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General query about RPM and idle

Old Jul 13, 2010 | 01:08 PM
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General query about RPM and idle

Just curious as to what is normal range for idling currently I move between 700-800 when the car nears 750 I can feel it shudder and vibrate it usually moves back up .... is this normal or should I be concerned.

My other question is general crusing speed what RPM/Gear do you normally cruise at?
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 01:11 PM
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I think our idle is set to 750-800 rpm so you should be fine with that.
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 01:12 PM
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I don't shudder on idle...at least not that bad.

Around town *35mph* I cruise in 4th gear which sets me at around 2750. I usually go about 39 *According to the spedo* and that sets me closer to 3k.
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 01:12 PM
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I usually cruise in 4th gear btw.
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 01:15 PM
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And cruising at such a low RPM how is your gas mileage?
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 01:17 PM
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Never really calculated my gas mileage but I usually get about 200miles per tank.
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 02:23 PM
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Around 15 MPG. But I Do red line it daily....mmmmm
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by mbitterman
Just curious as to what is normal range for idling currently I move between 700-800 when the car nears 750 I can feel it shudder and vibrate it usually moves back up .... is this normal or should I be concerned.

My other question is general crusing speed what RPM/Gear do you normally cruise at?
How are you measuring your idle RPM? The Tach?
Is your A/C on?

6th, 4K
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 03:02 PM
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No measuring either in first gear ready for the light to change or in neutral, No AC though with the AC on it makes very little difference.
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 04:25 PM
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I get 16mpg shifting at 3500-4000 rpm and several redlines and hard start per day.
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 04:59 PM
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I usually cruise on the highway in 2nd gear. I love the sound of my motor so much.
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 05:02 PM
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Originally Posted by CrazyJek
I usually cruise on the highway in 2nd gear. I love the sound of my motor so much.
that weeeeeeee sound?
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 05:05 PM
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Originally Posted by jasonrxeight
that weeeeeeee sound?
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 05:21 PM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BorQ_ULcvss
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 05:23 PM
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I'm a delivery driver for donatos and i can average 230-250 miles per tank, now at my other job its all highway and i get about 250-280 a tank. I use 4th gear alot for doing my dels.
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 05:39 PM
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^ Lies!
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Krazed_Rx8
^ Lies!
Pish tell that to my gas tank!!!
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 10:04 PM
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I'm usually @ 210 miles by the 1/4 tank mark, and I have an even distribution of highway and city driving; those numbers are totally believable.
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Old Jul 14, 2010 | 07:20 AM
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and yet I am currently at 75 miles and half a tank.... granted is more city driving but not a lot of lights and im usually in 4th gear in the 3.5 - 4 k RPM range ... what gives I would love to get 230 miles to the tank
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Old Jul 14, 2010 | 10:28 AM
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I got close to 300 out of a tank on my trip to GA this weekend but when my low fuel light comes on and I fill it up I only put around 14 gallons... 3 gallons of reserve?
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Old Jul 14, 2010 | 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by mbitterman
and yet I am currently at 75 miles and half a tank.... granted is more city driving but not a lot of lights and im usually in 4th gear in the 3.5 - 4 k RPM range ... what gives I would love to get 230 miles to the tank
75 at half a tank? Geez. I got 245 on my last tank. Maybe you'll get more miles out of your last half if your fuel gauge isn't real accurate? I've noticed with my 8 the first half goes by quicker than the last half.
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Old Jul 14, 2010 | 12:49 PM
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It turns out it's a common problem for the car to vibrate a little bit at idle....possible fixes are a grounding kit, new spark plugs, wires, coils, motor mounts,dirty throttle body and MAF sensor...etc. Turning on the AC usually makes it worse.

My problem turned out to be an improperly installed mount, which was touching metal to metal with the bracket.

It makes it difficult to troubleshoot if you don't have a check engine light, kinda gotta throw parts at it.

That's just my experience though.

A "hunting idle" as you are describing it seems more like a dirty MAF or throttle body, which is easy to fix. This car is known for venting oil into the intake. If you pull out your air filter box look into the accordion tube and see if there's oil puddled in there, can cause your throttle body to gum up over time.

Edit: Oh and for cruising if I'm below 45 mph I cruise in 5th gear, above that I go into 6th. Owners manual suggestion.

Last edited by thisisnotahonda; Jul 14, 2010 at 12:51 PM.
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Old Jul 14, 2010 | 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by thisisnotahonda
A "hunting idle" as you are describing it seems more like a dirty MAF or throttle body, which is easy to fix. This car is known for venting oil into the intake. If you pull out your air filter box look into the accordion tube and see if there's oil puddled in there, can cause your throttle body to gum up over time.

Edit: Oh and for cruising if I'm below 45 mph I cruise in 5th gear, above that I go into 6th. Owners manual suggestion.
I've had a rough idle lately and the dealer deffinitely over-filled on my last oil change (it was spilling oil everywhere the first time they tried to give it back to me). I was ready to attribute the rough idle to the hot temperatures here lately but I guess I should check the intake for oil.
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Old Jul 15, 2010 | 01:05 PM
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I had a rough sitting idle that would sit around 1k, then dip down to around 600 then back up.. did it for over a year. i had my plugs, wires, and coils replaced last week and it sits right at like 800 and doesnt miss a beat, a/c has no effect.
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Old Jul 15, 2010 | 01:30 PM
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^no that's kinda of normal. 100% stop and go or short city driving KILLS gas mileage. i used to drive less than 10 miles a day in city driving and i got well under 200 miles a tank, it's was bad. as soon as i moved further away and extended my driving trips, and wasn't idling at red lights, i get 250 or more per tank.
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