Is it bad to full throttle on a motor?

[L1ama]

Well im completely not good with cars, my dad keeps telling me that engine will break if its used at full throttle, hes saying that pistons and all that steel inside will break. I'm 16 right now, ill buy a car in 2 years, and I'm afraid that it will break if I drive it fast. My friend's dad has a very good car thats been running hard for 1 and a half years with no engine/tranny problems, so I'm asking my dad to explain that, he comes out with it will break soon. Can anyone tell me the lifespan of an engine, and what needs to be done to make it run good for longer time, thanks.

[evanl85]

What are you joking?

[kuramaya]

WOT at 14 PSI YEAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing feels or sounds better...

[NemeGuero]

Pushing the limitations of an engine will shorten the life-span of the engine and transmission. As long as proper maintenance is done, you can maximize their life. Proper maintenane includes, regular oil changes, replacing plugs, oil filter, fuel filters, spark plugs, distributor caps and rotors, plug wires, water pump.. etc on their replacement "due date." A factory service manual will have an entire section devoted to regular maintenance and how often it is needed. Do not purchase a Haynes/Chilton manual, they are severly inadequate and can be too general at times. Go to the dealership and buy a Factory Service Manual and treat it like your bible. haha, read up.

[L1ama]

I'm not joking, my dad keeps bullshitting me with this stuff, I know that motors will last like a good few years at driving them really hard, other things will break down first, maybe tranny depends on how its used, but he keeps pissing me off, so I want some words from someone who knows about this stuff better than my dad.

[NemeGuero]

He's right. It wears much faster, as I said above.

[evanl85]

Besides being right, I think your dad is just trying to convey the idea that it isn't a good idea to start driving like a jackass when you get your license, hence always driving "full throttle".

[wootwoot]

full throttle is not as bad as redlining the motor.

[ThatGuy]

Also please learn the difference between a MOTOR and an ENGINE.
One involves combustion, the other does not.

Your father is likely trying to scare you away from damaging the car or hiking up his insurance any higher then already having a 16 yr. old added to it. He will likely be impressed if you can present him with good facts about your engine and what it can and can't handle. Download the FSM on your vehicle and get to researching. Good luck.

[Phlip]

If you are serious, your pops is telling you this because he doesn't want you to fuck up something he has paid for and would likely have to pay to replace. The fact remains that, as has been mentioned, that a properly maintained engine will not ruin an engine, so long as you do not make it a frequent habit (see previous mentions of the terms "16 years old," "driving like a jackass" and "redline")

... on the other hand, if this thread gets out of hand and you are trolling, then I will unremorsefully lock this thread and someone may be in deep shit

[Ricks15]

yeah its bad stuff will start to break down and if you keep pushing it you're only going to cause more damage so stop with you're full throttle games, and learn how to drive you're 240 the right way dummy

[crioten]

^^ what he said :)

if you want to really impress your dad, treat your car better than yourself, it will pay off... you wont have day to day headaches with it, if its properly maintained...

by also treating it better than youself, this means dont go out and do doughnuts and get caught street racing. ITS NOT WORTH IT... if you really want to do this, get involved at autocrosses, drift days, whatever, as long as they are legal events...

ive done all that stupid shit when i was 16, now i HAVE to drive like an old man on the streets, due to the fact that if i get another ticket, i will have my license suspended, AGAIN...

above all else show that you are mature enough to drive your car, that will impress your dad the most

[SilviaDriver]

if u are buying a BRAND NEW CAR OFF THE LOT, you are suppose to push the car gradually to break in the piston and the seals so they sit correctly. so if u are buying a brand new car your dad is wrong cuz you are suppose to push your car hard gradually over the first thousand or couple thousand

if ur buying used, disregard everything i said cuz your motor is already set in, correctly or incorrectly depending on the first owner

[sblack13]

just treat your car well, its going to be hard to convince dad your not going to be a speed demon. btw are there any places to speed in brooklyn?

[DaPCWiz]

heh... I remember when I was 16, my view on cars was so different than it is now. I've learned that its not driving like a jackass, especially in the first few years with your liscences, insurance, not knowing what ur doing with ur car, etc etc. If you are really interested in learning a thing or two, come out to ImportFanatix meets in brooklyn / long island / jersey. There are plenty of knowledgable people there who can teach you things the right way.

[Irukandji]

haha funny...

are you planning to buy a 240 (since you posted on this forum)?

my view on this is, good maintenance will keep your car happy regardless on how you drive it.

[DaPCWiz]

haha funny...

are you planning to buy a 240 (since you posted on this forum)?

my view on this is, good maintenance will keep your car happy regardless on how you drive it.

yeah, but a car that is beat on needs more maintainance than a car babied. For example - during autoX season, my car get oil changes every 1500-2200 (depending on oil condition) vs the normal 3000-3500 when i'm not autoXing.

[Irukandji]

yeah, but a car that is beat on needs more maintainance than a car babied. For example - during autoX season, my car get oil changes every 1500-2200 (depending on oil condition) vs the normal 3000-3500 when i'm not autoXing.

agreed


let me rephrase it then:

The harder you drive your car, the more you need to maintain it.

better?

good

[L1ama]

Yes, I'm planning on buying a 240sx s13, can you tell me more on these "ImportFanatix" meetings in Brooklyn, location/time/etc. My friends are not as much into cars as I am, so I think I'll have to go alone, distance is not a problem for me, I got a bmx bike to get around in Brooklyn. ;)

[Irukandji]

You would find more info in the "regional forums" ...

that's what they are there for.

oh and your welcome

[aznpoopy]

Yes, I'm planning on buying a 240sx s13, can you tell me more on these "ImportFanatix" meetings in Brooklyn, location/time/etc. My friends are not as much into cars as I am, so I think I'll have to go alone, distance is not a problem for me, I got a bmx bike to get around in Brooklyn. ;)

www.importfanatix.com

240sx's are old cars. flog it 24/7 and it will die on you. WOT 24/7 to redline is abusive, period. driving a car is abusive. stuff wears down and breaks. drive it harder and it wears down quicker. common sense.

the lifespan of an engine varies depending on the engine, how its used, and how well its maintained. the only way to 'turn back the clock' on an old engine is to rebuild it.

if you have a dedicated track car that spends its entire life at high rpms & full throttle, it's a good bet it won't last as long as one that was driven normally. that should also be common sense.

