Over-reving Alfa multiair engine

[chopper602]

I've just come back from a weekend at the Nürburgring (wonderful fourth visit). On one of my laps, I managed to f*ck up a gear change and over rev the engine on my 2010 Alfa Mito Cloverleaf. It went up to about 8k and was accompanied with 'check engine' text in driver display and illuminated EOBD/injection system failure light. Started to rain on this lap, so I took it very easy back to the car park and turned the engine off. Left it to cool and the light stayed on when I tried it again. Only thing I could think of trying after this was disconnecting the battery, which I did and the light & message went away. I realise that the situation will be stored in the ECU, but anyone know if I will have done any long term damage to the engine??

Did another three laps the day after and the 650 mile trip home without any problem or lack of performance . . .

[Soovy]

Hmmm. Tricky. Warranty might be invalid if it goes pop.

I'd be looking to trade it in for a new one!!

[chopper602]

Soovy said:

Hmmm. Tricky. Warranty might be invalid if it goes pop.

I'd be looking to trade it in for a new one!!

It's only done 3500 miles, so I don't think that is an option !!

[Alex]

I guess over-revving triggers a warning to prompt you to get it checked at a dealer. You probably just need to get the warning reset by the dealer.

How was the Mito on the 'Ring? How is it in general?

[RobCrezz]

Give it another drive now its out of safety mode. 8000rpm isnt that high, there is a good chance the engine is ok.

[mike325112]

chopper602 said:

I've just come back from a weekend at the Nürburgring (wonderful fourth visit). On one of my laps, I managed to f*ck up a gear change and over rev the engine on my 2010 Alfa Mito Cloverleaf. It went up to about 8k and was accompanied with 'check engine' text in driver display and illuminated EOBD/injection system failure light. Started to rain on this lap, so I took it very easy back to the car park and turned the engine off. Left it to cool and the light stayed on when I tried it again. Only thing I could think of trying after this was disconnecting the battery, which I did and the light & message went away. I realise that the situation will be stored in the ECU, but anyone know if I will have done any long term damage to the engine??

Did another three laps the day after and the 650 mile trip home without any problem or lack of performance . . .

How do you 'over rev' an engine these days? Surely the multiair has a rev limiter to stop this sort of thing?

[Mafioso]

Where does the limiter kick in? 6500?

[Mafioso]

mike325112 said:

How do you 'over rev' an engine these days? Surely the multiair has a rev limiter to stop this sort of thing?

It's not going to stop the engine physically turning over at that speed though is it?

[voicey]

mike325112 said:

How do you 'over rev' an engine these days? Surely the multiair has a rev limiter to stop this sort of thing?

How about by selecting a too low gear? It doesn't matter what the ECU is doing to the ignition if the wheels are going too fast for that particular gear....

[Silent1]

mike325112 said:

chopper602 said:

I've just come back from a weekend at the Nürburgring (wonderful fourth visit). On one of my laps, I managed to f*ck up a gear change and over rev the engine on my 2010 Alfa Mito Cloverleaf. It went up to about 8k and was accompanied with 'check engine' text in driver display and illuminated EOBD/injection system failure light. Started to rain on this lap, so I took it very easy back to the car park and turned the engine off. Left it to cool and the light stayed on when I tried it again. Only thing I could think of trying after this was disconnecting the battery, which I did and the light & message went away. I realise that the situation will be stored in the ECU, but anyone know if I will have done any long term damage to the engine??

Did another three laps the day after and the 650 mile trip home without any problem or lack of performance . . .

How do you 'over rev' an engine these days? Surely the multiair has a rev limiter to stop this sort of thing?

4-2nd or something equally daft, flooring it under load and changing up missing the gear and it banging past the limiter.

What's the standard redline on them?

[cbcbcb]

mike325112 said:

How do you 'ver rev' an engine these days? Surely the multiair has a rev limiter to stop this sort of thing?

