Hey I've been looking around for some guidance for engine load. If I'm 1400rpm or lower, I typically don't give much throttle. I don't want to cause unnecessary engine wear or damage by lugging the engine. But, typically around 1500rpm I feel safer to give it more power and by 1800/1900rpm I'm willing to goose it and open the throttle totally up. A lot of times I feel like the engine makes the best sound at full throttle and 2000rpm in 2nd gear, like if I'm going up a steep hill or something and full throttle can maintain my speed/slightly increase it at 2000rpm in 2nd. In 4th or 5th on the freeway if I'm going uphill or something, if I am around that 1800rpm mark, I won't downshift if I'm able to maintain my speed, even if I'm giving it full throttle, pedal to the floor. You wouldn't catch me dead dumping so much load on the engine under 1500rpm, but I'm still wondering if my driving patterns are okay or sustainable. I feel like they are, as I am pretty aware and tuned-in to the engine when I drive, but I'd love other opinions on that. Don't get me wrong, I definitely will rev the engine if I need to, but in general my rule of thumb is 1900rpm+, I'll try and get done what I want done with 100% full open throttle, and will only downshift if that won't get me there.

Thoughts? Appreciate it!

Here's a stock dyno graph (thanks @Speedy ) that shows torque at 2000 RPM's an higher. Don't bother looking at HP line, look at the torque line since that's what gets you up the hills.



You know your engine well and where it makes power, 2000 RPM's is where you start making max torque. Drive happy!

On another note, see that red line and how much more power it's making? That's if you do the deckplate mod, it adds considerable power and only costs around $25. Project SportRunner - Deck Plate Mod (thanks again Speedy).

It would be nice to have an engine that could do anything below 2000rpm ;)

In general, I like to hover at about 2000RPM during "normal" around town/off-highway driving. Slow enough to be [marginally] economical, fast enough to have power available and not be lugging it.