If you are someone who loves auto engineering, especially in the auto-sport field, then you’ve probably been confronted with the term, revving an engine.
The sound that comes off when you sharp accelerate the engine speed is called engine rev. It is always associated with showmanship in the sporting field, though it has its many purposes, as we will see later on.
For anyone that asks how to rev an engine, the first thing you will know is the purpose behind this action. The good news is that this piece will talk you through everything you need to know about revving an engine and how to be a pro.
What Does It Mean To Rev An Engine?
Revving is simply putting your car at a high engine speed causing the loud sound that we hear. The more gas you put into the pedal the more the sound hence you probably know what revs up means, increasing the rev.
The main reason for revving is to boost oil circulation in the car. The idea is drawn from the races where drag racing cars required a relatively high revolution per minute level for the oil to circulate properly. There is oil starvation if the engine is left at idle.
Revving is not only a thing of cars. You may have noticed motorcycles especially the sports performances ones doing the rev before they take off. It is more of a cosmetic thing but you can do revving to boost oil flow in your car for more of a smooth sail.
When revving up you will see on the car dashboard the tachymeter showing you the number of revolutions that you are making.
Another area where revving comes in handy is in boosting up a battery that has charging issues. Revving up comes in handy after a jumpstart to retain the charge to power the car.
In cold conditions, revving up may heat the engine to the right temperatures for you to move. This is Particularly true in the snowy areas where the cold temperatures may stall the engine. It also helps build up some heat in the cabin making it bearable for the occupants.
Coming to a common question, is it good to rev your car once in a while? Yes it is good but not to redline it otherwise you may damage the engine.
Most modern vehicles have a rev limiter which the manufacturers preset and limit the maximum speed.
How to Rev An Engine: Step By Step
Step 1: Turn the Car On.
Before you rev the engine up it should be running, so you should turn it on.
Step 2: Give Time for Oil Circulation.
Now that the car is on, wait to let the engine “warm up”; let it idle for 20-30 seconds. Oil circulates to all moving parts of the engine during the idling. Since revving will bring about a lot of motion in the engine, oiling its parts will prevent damage.
Step 3: Press On the Accelerator.
You now press on the accelerator, gradually, and switch the gear stick to neutral. You will realize that the engine moves smoothly as a result of the oiling. The needle on the tachometer will start moving; the plate will start indicating higher values as you press more on the gas pedal.
Watch the RPM dial, making sure the needle does not cross redline. Try to be steady and keen when switching from neutral to drive as you rev.
Revving an Engine When Parked
You can also rev your car with the engine on while parked, an exercise that many people learn. The steps you should follow to rev up a parked car are as follows.
Step 1: Start the Car.
Just like in the previous model of revving the engine, turn it on and keep it in that state for up to 30 seconds. While hinted earlier, this is to allow oil to circulate.
Step 2: Put the Car in Park Mode.
You then regulate the stick to parking mode so it doesn’t move forward or backward. This is a critical part of exercising due caution; otherwise, the car itself may move and cause an accident. To be on the safe side, apply the emergency brake.
If you are a pro, you can try revving when your auto is on a neutral.
Step 3: Step on the Gas Pedal.
Have fun and rev it by pressing steadily on the gasoline pedal. Keep your eye on the tachometer, ensuring that the needle doesn’t reach the redline. Press it a more times, then release the accelerator.
How to rev your engine in a manual
You can rev your manual car while driving it, in the same manner that sports car drivers demonstrate their love of speed and horsepower.
This is how to rev a manual car; you step on the clutch for the transmission system to be free. Gradually step down on the gas pedal. Don’t reach the redline yet. You can now change the gears.
FAQs.
Q: Is It Bad to Rev Your Engine?
Reving your engine from time to time is not bad, considering its several advantages, such as lubricants circulation and warming of car cabin.
But that is out of the question with regards to revving your engine, the caution of not hitting the red line while at it stands. Hitting red line might damage your car’s engine.
Q: How Do I Rev My Engine While Driving?
You can rev your engine while driving by first pressing the brake and then putting the gears shift to neutral. Then steadily step down on the accelerator, and see the needle go to a higher limit on the dial of the tachometer. This is for automatic cars.
On how to rev-match manual cars, you focus on bringing the engine speed to that of the transmission, so the car can smoothly transition to the gear of your choice. For that, you press the clutch and step on that gas pedal to rev the vehicle up.
Q: Do You Rev The Engine In Park Or Neutral?
If you are revving the engine in an automatic vehicle being stationary, you put it in park mode. But if you are driving, then you may leave it in neutral.
Q: Is Hitting The Rev Limiter Bad?
Then you are going overboard when you hit the red line that shows on the tachometer. You are held to have gone too far and you run the risk of damaging your engine when you hit the limiter.
Q: Should I rev match?
Rev matching is okay as you sort of update how you are with the transmission rate. And it is good for the engine, in that it does not wear out itself so much. Get lessons on how to rev match, and pull it off rightly.
Final Word
Revving your car engine is one of the coolest things you can do, especially if you had auto-sport leanings.
This article digs a little deeper into the whole revving thing, looking at what revving is, the benefits, and how to rev a vehicle engine. Follow these steps for both parked and driving modes and for automatic and manual transmissions to pull it safely off.