Drive at 80mph, put into second, release clutch, observe bang.

The rev limiter only prevents over-revving caused by holding the accelerator.

[Lost soul]

chopper602 said:

I've just come back from a weekend at the Nürburgring (wonderful fourth visit). On one of my laps, I managed to f*ck up a gear change and over rev the engine on my 2010 Alfa Mito Cloverleaf. It went up to about 8k and was accompanied with 'check engine' text in driver display and illuminated EOBD/injection system failure light. Started to rain on this lap, so I took it very easy back to the car park and turned the engine off. Left it to cool and the light stayed on when I tried it again. Only thing I could think of trying after this was disconnecting the battery, which I did and the light & message went away. I realise that the situation will be stored in the ECU, but anyone know if I will have done any long term damage to the engine??

Did another three laps the day after and the 650 mile trip home without any problem or lack of performance . . .

Quoted for Your Alfa Warranty rep

[D900SP]

Go from 5th to 2nd (or something like that) and the engine will mechanically over-rev.
The rev limiter only prevents going past the tachometer red line when accelerating.

[Ikemi]

mike325112 said:

chopper602 said:

I've just come back from a weekend at the Nürburgring (wonderful fourth visit). On one of my laps, I managed to f*ck up a gear change and over rev the engine on my 2010 Alfa Mito Cloverleaf. It went up to about 8k and was accompanied with 'check engine' text in driver display and illuminated EOBD/injection system failure light. Started to rain on this lap, so I took it very easy back to the car park and turned the engine off. Left it to cool and the light stayed on when I tried it again. Only thing I could think of trying after this was disconnecting the battery, which I did and the light & message went away. I realise that the situation will be stored in the ECU, but anyone know if I will have done any long term damage to the engine??

Did another three laps the day after and the 650 mile trip home without any problem or lack of performance . . .

How do you 'over rev' an engine these days? Surely the multiair has a rev limiter to stop this sort of thing?

Yes, but if you're high in the rev range in 4th and then accidentally drop it into 3rd too early, you'll over-rev! It's brutal on components, but it sounds as if the OP was lucky I'd probably take it to a dealer and ask for a second opinion/double check, considering how new the car is ...

[mike325112]

mike325112 said:

How do you 'over rev' an engine these days? Surely the multiair has a rev limiter to stop this sort of thing?

Engage brain before posting!!!! I was only thinking about changiung up rather than down oops....

[chopper602]

Mafioso said:

Where does the limiter kick in? 6500?

Limiter comes on about 6500/7000

[Matt_N]

Just take it back to the dealer and get the fault code read / cleared.

It's still under warranty I guess so it may be free, although they may charge an 'investigation' fee or similar.

[chopper602]

Alex said:

I guess over-revving triggers a warning to prompt you to get it checked at a dealer. You probably just need to get the warning reset by the dealer.

How was the Mito on the 'Ring? How is it in general?

Was very good on the 'ring, plenty of pace, good grip from the OEM tyres (was keeping up with and passing Elise's etc).

Very pleased with it in general, it's an Alfa (not my first) and nothing has broken or fallen off yet. It's really quick (1.4 turbo with 170bhp).

[chopper602]

Matt_N said:

Just take it back to the dealer and get the fault code read / cleared.

It's still under warranty I guess so it may be free, although they may charge an 'investigation' fee or similar.

Won't this give them a great excuse to wash their hands of any engine warranty claims though??

[StottyZr]

From my understanding over-revving puts the connecting arms under a lot of strain as the piston is moving faster and with more momentum than it is designed for. This can cause the connecting arms to stretch so the pistons hit the inlet valves (or worse) and big problems arise. At 8k you may have been lucky as its not a massive over-rev.

Just had one of my crazy daydreams, but could be interesting if the connecting arms stretched 2mm or so, changes the compression ratio :P could get more power! (extremely unlikely)

Edit: Missed a word out...