Dear Tom and Ray:

When my husband drives my 1988 V-8 Mustang, he shifts at about 1,800 rpm. I prefer taking it up to about 3,000 rpm before shifting. He says what he does is easier on the car, which is probably true. But I says it does no harm to take it up farther. Will running it to a higher rpm hurt my lovely beast in the long run? Shirley

Ray: No, and it probably won't hurt your car either, Shirley.

Tom: Neither one of you is doing any damage. You're both within reasonable limits. As long as he's not shifting so early that he's lugging the engine (making it chatter and buck), then he's not shifting too early.

Ray: And as long as you're not running it up near the red line every other shift, you're not putting any great strain on the engine either.

Tom: Rest assured, Shirley. This problem is causing more strain on your marriage than on your car.

Spending a little money now on "preventive maintenance" can save you big bucks down the road. Find out how by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1993 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Back to the February 1993 index