Max RPM's Survey

[martinb930]

Greetings Gents:

There's nothing quite like the feeling of the turbocharger kicking in and myself getting nicely pinned back in finely appointed leather seats; with that being said I would like to get some feedback as to what are consider prudent RPM's for daily drives... and RPM's for those unbridled moments of shear terror that makes you grin from ear to ear...

mild driving for me and cruise... 3000 - 3500 between shifts (am I being a wuss?)

misbehaving (I mean opening up the waste-gate) 4500 - 5000 between shifts

I'm I going to drive this thing into the ground?

Is there a RPM shifting protocol on a 4 speed?

Thanks

[sand_man]

Mine is a daily driver and I spend a great deal of time in 2nd gear around town I typically won't upshift into 3rd unless I'm at about 4,000RPMs for a sustained period...if I know that I'm only gonna be downshifting back into 2nd, I'll just let it ride. I only see 4th on the interstate. I never like to lug the engine.

For "spirited" drives, I wind mine out to 6,300 in 1st and 2nd. To try that in 3rd is too dangerous on a typical street situation. I typically shift from 3rd to 4th at about 5,000, maybe a tad under.

I also have ARP rod bolts, twin plug ignition, and some CIS fueling "upgrades". With my K27 HFS turbo, full boost is at about 3,200 (plus or minus a hundered or so), and will cary all the way to redline.

[fredmeister]

I drive mine to 6000-6200rpm when driving hard.....gives me a little margin for error.
At the track I have taken it to 6500-6600rpm in a fit of anger trying to pass someone.
She is supposed to rated to 7000rpm redline.
Most of the time tooling around, shift it at 3500rpm is fine, no need to get aggressive unless you really need the punch. Don't wanna lug it ever.....this is where detonation and other stresses on the mechanicals is likely.
Gotta remind yourself why you bought this car every now and then so wind her up!

[RarlyL8]

5000rpms? Are you kidding me? Let me blow the cobbs outta that dude for ya.

Putting around town - 1500rpm to 2000rpm, engine not lugging.
Sporty driving around the twisties - 3000rpm to 5000rpm
Drag racing, frying tires, and general hooligan activities - 7200rpm bouncing off the rev limit

[Miguel Antonett]

RarlyL8 +1 = rev limit when possible = keep that engine clean...

[martinb930]

Okay, so the message I'm hearing is kinda like the women... love it when they scream, I think I can manage that. Great feedback. thanks

[935TURBO]

Originally Posted by RarlyL8

5000rpms? Are you kidding me? Let me blow the cobbs outta that dude for ya.

Drag racing, frying tires, and general hooligan activities - 7200rpm bouncing off the rev limit

Hum...I agree easily.....and if you want to roost a little bit the joker nose behind with some flames, you've got no other choice....

[voitureltd]

Keep them clean. Shift when the RPM drops to no less than around 3000,and they will be happier. If you put pedal to floor go to at least 6500. Red line is for letting you know you are approaching the rev limiter cut off which may disturb a smooth climb. Getting around seven before getting caught by that mechanical device requires diligence in the lower gears. All this , ONLY AFTER THE OIL TEMP GETS TO NORMAL OPERATING and I might ad do not use it unless you plan on getting up to temp in the first place. That way your motor will last a long time if not previously misused ( interveiwing the previous owners is a good thing) If it has been babied then proceed beyond 5000 RPMs progressively.

[martinb930]

I'm leaving work early... I'm getting a chubby just thinking about it!!!

[DonE]

I drive it frequently through all RPM's. I don't go above 6200 rpm because my motor stops increasing hp above that point - no need to go any further. Around town, I'll go over 4 or 5000 rpm just cause I can. And it sounds cool...

[RarlyL8]

I should add that the dynamics of my engine are much different than stock. ARP gear and heavy valve springs make 7200rpm safer. Don has a good point that you're likely only making noise after 6000rpm but what a glorious noise!
I also do not have the standard long geared 4spd but a short geared 5spd. 1st and 2nd gears happen so fast at full throttle that it is difficult to not bump the limit. I do not pull 7200rpm in 5th gear but quit at 6500. The dyno says the turbo peters out at ~6000rpm and I can actually feel that happening in 5th gear.

If my engine had stock internals I would not go past 6500rpm.

[930gt-40r]

Rev limiter is my friend in first gear- I see him every time.

[krasuskyp]

Originally Posted by DonE

I drive it frequently through all RPM's. I don't go above 6200 rpm because my motor stops increasing hp above that point - no need to go any further. Around town, I'll go over 4 or 5000 rpm just cause I can. And it sounds cool...

