Red line figures on a KA...

[TomWilko]

Hi
Alright people!

Does anybody know off the top of their head or from knowledge what the red line figures for a standard 1.3 KA are in each gear (e.g 'maybe' 20 MPH for 1st, 45MPH for 2nd etc)? Mine is the new version, and, seeing as i don't have a rev counter on the bottom of the range model, i want to avoid smashing the engine to pieces when i occasionally drive it hard.

So far i havn't dropped it over 26/28ish in 1st, no more than about 46/48 in 2nd and then about 70 in 3rd was all i was gonna risk last night!

I just want to know if those kinda figures are really to heavy on the engine, cos seeing as its a new car i want it to last!!

All help much appreciated

Tom

[Ant]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think most new cars these days all have rev limiters on them, preventing you from over revving the engine. I have never reached the limiter on my clio yet tho! too scary!

[Angus]

as with Antsss - modern cars have limiters, so unless you mod your engine like Lowe then you won't have any problems over-revving your engine.

Although doing that sort of thing won't prolong your engine life expectancy by any stretch of the imagination.

[5lab]

it wasnt modding that causes lowes car not to have a limiter - the 1.4 renault block is carb-based and has no limiter, i know cos i've the same lump (albeit un-turbod) in my car

[Lead_Head]

Tom, you could hold your accelerator down all day not in gear and the ECU would stop the engine from blowin up. Apparently your engine is near indestructable!

However, this wouldn't be advised as it would shorten the life expectancy!!

[TomWilko]

Tom, you could hold your accelerator down all day not in gear and the ECU would stop the engine from blowin up. Apparently your engine is near indestructable!

However, this wouldn't be advised as it would shorten the life expectancy!!

Dude - phew!!

[unrealrocks]

I'd just change when it sounds right

As others have said - your not going to blow it up doing that although you will get lower life out of the engine.

Also - dont forget changing at the last possible point ISN'T the fastest way to accelerate, every car has a different optimum changing point - normally when the power curve is starting to drop off.

[Honoop]

Hello...
Well if you value the opinion of a girl - I would reckon that you aint gonna be doing much damage to your 'ickle engine so long as u use your noddle. Fair enough kaning ur engine isnt the best thing in the world to be doing but like you said its occasional.
EOTD - its a new car, if ur gonna be getting it serviced regularly ur cool, plus the liklihood of u keeping it til it croaks is minimal.
Dont sweat it - these little Fords are hardy!!

[Angus]

It's not a brand new car is it??

Have you run it in yet (before trying to thrash the living daylights out of it)

Just a thought.

[hotpurple]

Tom, you could hold your accelerator down all day not in gear and the ECU would stop the engine from blowin up. Apparently your engine is near indestructable!

However, this wouldn't be advised as it would shorten the life expectancy!!

Actually revving the engine unloaded is very bad. There are too few combustion forces to slow the piston down so the big end bearing has to take the brunt of slowing the piston down at TDC.

Just my 2p

Chris

[Skii]

What are you doing thrashing a KA ?!?

[Zak33]

Best way to find out if its WORTH all the arse ache.....and the future damage is this:

Put car in Third on long road....change road speed to obtain revs of 3000 rpm exactly......hold it steady.....

Start stop watch and accelerate........in 3rd........until you reach 4500 rpm. Thats a 1500 rpm increase.

Stop watch....

Write down....go repeat on same road.....and same people in car etc.....identical

Now....after you've done it 5 times.....work out average.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now back to same bit of road......select 3rd gear and 4000 rpm.....hold steady and prepare stop watch.

Now use stop watch to time it to 5500 rpm......repeat on same road in same sirection...5 times.

Is it accelerating faster on the lower rev range or the higher rev range.....you MIGHT be suprised....it MIGHT be increasing in revs quicker on the lower one cos that engine has more midrange torque that upper range torque.


NOW.....what you are intending to find out is WHETHER it is good to rev your engine SO HARD that ONCE YOU DO CHANGE GEAR, does the rev counter land plop in the middle of the best acceleration for the higher gear.

ie..if you rev it to over 6000 IS IT BECAUSE the next gear needs to be at about 4000 rpm to go quicker again.

If it IS, then revving it that hard is worth it for acelleration...but if it ISNT....then an earlier change will yiled better results.

Plus......change the oil more often than the book says if you are gonna spank it, AND keep it a long while (over 3 to 4 years)....at about 1/2the normal interval, get the oil changed. Then dip it regualalry.....

[Shad]

That's all very well Zak but he doesn't have a rev counter

[Zak33]

doesn't he

well he better get one soon

[TomWilko]

That's all very well Zak but he doesn't have a rev counter

How much would it cost for me to get the correct one by Ford installed? As in...into the dash? I am not interested in an after-market jobby, i would want something that nicely fits into the car

Yes it was bought from brand new with 2 miles on the clock! It did the first 1500 steady-eddy as asked by Ford, and it has now done 4000. In only the last 500 or so has it been experiencing a bit more push from me!

[Lead_Head]

**emphasies bit**