1st Time Poster, Redline Question
 

Hey Guys,
This may be a dumb question to most, but give me a break since its my first post. I own a 06 Grey rx8. I started reading these boards fairly recently, and i've noticed that most people advocate redlining because its good for the engine. I've never redlined mine. Do you just turn the car on, leave it on neutral and hit the gas or do you redline at 5th or 6th gear??

Redline through lower gears. Not all the time but atleast twice a day. Dont redline 5th/6th because then you would be well over the speed limit. Redlining in neutral wont do much for the engine as there is no load on it.

Here is a good set of procedures to use every time you drive your car (or any car)

1. Start the car up
2. Give it plenty of time to warm up. This will ensure that the oil and coolant is warm and circulating throughout the engine. (Idle for 3-5 mins (10-15 mins in snow/ice weather)) : (Light driving for the first 10-15mins (30-40mins in snow/ice weather))
3. At least once on your drive, take the car up to redline when accelerating from a stop in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd gear.
4. Wipe the smile from your face.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 as often as you like.

if you redline in 6th you will enter the rx8 hall of fame ......

disclaimer: do NOT redline in 6th gear.

Thanks Police,
I appreciate the reply. I'll try redlining today on 3rd gear. I get a little fearful though when i hear the engine revving. I feel as though i'm making it work too hard unnecessarily. Thanks again

this is not a piston engine.

Or be the next Darwin Awards winner...

Is "Gray" a new color? Never heard of it

this feeling will pass - feel the force

Try redlining 2nd instead, I'm sure you don't have 80+mph speed limits where your at.

someone needs to redline 6th gear, maybe down hill? hahha. that'd be scary as hell.

If you're referring to the spelling of the word, look at my orginal post. I spelled the word correctly. If your question is legit then yes, my car is Galaxy Grey

ive redlined 5th gear....

"do you redline at 5th or 6th gear??"

Redline in 6th gear? There isn't enough headroom for someone with balls that big to drive an 8.

I've done it!:eyetwitch

On the road or on the track? What speed did you hit?

redlining 5th puts u up at about 149mph...i can only imagine 6th! u gotta be crazy

the car will be drag limited before you top out 6th.

^true...cus as i was going into 6th i can feel the car slowing down right away

yeah, no way you'll top out 6th.

I'm "told" that 143 mph in 5th gear is no problem on certain parts of the 101 hwy in the early morning. ;)

1. Grey = Gray... wtf are people nit-picking that for? drama queens.

2. Redline FTW! Do it in second because as someone already said, if you do it in third you will be doin about 80 or so. IT'S FUN but just watch for police. I've hit 105 in third gear... it's a beautiful thing.

3. As someone else mentioned, the rotary does not in any way shape or form work like a piston (except that it burns gas, O2 to create power) engine. It's made to rev high. I think part of what you should understand is WHY to redline. Doing so blows the carbon and crap out of the engine. Now, you dont want to redline for prolonged periods of time. But don't "bounce" off of the limit either... meaning dont immediately slow down the moment the needle begins to touch red. Give it a moment then ease back down. Also, fuel will cutoff around 9500rpm as i remember. just a little note there for you incase you crank it that high and wonder what happened to the car. It's not permanent and you havent hurt the car (hopefully) but it might scare you the moment it does it your first time.

The rotary is made to be "abused". I put that in quotes because if you were to treat a piston engine the way you can a rotary, it would be considered abusive. For a rotary though, its normal.

One final note: redline will make you smile but it will also eat gas. you've been warned.

Thanks Shinka, Very informative

OK, I have a question now: do you really need to bring it all the way into the red, or is the stripped zone where it beeps at you high enough?

I'd say get it all the way in for maximum burn.

And I don't remember what speed I topped out it when I redlined in 6th gear. Somehow I ended up a few days in the past, though.