[TurDz]

Also please learn the difference between a MOTOR and an ENGINE.
One involves combustion, the other does not.

Your father is likely trying to scare you away from damaging the car or hiking up his insurance any higher then already having a 16 yr. old added to it. He will likely be impressed if you can present him with good facts about your engine and what it can and can't handle. Download the FSM on your vehicle and get to researching. Good luck.

"The basic difference is this:
A motor (or, more formally, an electric motor) is a device which converts
electrical energy into mechanical energy. They come in all variety of size
and type. It is rather easy to build a simple one, and I am sure that any
good science store would have kits to do that, or books to guide you
through a home project.
An engine (or, more formally, a heat engine) is a device that converts
chemical energy or heat energy into mechanical energy. The three main
types are the internal combustion piston engine (like the engine in your
automobile, gas turbine engines (like the powerplants used in jet
aircraft), and steam engines. There are kits available for steam engines
(check out Edmund Scientific), and there are plastic models to display the
components of automotive engines. again found in most good science
stores).
Hope this helps."

- Frederick J. Carranti, P.E.

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1999-03/922255265.Eg.r.html


I knew the information above, but I needed reinforcement for my own practices. Hope that helps.

[Irukandji]

haha pwnd


msg legnth

[NemeGuero]

Owned for stating a definition? To nobody who was arguing the contrary? Riiighht.

[ThatGuy]

Well done Turdz. Thank you for reinforcing my argument.

[Irukandji]

Owned for stating a definition? To nobody who was arguing the contrary? Riiighht.

i dunno... who cares?

sorry for postwhoring :rolleyes:

[driftyour40]

Also please learn the difference between a MOTOR and an ENGINE.
One involves combustion, the other does not.

Thats funny my mom slapped me when 15 for calling an engine a motor. She's a tech. so she can do shit like that.

To the thread starter; learn to drive slow befor you drive fast, speed kills.

[shinrekka]

dude, do yourself a favour and dont even talk to you parents about cares. I have obsessive compulsive disorder and all i talked about was 240's for a year before getting my license. Now my parents know i want to drive fast and recklessly, and race or whatever. BAM im driving a mini van. Took me 2 years to make my parents let me register my 240. Show NO interest in cars. Then when it comes time, find a decent 240 or whatever u want and when your parents see it they wont be hard to please with your first car.

p.s. my van was faster then my 240, so the joke was on them.

[NemeGuero]

dude, do yourself a favour and dont even talk to you parents about cares. I have obsessive compulsive disorder and all i talked about was 240's for a year before getting my license. Now my parents know i want to drive fast and recklessly, and race or whatever. BAM im driving a mini van. Took me 2 years to make my parents let me register my 240. Show NO interest in cars. Then when it comes time, find a decent 240 or whatever u want and when your parents see it they wont be hard to please with your first car.

p.s. my van was faster then my 240, so the joke was on them.
I NEVER talk to my parents about cares... fuck that.

[nsn240]

i tell them very limited... my dad hears way more than my mom, he loves my car

[NemeGuero]

Your mom loves my car. lol.. couldn't resist.. Just playing.

[L1ama]

p.s. my van was faster then my 240, so the joke was on them.

Did you also piss off your parents by drifting that van, since they didn't want to get you a 240 at first, and taking it to a track on track days and smoking a few 240s?
/sarcasm
At least you got a 240 now to work on, and if you don't make it faster than that van of yours, then I'd have to put you on the "hate" list.

[altitude]

Ask your dad if he means bringing the engine to high RPMs when he says "full throttle"

If not, ask him if it would be harmful to use WOT between say, 2000 and 3000 RPM and then shift. Cause I bet you can do it smoothly with him as passenger without him noticing you went full throttle (unless you drive a big torquy car)

[!Zar!]

This thread should die IMO.

[shinrekka]

Did you also piss off your parents by drifting that van, since they didn't want to get you a 240 at first, and taking it to a track on track days and smoking a few 240s?
/sarcasm
At least you got a 240 now to work on, and if you don't make it faster than that van of yours, then I'd have to put you on the "hate" list.

nah but i'd stomp down the ebrake and drag rear tires down the road leaving huge smoke clouds. I blew the engine at 16 psi :smash:

[blackflag_Rms13]

dude, do yourself a favour and dont even talk to you parents about cares. I have obsessive compulsive disorder and all i talked about was 240's for a year before getting my license. Now my parents know i want to drive fast and recklessly, and race or whatever. BAM im driving a mini van. Took me 2 years to make my parents let me register my 240. Show NO interest in cars. Then when it comes time, find a decent 240 or whatever u want and when your parents see it they wont be hard to please with your first car.

p.s. my van was faster then my 240, so the joke was on them.

That sucks. I grew up helping my dad rebuild a '61 Porsche 356. When the time came to buy a car, I told my dad that it was one of the onyl cheap RWD Japanese available in the 90's and that it had really high potential for Auto-X and Drifting. I then took him to a DriftDay and by chance some guy with a '60's 911 was there and my dad loved it. Right when I got my liscence my dad wanted to Auto-X against me. But he told me that I'd be fucked over if I did that shit on the street.