Redlining: The 2011 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG develops 451hp at 6800rpm, but the redline is closer to 7500rpm.
Is redlining your engine good for your car?
Petrolheads say this practice is actually good for engines, whereas normal drivers might probably say that revving the engine so hard will only harm it.
So, which camp is right? But before we get into that, let’s define redlining first.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Redlining means letting your engine rev until it hits the limiter.
An internal combustion engine needs to rev to a certain point in order to produce its maximum power. That’s why you see technical specifications that say “200hp at 6000rpm”.
According to mechanical engineer Shreejit Changaroth, engines are designed to spin to redline whenever maximum power is required. In the above example, 200hp is produced at 6000rpm.
And in fact, most engine redlines are set a little higher than where maximum power is developed.
HOW IS THIS BENEFICIAL?
Redlining your engine every now and then has several advantages.
It helps keep moving parts in good running order, while bringing out any deficiencies that may not be obvious at lower running speeds.
These issues include partly clogged fuel injector nozzles and worn spark plugs, which would cause (among other things) rough and/or hesitant power delivery.
WILL IT DAMAGE YOUR ENGINE?
Most drivers may not want to rev the engine so hard because they think it will damage it. After all, when redlined, an engine can sound like it’s about to blow.
However, there’s no need to worry. Redlining will not damage an engine or cause it to explode, no matter how cruelly you treat it.
Therefore, revving the engine to its maximum speed several times a week is not a problem. Just remember never to do this while the engine is still cold!
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