Me (and my stocker) are in ^^^^this^^^^ school of thought. Whereas I thoroughly enjoy a good bounce off the limiter in most cars, the 930 seems to be happier shifting slightly earlier and getting back into the FAT part of the curve and deja vu'ing that boostbong all over again - yeah. Gear dependent, I typically don't wring her much beyond 5,800 most times, unless specific situation dicates (can of whoopass opening has been summoned).

Plus, I get all sorts of spooooooky $$$$ thoughts piling into me noggin' when I'm in too frequent 6k's and cringe at the possiblity that ohso glorious cacauphonic orgasmic blast should turn into a cacauphony of cash registers ca-ching'ing - no thanks. These are afterall older beasts unless they've been fresh'nd.

I too am in 2nd up until 4k for just trolling around town, like Sandman said as you'll just be upshifting only to then grab 2nd all too soon again.

Sounds like your driving style is leaving some on the table Martin. Like voitureltd noted, if that's been the case for awhile on that motor, proceed beyond your current levels progressively to ease the motor into a new regimine. Also to ease your current skillset into 'what's beyond' what you're presently accustom to.

There truly is _nothing_ like "staying in it" and enjoying the fully lit wick all the way to its desired upshift - like you said Martin I get flow just at the thought of it 8-)...

Happy motoring all - and don't forget yer cooldowns afterward butofcoorse...

[sand_man]

Right now, with my current setup, I'm most amazed at how smooth the delivery of power is when I get on it. It's effortless. The "light switch" effect of my prior turbochargers (stock 3LDZ, and even the basic K27-7200) is almost non-existent. I have to admit, it was a cool feeling to all of a sudden have this explosion of power, but now the boost is much more linear and gradual and just keeps pulling all the way. It really took me some time to get used to. It's also much easier to pull full boost at upper RPMs rather than having to down shift to locate the "zone" and begin the building process.

[ZCAT3]

I believe there is something right there in the ole 930 owner's manual about making sure the car gets a regular does of full boost over 4500 RPM. I always figured I wouldrefer to the owner's manual to show the officer should I ever get pulled over - "Sorry officer, but Porsche says right here on page XX that I need to wind her out every so often."

Really, though, even a stock engine should have no issues running up to 7200. The only reason to go past 6000 is that when you upshift you are higher in the RPMs for the next gear, thus in a better power band. For a stock 930 this is important, as you would much rather begin pulling from say 4000 RPM than from 3000.

[RarlyL8]

The stock head studs may support 7200 rpm at stock boost but the stock valve springs and rod bolts may not.
Hitting the rev limit on occasion is one thing but making a habbit out of it is another.
If you have a stock 3LDZ there is little reason to go beyond 6500 rpm, the engine quit making power 1000 rpm earlier. The long gears of the 4spd are best put to use with the narrow power band of 3500-5500rpm.

So there is no single answer to the posted question. It depends on your mods. Generally speaking though it is good to blow the cobbs out on occasion and to not lug the engine.

What turbo you running Sandy?

[fredmeister]

Wanna see some quick boosting and shifting action.....go to streetfire.net and do a search under the Porsche folder for my videos of 930 at Mid ohio raceway. My username is "fastfreddy" which if you search under that will give a host of videos.
My boost with k27S turbo and GSF headers is almost immediate, about a half second delay between upshifts from when I let out the clutch and floor the gas pedal.
It pulls till 6500rpm or more, no need to rev any higher....engine has not been rebuilt with the goods inside as far as I know.

[DonE]

Originally Posted by ZCAT3

I believe there is something right there in the ole 930 owner's manual about making sure the car gets a regular does of full boost over 4500 RPM. I always figured I wouldrefer to the owner's manual to show the officer should I ever get pulled over - "Sorry officer, but Porsche says right here on page XX that I need to wind her out every so often."

Really, though, even a stock engine should have no issues running up to 7200. The only reason to go past 6000 is that when you upshift you are higher in the RPMs for the next gear, thus in a better power band. For a stock 930 this is important, as you would much rather begin pulling from say 4000 RPM than from 3000.

If I'm shifting quick enough (which is never fast - remember, stock 4sp...), it will be at .8 bar (or even 1 bar) as quick as I want it to be since its already fairly well spooled up. This is another reason I like 8.0:1 CR - my torque is right there even at relatively low shift points.

[NathanUK]

I didn't feel a need to go over 5500rpm in my 930 with stock engine and 5spd tranny. Lots of power when changing up a gear. I wonder how high I went at the strip for my 13.1 @ 108mph.

[pkracer21j]

I redline at 7200...porsches like to rev...If I'm having fun, then i like to keep it above 4500, keeps the turbo spooled.