Running high RPM's and letting go of gas

[eliouno]

I know downshifting can put stress on the clutch and tranny, but what about running the RPM to about 7000 or 8000 and letting go of the gas so as to just hear the sound of the car. Is this bad for the car?

[dailydriver]

I know downshifting can put stress on the clutch and tranny, but what about running the RPM to about 7000 or 8000 and letting go of the gas so as to just hear the sound of the car. Is this bad for the car?

It certainly will put more stress on the drivetrain. There is the launch control mode which allows you to floor fun pedal and the car will settle in at 6,500 and then you just dump the clutch and hang on. Audi wouldn't have this feature if it was too bad for the car. I wouldn't do it every day but it is great for the drag strip.

[CA_SL65]

Your engine wont grenade if you do it, because it is designed for those stress levels, but you should know it is the absolute worst you can do for an engine - bar none!
The reason - the maximum stress is on the rod bolts due to the absence of any gas being moved by the pistons or absence of compression, the pistons would really just like to continue their trip through the heads, and all that keeps them from doing that are the two aforementioned rather small bolts. It's simple physics..... as in forces increase to the square of speed and the pistons travel at some pretty nasty clip in these long stroke engines

[dailydriver]

I would also add that revving your engine for too long with no load is not the best thing to do. Worse than that is doing so when the engine is not a full operating temperature (as indicated by the oil temp gauge, not coolant).

[eliouno]

I have a manual so no launch control. However what I understand is that it is not critical, but is not good for the engine. I would assume that letting the gas go at about 5000 RPM or lower is not in any danger zone. Is this a good assumption

[willyjp]

I have a manual so no launch control. However what I understand is that it is not critical, but is not good for the engine. I would assume that letting the gas go at about 5000 RPM or lower is not in any danger zone. Is this a good assumption

Are you sure you don't have "launch control"? My 2010 v8 6MT has launch control...and its use is outlined in the owner's manual. I've never tried it, because I think the thing gets off the line adequately by just doing a similar, but less hi rev, procedure by the "seat of your pants."

I'm pretty sure ALL R8s through '10 had launch control, though I can't say they didn't drop it after that.

[SteveR]

What are you guys talking about? We do this all day long at track days, basically at every corner. If this car was not made to handle a throttle lift at high rpm I need to start looking for a different car.

If you are just talking about running up to 7-8k in gear then letting the car engine brake, I wouldn't worry about it as long as the car is warm. Sure, there is more stress than at 3k, but if that is all Audi thought was safe for the engine they would have put the redline at 3k.

@CA_SL65
-Why wouldn't there be compression when the throttle is lifted? The intake does not close completely. The exhaust still makes noise. Compression goes on, and I suspect there would actually be less stress on the wrist pins as throttle is ruduced. Also, I believe rod failure is much more common than wrist pin failure.

[dailydriver]

Are you sure you don't have "launch control"? My 2010 v8 6MT has launch control...and its use is outlined in the owner's manual. I've never tried it, because I think the thing gets off the line adequately by just doing a similar, but less hi rev, procedure by the "seat of your pants."

I'm pretty sure ALL R8s through '10 had launch control, though I can't say they didn't drop it after that.

Mine certainly does and it is pretty violent (in the best possible way)!

[eliouno]

What are you guys talking about? We do this all day long at track days, basically at every corner. If this car was not made to handle a throttle lift at high rpm I need to start looking for a different car.

If you are just talking about running up to 7-8k in gear then letting the car engine brake, I wouldn't worry about it as long as the car is warm. Sure, there is more stress than at 3k, but if that is all Audi thought was safe for the engine they would have put the redline at 3k.

@CA_SL65
-Why wouldn't there be compression when the throttle is lifted? The intake does not close completely. The exhaust still makes noise. Compression goes on, and I suspect there would actually be less stress on the wrist pins as throttle is ruduced. Also, I believe rod failure is much more common than wrist pin failure.

Now I'm not sure at all whether it is harmful to the car or not. Seems to be different opinions. Would love to hear more comments.

[eliouno]

Mine certainly does and it is pretty violent (in the best possible way)!

Wow re read the manual and yes it does have it. I assumed it did not as the salesman told me it only comes on auto tran and it did make sense, so I took his word for it.
Will give it a try tomorrow to see what happens