Modern cars have a fairly wide speed range. Many drivers, having many years behind the wheel of a vehicle, have never accelerated to the maximum. However, there is an opinion that excessively high speed kills the engine and leads to rapid vehicle wear. Is this true, and what tactics are best for the driver to choose? The expert technicians from the Indy Auto Man Indianapolis used car lot will help to figure it out.
Normal speed – what is it?
Cruising speed is vital for a car’s well-being. Its value depends on the gear ratios and transmission configuration and is closely related to the engine speed.
On average, the cruising speed of cars used on the US roads in top gear fluctuates between 55 and 66 mph. This is considering project cars one can often see in the traffic flow. For modern vehicles with an engine capacity of 1.4 – 2.0 liters and a 6-speed gearbox, the value will be 70 mph, for cars with an 8-speed gearbox – up to 75 mph.
The engine works optimally in cruise mode. There is enough traction for additional acceleration, overtaking, and other maneuvers. At the same time, a car does not use too much fuel. Unfortunately, “optimal” does not mean “maximum economical”. Thus, the least gasoline is burned when driving at 50-55 mph.
External factors
The faster you move, the greater the air resistance. But the counteraction force increases not linearly but exponentially. Simply put, if a speed of 55 mph is considered normal, and you accelerate to 80 mph, then fuel consumption will increase not by 50% but by 100%. This increased load does not yet have much of an effect on the units and assemblies. Citizens who care about the environment are also concerned about the emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere. Polluting exhalation also increases during extreme operating conditions. However, speed lovers and connoisseurs of clean air are usually different people, and their interests do not intersect.
If the speedometer goes off the scale over 80, then increased wear of the transmission, engine, and suspension begins. The longer the car is in overload mode, the higher the likelihood of irreversible consequences and breakdowns that cannot be repaired.
How is a strength test carried out?
Most manufacturers carry out tests at the limit of capabilities for 60 hours (12 hours of rolling for 5 days in a row). The car contains a load with a total weight of 500 lbs. The speed is the maximum that the car is capable of. Stops of no more than an hour are allowed. The test stops if a breakdown cannot be fixed during this time.
The tires take the brunt in the first 24 hours – their tread wears out much faster than with calm, non-aggressive driving. After a day of driving, the structure begins to crumble. Cracks appear in the joints of the power steering (if there is one), which leads to oil leaks. Spark plugs and coils fail, and therefore, ignition is lost. Wheel alignment units are distorted. Timing belts, valves, pumps, shock absorbers, bearings – many units suffer. The longer the wear and tear continues, the more problems intensify. However, these faults, at least, can be noticed immediately.
Hidden failures are much more dangerous. Thus, after 60 hours of testing, metal particles are already detected in the oil sample. Overheating leads to a decrease in quality – additives stop working. Oil must be replaced after 1200 miles. Compare this with the recommended values in the optimal mode and think about it. Few people will remember this nuance until they encounter problems. Almost all failures appear after 20-30 hours of continuous overloads. That is, after three days of driving at high speed. Moreover, this does not depend on the quality and cost of the car. The only remark is that an old car will still fail earlier even if it was used carefully and regularly serviced.
The conclusion is quite simple. Few people can achieve maximum savings – the pace of modern life does not encourage such a leisurely ride. But it is quite possible to extend the service life of your car. There is no need to drive at too high a speed, which is illegal on most public roads. This is just a driver’s whim and a desire to get a thrill that endangers life and ruins a vehicle.
