Can you rev small engines the same as bigger engines?
Discussion
I was thinking about this earlier, you see lots of people on tv driving cars up until the rev limit, obviously I know that's partly for tv but can you Use a small in the same way as a bigger engine. If you know what I mean?
My car is a 1.1 so I have to use more revs to go faster where as a bigger car with more power will not need to sure as
many revs.
Also do you drive differently when your in a small engine car, I know there are lots of jokes about hire cars with small engines but does engine size change your driving?
Sorry if this post is a little confusing, I was trying to think how to word it.
My car is a 1.1 so I have to use more revs to go faster where as a bigger car with more power will not need to sure as
many revs.
Also do you drive differently when your in a small engine car, I know there are lots of jokes about hire cars with small engines but does engine size change your driving?
Sorry if this post is a little confusing, I was trying to think how to word it.
C2james said:
I know there are lots of jokes about hire cars with small engines but does engine size change your driving?
If I'm in a small engined car momentum is key, higher cornering rates must be utilized to make up for the lack in ooomph 
You can rev them and drive in the same manner as a bigger engined car, but you will be going more slowly.
How high an engine revs is not a function of displacement, but of piston mass, stroke, and number of pistons. Take a v10 formula 1 engine, approximately 20 000 rpm from a 3.5l, because it has light pistons that don't have to travel far.
Heavy pistons increase the force it takes to accelerate the piston, reducing max revs, having a large stroke increases piston speed for a given number of rpm, increasing the accelerations on the piston, reducing max revs and the number of cylinders affects the volume of each cylinder for a given engine volume, which has implications of piston mass and stroke.
Heavy pistons increase the force it takes to accelerate the piston, reducing max revs, having a large stroke increases piston speed for a given number of rpm, increasing the accelerations on the piston, reducing max revs and the number of cylinders affects the volume of each cylinder for a given engine volume, which has implications of piston mass and stroke.
To be fair if you've got a powerful engine you're unlikely to be bouncing it off the limiter or you'll be in a lot of trouble.
With my 205 I hit the limiter every now and again, but you're going 90mph if you hit the limiter in third, second is OK if you're trying to get to the NSL however. So there's not often you'll be hitting the limiter TBH.
In my Dad's big old audi I rarely bother, it's a diesel and quite content to waft along on a wave of torque.
In my Mum's 107 every gearchange is a rev-limited one, the only way to keep up with traffic IMO, although it is a lot of fun doing it!
Basically you do have to work a small engine harder.
With my 205 I hit the limiter every now and again, but you're going 90mph if you hit the limiter in third, second is OK if you're trying to get to the NSL however. So there's not often you'll be hitting the limiter TBH.
In my Dad's big old audi I rarely bother, it's a diesel and quite content to waft along on a wave of torque.
In my Mum's 107 every gearchange is a rev-limited one, the only way to keep up with traffic IMO, although it is a lot of fun doing it!
Basically you do have to work a small engine harder.
ian_touring said:
A "turbo" sticker, or "Mpower" badge will always increase bhp, regardless of cc. If you're worried about the size of yours, don't worry, thats perfectly normal, mostly what counts is how you use it. Oh, and don't respond to all those enticing emails promising great results.
I can vouch for this. I saw (and heard) a diesel Citroen C3 earlier today with a GTI badge, and it was incredible how fast it was. The spoiler probably helped a lot too though.Diesel Fury said:
I can vouch for this. I saw (and heard) a diesel Citroen C3 earlier today with a GTI badge, and it was incredible how fast it was. The spoiler probably helped a lot too though.
With a combination of my spoiler added to a turbo and gti badge those should let it embaress even garlicks Ferrari California 
My engine feels like it revs quite slowly, how can I make it rev faster, if I can.
Get a K&N cone filter and stick it right above the exhaust manifold like everyone else, attach an electric supercharger or Bilge pump, buy a chip...not a ECU chip but a Casino Chip. Stick that in the engine bay because that will at least add some value. Get a big bore exhaust that will enable the exhaust gases to mull about for hours wondering where the hell they should be going and attach a boost gauge to the dash along with one of those V8 sound generators that plug into your lighter socket.
Really? Nothing
It's a C2......it's not going to be fast unless you did something drastic like stick a turbo or blower on it or drop a bigger motor in it. Or lose all the weight you can by stripping it out until you get to the point that you can't show anyone how fast it is because a passenger would bring the weight back up to where you started thereby negating the exerise.
Really? Nothing
It's a C2......it's not going to be fast unless you did something drastic like stick a turbo or blower on it or drop a bigger motor in it. Or lose all the weight you can by stripping it out until you get to the point that you can't show anyone how fast it is because a passenger would bring the weight back up to where you started thereby negating the exerise.
lance1a said:
Get a K&N cone filter and stick it right above the exhaust manifold like everyone else, attach an electric supercharger or Bilge pump, buy a chip...not a ECU chip but a Casino Chip. Stick that in the engine bay because that will at least add some value. Get a big bore exhaust that will
enable the exhaust gases to mull about
for hours wondering where the hell they
should be going and attach a boost
gauge to the dash along with one of
those V8 sound generators that plug
into your lighter socket.
Really? Nothing
It's a C2......it's not going to be fast unless you did something drastic like
stick a turbo or blower on it or drop a
bigger motor in it. Or lose all the weight
you can by stripping it out until you get
to the point that you can't show anyone
how fast it is because a passenger
would bring the weight back up to where
you started thereby negating the
exerise.
enable the exhaust gases to mull about
for hours wondering where the hell they
should be going and attach a boost
gauge to the dash along with one of
those V8 sound generators that plug
into your lighter socket.
Really? Nothing
It's a C2......it's not going to be fast unless you did something drastic like
stick a turbo or blower on it or drop a
bigger motor in it. Or lose all the weight
you can by stripping it out until you get
to the point that you can't show anyone
how fast it is because a passenger
would bring the weight back up to where
you started thereby negating the
exerise.
well thank you that useful information, I think I'll just get a bigger car next year. 
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