1.) Is it bad to red-line these cars? I realize they shut off when it hits the red, but if I do this by accident now and then is it bad on the car?

2.) Is it ok to shift the car into 2nd when I am going about 60 mph? I'd never do this on my 997 but now that the torque curve is about 1000 rpms higher I need that extra RPM to get in the 991's 5500 rpm Fun-zone.

3.) If I am ever in 3rd gear and am at about 3,000 RPMS and want more power, but am too lazy to shift to 2nd.. is it ok to press on teh clutch and raise the rpms and then release it again?

 

In my opinion:

1. Not bad at all, in fact its quite fun. I run mine to red-line all the time on track, but have a PDK so I don't bounce it off the rev limiter for long periods of time. That is not something I would do. Will this result in more wear over time than running between 3k and 6k? Yeah, probably, but that's not why I got this car.

2. I don't recall exactly what RPM equates to 60mph in 2nd, but if it is 5500 RPM, then you should be fine.

3. That is not something I would do as it just wears the clutch. The car should accelerate okay from 3,000 RPM but if its not a enough, downshift.

 

Never do #3, unless you enjoy replacing your clutch prematurely..

Effectively, when you want to accelerate you need to increase the inertia of your car.. Down shifting instantly moves you rpm wise to a higher place on your torque curve by changing the drive ratio... But at the instant you release the clutch (in the lower gear) your inertia hasn't yet changed.. But because you are now in a higher torque area you speed up and thus increase your inertia...

But if you instead just engage the clutch raise the revs via the throttle and then release the clutch without changing the drive ratio you immediately load the engine back down and all you have really done is put a tremendous stress on the clutch which has to absorb the higher engine speed since your inertia hasn't yet changed..

And effectively you are putting a lugging load on the engine briefly until the speed/ inertia if the car catches up... Bottom line you aren't doing your engine or clutch any favors with this kind of technique.. In reality with a lower performance engine you would drop into a lug very quickly, with a higher performance engine the lug may not be as obvious, and you may accomplish a little of what you were trying (to speed up) but at the expense (literally) of your drive trane

I feel sorry for the current owner of your old 997..

No offense but learn to downshift, and if you feel that's too much work.. Get a pdk

 

Don't do #3. EVER.

 

downshift is fun and challenging to do correctly (rev match)


I really don't get #3...
I'm sure if you race an identical 991 and you do your calf exercise with the clutch, you will lose the race... and the clutch. but you will get the sexiest left calf in town :-)

 

... and the next owner of your 991.


To the OP, with all due respect, you need to find a friend who knows how to drive (road course racer, HPDE instructor, etc.) and can teach you how to drive a manual transmission car properly.

 

+1..

But lets be fair to the OP he is sticking his neck out and asking the question so I have to give him credit for wanting to learn..

 

Wow..If I didn't know better, this would be a Troll post.

Redline: By definition, the maximum operating rpm of the engine. Exceed it and things come apart in violent and dramatic fashion (ask me how I know - 14,000 rpm in a 993). Your car's computer also keeps a record of rpm use that is easily downloadable. That's part of a PPI inspection these days and also used to determine warranty work. The more trips you make to the limiter, the more records.

Clutch Slippage: Because you are too lazy to downshift? Should have bought a PDK car. That's just nuts to even think of doing that.

 

I am very sorry for my annoying post. I dind't mean to upset anyone or be a troll.

I do not do #1 often (just has happened by accident a few times), and I will never do #3. I was just curious if it could be done.

I guess my main question was #2.

To rephrase:

If I am going 60, and want to blast past some people, is it OK if I shift to 2nd and for passing? As long as I match the revs so its not a strain on the car?


In the 997 I would probably go to 3rd for this but I feel this power in this car is closer to 5500 instead of 4500 like in a 997.

 

Hi Charles, I think your question is really "is it okay to run the 991 to red-line when you want maximum performance" and the answer is yes, absolutely. You paid for an engine that can rev, so you might as well use all of them.

What you should not do is downshift in a manner that will over-rev the car. For example, if you are close to red-line in 3rd, and intend to shift into 4th, but put it in 2nd by mistake, that will over-rev the motor and as drcollie pointed out can turn your beautiful engine into a very expensive grenade.

Hopefully the distinction is clear.

 

-1- on the upshift, go for it. Redline is fine. On the downshift, you might be royally screwed !

-2- and -3- no comment

 

ok to backshift in 2nd when doing 60mls/h?
depend. with my 997.1, in 2nd gear, if very close to red line at 60. so for me, it's useless to downshift in 2nd at 60.
at 45mls/h, then yes, downshift in 2nd is good, if I append to be under a bridge, it even better :-)


and my dealership told me those car need to rev to remain healthy...

 

Doing 1 and 2 are OK; however, I've taken mine to redline only once and since then have made a conscious effort to not do that. I wouldn't recommend doing 3 at all...just downshift when you need the additional speed; doing it that way really gets to one of the benefits of having an MT.

 

No, please don't do this.

 

Ive started 'opening up' my car to near the redline since getting break-in over (my choice to follow recommended break-in) ... I have to say it seems to have much more flex and an almost orchestral sound after driving hard for a few more hundred miles.. As though there was still some high rev breaking in left to do (knocking off the corners so to speak). The car and tone is simply electric but sublime at higher revs... I never pushed my previous cars this hard so often as they sounded like they were being thrashed but the 991 just feels like it is rewarding you the harder you go. I cant help feeling porsche wouldn't make higher revs so rewarding (power, sound etc) if it wasn't meant to be driven that way.