Z06 hitting rev limiter / redline
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
From: Corning, NY
Z06 hitting rev limiter / redline
I’ve tried a couple times in second gear to get the most RPMs I can get before my shift to 3rd and have apparently hit the rev limiter because it cuts power. I’m going to make sure to not do it again, I’m just ticked off and worried that I may have caused some harm. What does ido if anything to the motor /drivetrain?
Last edited by 321gooo; Jun 23, 2019 at 03:47 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
From: Corning, NY
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: SE WI
Did you see the thread of the new GS that the guy blew the engine? GM is denying the warranty claim based on going into redline. Be careful what you post here. You don’t want to be in his shoes.
Drifting
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 1,098
From: Texas Hill Country Texas
As others have said, hitting the rev limiter is no issue.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
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Exactly. A missed downshift on a manual (for example, going from third to second at high RPM when a shift to fourth was intended - the engine ends up far, far over red line, damaging the valve train, etc.) is operator error/abuse not covered by warranty. Such a missed downshift is aptly named a money shift; it is money out of your pocket because the warranty will not cover it.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 12,260
Likes: 4,749
From: SE WI
They’re not denying his claim because he hit the rev limiter, he’s getting denied because on disassembly it was noted piston to valve collision. This was caused by a significant over rev due to a missed manual downshift. There is no rev limiter on downshifts for a manual.
As others have said, hitting the rev limiter is no issue.
As others have said, hitting the rev limiter is no issue.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,785
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Well... they aren’t saying it was a over rev because of piston valve contact. They would have downloaded the ECU data and seen the overrev, and be able to see exactly how hi it was reved.
it could also be a broken camshaft caused the contact with no overrev...
so so it depends.
it could also be a broken camshaft caused the contact with no overrev...
so so it depends.
Last edited by rrsperry; Jun 27, 2019 at 07:58 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 226
Likes: 39
From: Fall Branch, TN
I get it but I believe he said there was no over rev due to a downshift. Of course that’s based on his word. My point is I would never post publically about anything related to over rev on an engine still in warranty. You’re asking for problems and we’re talking major $$ here.
Drifting
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 1,098
From: Texas Hill Country Texas
Well... they aren’t saying it was a over rev because of piston valve contact. They would have downloaded the ECU data and seen the overrev, and be able to see exactly how hi it was reved.
it could also be a broken camshaft caused the contact with no overrev...
so so it depends.
it could also be a broken camshaft caused the contact with no overrev...
so so it depends.
Sr.Random input generator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,804
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From: Sammamish, WA
The actual rev limit of the engine is much higher than where the rev limiter holds engine revs, and the sock redline on pretty much any car is well within the safe range. I hit redline every once in a while when I don't shift quick enough, or when I try to carry more speed in turns when I can't yet shift, and it's no issue. I actually like C7 rev limiter since it's very gentle, and seems to be designed to not upset the car (handling) when it's hit.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
The fun comes when you push the rev limiter in 3rd and 4th gears in an M7 car. Second gear is sort of lame. Rev limiter will get you 123 mph in 3rd and 152 mph in 4th. Although it seems if I push it close to the limit a lot it sort of moves up a couple hundred rpm over the period of track day. Have seen as much as 154 mph in 4th before hitting the limiter.
Bill
Bill
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
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From: Margate, FL
I generally try to avoid bouncing off the limiter because in other cars it can be pretty jarring. Not sure why because in any modern throttle-by-wire system the ECU could (should?) smoothly taper off the gas in those last few RPMs instead of banging right up against it.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 624
Likes: 131
Extended use of the rev limiter will definitely damage the valve train. No doubt about it. If you sat on the limiter for a tank of gas as someone mentioned you wouldn't see the end of the tank.
Depending on use of the car the limiter can be adjusted and tuned to be less aggressive. When we tune drag cars that build power all the way to the limiter we leave it more harsh as you don't want to take power away, but in tuning road race cars we start to close the throttle just before the limiter to make sure it is a softer transition into the limiter to not upset the balance and handling of the car. Also much easier on the valvetrain.
Depending on use of the car the limiter can be adjusted and tuned to be less aggressive. When we tune drag cars that build power all the way to the limiter we leave it more harsh as you don't want to take power away, but in tuning road race cars we start to close the throttle just before the limiter to make sure it is a softer transition into the limiter to not upset the balance and handling of the car. Also much easier on the valvetrain.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
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I expect the limiter to be set within the safe operating parameters of the engine, not set at an RPM that damages the valve train a bit every time you hit it.
Sr.Random input generator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,804
Likes: 2,232
From: Sammamish, WA
I think so, too. I remember at the time of LS7, there was a mention of a testing procedure where the engine was run at redline continually for 24 hours.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 557
In 30 years of track life in one form or another, personally bouncing off the limit more times than I can count and I have only personally witnessed one failure. So it is rare and you have to be doing silly things. But when dealing with high speeds, metal and high heat, **** can happen.
Last edited by rb185afm; Jun 29, 2019 at 12:22 PM.