Flooring a car: good or bad?
Flooring a car: good or bad?
Author
Discussion

vit4

Original Poster:

3,507 posts

200 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Forgive my naivety here smile

However, I've been told two completely conflicting things regarding just once a day flooring a car. Not from 0, once it's rolling. Firstly, been told that it's VERY good for it, clears any gunk through the system etc. Also that this is especially true on a lot of carb'd engines because it opens up all the jets and turbo'd engines because... well, I can't remember/couldn't understand hehe


Then, there are other people who seem to reckon that any kind of thraping is going to just put engine wear with no benefits whatsoever. Interestingly enough, it's actually older people who seem to be of the first camp confused Out of who I know these are generally the ones who actually (seem to) know what they're on about which is why I'm curious asto whether there's any substance to the claim. I know my dad's a very strong believer in this and despite driving like a nun all day floors his to 60 or so at the end of the day.

Does it actually do good for the engine, or is it just a myth?

mrmr96

13,736 posts

234 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Yes it is good for a car to have its systems fully utilised now and again.

Brakes are an obvious one, you should brake hard now and then to refresh the surface of the disc as continual light braking will allow surface corrosion to build up, reducing the pad contact patch in many cases.

The exhaust system benefits from getting hot every now and again, as the cat works best when warm.

Also, some modern Alfa Romeo diesels have a particulate filter which can get bunged up. There is an inbuilt 'purge' system which can only operate when the exhaust is hot. So if you never get it hot enough it can never purge and the purge becomes overdue.

And yes, there is some truth that opening the throttle and the injectors fully is more likely to dislodge any build ups which may occur in these areas.

The process is often known as an 'italian tune up'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_tuneup

vit4

Original Poster:

3,507 posts

200 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Cheers, that all makes perfect sense biggrin I kind of saw the logic in it but at the same time I guess conceptions about thrashing an engine made me a bit wary hehe

Plotloss

67,280 posts

300 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Revving beyond peak power is simply wear and expense.

Garlick

40,601 posts

270 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
I was just about to recommend some nice laminate after reading the title.....

vit4

Original Poster:

3,507 posts

200 months

Monday 17th May 2010
quotequote all
Garlick said:
I was just about to recommend some nice laminate after reading the title.....
Tiddy boom biggrin Reminds me of that Top Gear with the cottage merc...

ScottishSamurai

8,176 posts

206 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
quotequote all
vit4 said:
Garlick said:
I was just about to recommend some nice laminate after reading the title.....
Tiddy boom biggrin Reminds me of that Top Gear with the cottage merc...
I think garlic cried when he saw that merc being cottaged hehe

Zad

13,020 posts

266 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
quotequote all
ScottishSamurai said:
I think garlic cried when he saw that merc being cottaged hehe
readit

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cot...

We know what you meant though. ( I think )


RobDickinson

31,343 posts

284 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
quotequote all
Plotloss said:
Revving beyond peak power is simply wear and expense.
Assuming a change of gear doesnt drop you below where you are in the power curve...

some kid

88 posts

197 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
quotequote all
i no i don't no much about this but if u don't try it and it dose work then u would no when u go to the garage and have u're carbs and injectors cleaned if u don't no how to clean them u're self and also i have an expericene with carbs and my dads vw sand rail has gone 10 years with out any major engine work or trans work

hidetheelephants

36,164 posts

223 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
quotequote all
some kid said:
i no i don't no much about this but if u don't try it and it dose work then u would no when u go to the garage and have u're carbs and injectors cleaned if u don't no how to clean them u're self and also i have an expericene with carbs and my dads vw sand rail has gone 10 years with out any major engine work or trans work
?

Rotaree

1,241 posts

291 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
quotequote all
some kid said:
i no i don't no much about this but if u don't try it and it dose work then u would no when u go to the garage and have u're carbs and injectors cleaned if u don't no how to clean them u're self and also i have an expericene with carbs and my dads vw sand rail has gone 10 years with out any major engine work or trans work
WTF?????????? rolleyes

SDxsi

2,747 posts

202 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
quotequote all
some kid said:
i no i don't no much about this but if u don't try it and it dose work then u would no when u go to the garage and have u're carbs and injectors cleaned if u don't no how to clean them u're self and also i have an expericene with carbs and my dads vw sand rail has gone 10 years with out any major engine work or trans work
A product of Labour education i'm guessing. wink

bdr529

3,560 posts

204 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
quotequote all
Rotaree said:
some kid said:
i no i don't no much about this but if u don't try it and it dose work then u would no when u go to the garage and have u're carbs and injectors cleaned if u don't no how to clean them u're self and also i have an expericene with carbs and my dads vw sand rail has gone 10 years with out any major engine work or trans work
WTF?????????? rolleyes
its easy enuff 2 undastand mr rotaree

leggly

1,850 posts

241 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
quotequote all
some kid said:
i no i don't no much about this but if u don't try it and it dose work then u would no when u go to the garage and have u're carbs and injectors cleaned if u don't no how to clean them u're self and also i have an expericene with carbs and my dads vw sand rail has gone 10 years with out any major engine work or trans work
Stanley Unwin found alive shocker!rofl

jbi

12,700 posts

234 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
quotequote all
look at his name and post history... I call wind up

Ry_B

2,256 posts

231 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
quotequote all
Let the engine warm up and you shall have no problems.

I haev revved the nuts off all of my cars - most of them need to be revved to get going and I always let them warm up and never had any troubles.

(Rx8, MR2, Celica 190, Type R)

XitUp

7,690 posts

234 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
quotequote all
I perform an italian tune up at least once a day.

kambites

71,578 posts

251 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
quotequote all
As long as the engine is warm and has been properly serviced I don't think it makes any difference either way really. Modern engines are tested running flat out for days on end but they also have to be able to cope with never going more than half way up the rev range as this is how many cars are driven.

I thrash my engine regularly but that's because I enjoy driving hard, not out of some belief that it's going to do it any good.


On old diesels it certainly used to lower the particulate emissions if you gave the car a good thrashing just prior to an MoT.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 18th May 08:10

The Wookie

14,209 posts

258 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
quotequote all
kambites said:
As long as the engine is warm and has been properly serviced I don't think it makes any difference either way really. Modern engines are tested running flat out for days on end but they also have to be able to cope with never going more than half way up the rev range as this is how many cars are driven.

I thrash my engine regularly but that's because I enjoy driving hard, not out of some belief that it's going to do it any good.


On old diesels it certainly used to lower the particulate emissions if you gave the car a good thrashing just prior to an MoT.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 18th May 08:10
That's pretty much it for me. If you're continuously thrapping the tits off it it isn't really going to do it much good eventually, but you wont hurt it with a regular thrash.

The other thing to think about that the throttle isn't linear, half throttle is off the top of my head probably more than 3/4 effective open area.

Most important things are to let it warm up properly (not just water temp) before caning and to service it within schedule.