When the engine is operating temperature ? It states on the Porsche Vehicle Manual, to maintain the engine ABOVE 3,000 rpm's when the motor is up to normal operating temperature. How many members here actually do it religiously ?

The reason I'm asking is because of this thread :

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...e-engines.html

I suspect most owners lug their motors and we are seeing these type of failures. But I would like to get a poll!

Miles | LWFW | educated guess of % time spend above 3,000 rpm | Engine issues ( RMS, crank failure, IMS etc)

89,600 | Yes | 95% of time | No

 

I try to as much as I can, especially in-town driving. A lot of times I won't make it out of fourth, and sometimes not even out of third. The engine just seems to be its most lively in that range and the turbos spool pretty quickly.

59,800 | No | 70% of the time | No

 

To me, that doesn't make any sense unless you drive on the track only. Porsche produces a car with a lot of torque and pretty tall gearing but you should drive above 3k rpm?! If you're in 6th gear on the fwy over 3k rpm, you're probably going about 90mph. Even in Europe, that is over the speed limit in most countries.

In my case, I'd say
68k mi | No | 60% of the time | No

 

My normal shifting is around 3,000rpm.
My normal cruising sweet spot is 2,600 to 2,800rpm.
AND my preference is pedal to the metal and shifting at 7,400rpm when ever possible..

 

There's nothing magic about 3000 RPM.

Once the engine/transmission are warm, I personally have no "RPM target".

 

Where in the manual does it say that?

 

Its in reference to the cam cross over if I recall. It happens between 2600-3000 RPM. I try to keep the car under 2500 RPM if Im driving around town. I'll take it to 3 and shift to next gear. Keep in mind though I don't follow the manual really well with an 8300 rev limiter LOL. Also straight pipes so I try to keep the attention minimal.

 

I don't know if I stay above 3K all the time, but I do tend to stay in lower gears and higher revs (even when I'm just cruising). I like the engine sound better up there, and I think I'm just more comfortable there. I use to drive lower powered manual cars (e.g. Fiat Spyders, Miatas, etc) where you have to do that to get any performance out of them. I've also noticed that my sport bike buddies tend to drive at higher rpms too (I think it comes from being comfortable up around 9K a lot).

 

I have not really placed any thought into it, but when I cruise the street at 45-50mph I am in 3rd which is about 3100 rpm. When I am on the freeway cruising 70-75mph, I am cruising in 5th which is about 3100rpm, so for whatever reason it just works out that way. The car feels smooth at that rpm.

 

2nd and 3rd on the street, 3rd and 4th on the freeway. Use 5th on occasion, rarely 6th.

So I would say yes, between 3-5k mostly. Don't recall reading that in the manual, I don't abuse the car, prefer the exhaust note in this range, plus I drive it like I feel it should be driven, it's not a Prius

 

My car is way smoother when right close to 3k or above so I would have to say I spend most of my time right around that RPM during cruise.

 

When the motor is up to normal operating temperature but the car is a 996TT Tip, did Porsche program the TCU to maintain at least 3,000 engine rpm in all gear/load circumstances? I don't know, because I don't own a Tip, but I doubt it.

If I'm right, since the engines are the same, I doubt the validity to any "driving a warm engine under 3,000 rpm causes damage" theory, or we'd see Tip cars' motors failing left and right. That said, I typically keep my 6-spd over 3k, simply because I enjoy it.

If I had to guess, most 996TT owners with loud, droney exhausts probably try to religiously keep their cars over 3,000 to keep their heads from exploding.

 

tips are for girls

 

Ha, when the wife is in the car I'll shift into 6th while going 45mph. The drone is too much for her.

 

F1, I only kept above 3k at 100% when I'm following you; otherwise I usually keep the rpm between 2.5k-3k