Shifting at what RPMs consistantly will start to hurt vehicle life?

[ripto]

So I've typically been a pretty boring driver. My first vehicle was a '98 Dodge Ram 1500 in '05 til 6/2012 when I bought my '12 Focus SE 5spd. The Dodge had engine issues and knocked like crazy so I was always babying it. That driving style carried over to the Focus. For some reason I'm under the impression that if I consistently shift at high RPMs, I could be reducing the life of the vehicle. I typically shift around 2500 RPM, rarely going above 3000-3250 RPM. I don't know what it is, but I've always been cautious about having the RPMs get too high.

Is it a blanket statement to say as long as you are not red-lining, the vehicle can handle it without worry (assuming the engine is at the NOT)?

At what RPM do you typically shift from gear to gear?

[xRESSLERxZX3x]

I normally shift around 3,000rpm. If I'm pullin out on to a busy road ill shift at about 4,000rpm.

[swansong]

Shift at whatever makes you and your wallet happy. I generally shift between 2k and 4k depending on road conditions, mood, if I feel like getting good mpgs and saving a few bucks, or if i want to actually get somewhere. I'll occasionally run it to redline because I can. Any modern engine can handle it, just don't do it on every shift or it bounce off the limiter.

[Elizabeth]

My 2012 with 5 speed manual i usually shift 1-2, 2-3, at 2,000rpm.
Depending on speed limit I shift to 4th at 25mph (for 25mph speed limit)
And to fifth if limit 30mph at 32mph (32 mph for 30 mph speed limit. I usually drive the speed limit but to gain fifth gear I do go 32mph... Anything over 35mph I am in fifth as fast as i can get there.)
that is as low as I can shift.
I do tend to stick to my shift at 2,000 most of the time, but occasionally let the engine run up to 3,000 like on a steep hill or such.
I have zero problems winding the engine up to 7,000rpm on a freeway ramp,
Or if I really want to 'beat' the car next to me from a stoplight.
But usually i drive easy.
When I was breaking in the car last year, i went out into the twisties and ran in third gear, never taking the car out of third, so i was running the rpms up and down constantly.. From say 2,500rpm on up to 6,000 rpm for a hour or so.
The 2012 Focus engine loves to rev and does so with zero problems.

[elsolo]

If we assume that engine wear is based on mileage, hours, or use:

It's really revolutions of the crankshaft.

If you drive around at 3000rpm instead of 2000rpm, at the same vehicle speed, you are doing 50% more engine wear per mile.

it doesn't necessarily work out that way, but it is a good model to keep in mind.
Buzzing the redline all the time is tough on a motor.

[waytocupok]

Right,If you drive around at 3000rpm instead of 2000rpm, at the same vehicle speed, you are doing 50% more engine wear per mile.

[gonefhsn]

Any where from 2k to 4k and you will be fine.

[Focusblackzx5]

I usally let the auto trans shift between 2k and 4.5k....over that...useless.

that's my opinion :)

[thenorm]

Don't be afraid to wind it out.

[lddavis]

If you drive at 3000 rpm rather 2000 rpm at the same vehicle speed -- you're in the wrong gear.

Driving at constant speed doesn't require a lot of power, so you upshift to drop the RPM and cruise along for quiet and economy. When you want to accelerate, you downshift, and increase RPM, because higher RPM is generally more power. (The engine's peak power is usually not exactly at redline, but somewhere between a little to somewhat lower, depending on the design.) Once you've accelerated to where you want to be, you upshift again.

You don't drive around with a particular constant RPM as a target.