you notice our rev limiter kicks in around at 6k,and redline is at 7.2k, that covers a full 1k of red... as for the rest... looks cool? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
rev limiter does not kick in at 6k rpm. &nbsp;if it did you would never get near red line b/c your rev's wouldn't be allowed past 6k... &nbsp;the revlimiter is closer to 7500rpm.

My Redline is at 6900 rpm not 7200.... &nbsp;later models are at 6500