{"id":1287,"date":"2022-02-08T01:23:47","date_gmt":"2022-02-08T01:23:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/?p=1287"},"modified":"2022-02-15T17:00:45","modified_gmt":"2022-02-15T17:00:45","slug":"how-to-rev-a-car-the-ultimate-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/general\/how-to-rev-a-car-the-ultimate-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Rev a Car (The Ultimate Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Let\u2019s be real\u2014there\u2019s something undeniably satisfying about revving your car\u2019s engine and hearing its mechanical heart roar to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond the intrinsic cool factor, there are situations in which it can be beneficial to rev your car\u2019s engine. Here\u2019s how to do it safely and to good effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Rev-a-Car-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Rev-a-Car-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Rev-a-Car-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Rev-a-Car-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Rev-a-Car-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Rev-a-Car.jpg 1999w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRevving\u201d a car involves engaging the accelerator with the express purpose of increasing the engine\u2019s latent speed. The term derives from the fact that manipulating the accelerator in this way forces the crankshaft to go through a great number of <strong>rev<\/strong>olutions per minute (RPM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Revving can be performed while the vehicle is either stationary or in motion. However, the former scenario is more common\u2014most of the time, when you mash the gas pedal while driving, you\u2019d just call it \u201cspeeding up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_71 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contents<\/p>\n<\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/general\/how-to-rev-a-car-the-ultimate-guide\/#3_Reasons_People_Rev_Their_Cars\" title=\"3 Reasons People Rev Their Cars\">3 Reasons People Rev Their Cars<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/general\/how-to-rev-a-car-the-ultimate-guide\/#How_to_Rev_a_Car_Properly_and_Safely\" title=\"How to Rev a Car Properly (and Safely)\">How to Rev a Car Properly (and Safely)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/general\/how-to-rev-a-car-the-ultimate-guide\/#How_Do_You_Rev_an_Automatic\" title=\"How Do You Rev an Automatic?\">How Do You Rev an Automatic?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/general\/how-to-rev-a-car-the-ultimate-guide\/#How_Do_You_Rev_a_Manual\" title=\"How Do You Rev a Manual?\">How Do You Rev a Manual?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/general\/how-to-rev-a-car-the-ultimate-guide\/#Simple_Tricks_to_Get_a_Car_to_Rev_Higher\" title=\"Simple Tricks to Get a Car to Rev Higher\">Simple Tricks to Get a Car to Rev Higher<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/general\/how-to-rev-a-car-the-ultimate-guide\/#What_Can_Cause_a_Car_Not_to_Rev\" title=\"What Can Cause a Car Not to Rev?\">What Can Cause a Car Not to Rev?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/general\/how-to-rev-a-car-the-ultimate-guide\/#Can_Revving_the_Engine_Harm_Your_Car\" title=\"Can Revving the Engine Harm Your Car?\">Can Revving the Engine Harm Your Car?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/general\/how-to-rev-a-car-the-ultimate-guide\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-reasons-people-rev-their-cars\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Reasons_People_Rev_Their_Cars\"><\/span><a><\/a>3 Reasons People Rev Their Cars<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Contrary to popular belief, there are several reasons why a driver might see fit to rev their ride besides being desperate for attention. For instance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\"><li><strong>It helps distribute oil and other fluids<\/strong>. Revving helps circulate oil, gasoline, transmission fluid, and other vital substances on which vehicles rely, to operate correctly at peak capacity.<\/li><li><strong>It warms the car up<\/strong>. When it\u2019s cold outside, getting the engine moving can help your vehicle build up thermal energy so you can use the heat-dependent features, like the windshield defroster.<\/li><li><strong>It allows you to reach high speeds faster<\/strong>. The higher the RPMs, the greater the momentum being created inside the engine. That momentum can immediately be converted to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/conservative-force\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">torque<\/a>, the rotational force that powers the drivetrain, when the car is put in gear.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-rev-a-car-properly-and-safely\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Rev_a_Car_Properly_and_Safely\"><\/span><a><\/a>How to Rev a Car Properly (and Safely)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you have a basic understanding of the <em>when<\/em> and <em>why<\/em> of engine revving, it\u2019s time to learn a little about the <em>how<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One quick note: revving your engine too hard or too often is a surefire way to shorten its lifespan. It\u2019s therefore wise to refrain from doing so unless a particular maintenance task, repair project, or emergency demands it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-rev-a-car-from-the-engine-bay\"><a><\/a>How to Rev a Car From the Engine Bay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fire up your vehicle\u2019s engine and pop the hood. Locate your air filter and follow the air intake tubing back toward the rear of the engine compartment where your intake manifold sits. There, you should find the <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/wmrvnZT4aDU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">throttle body<\/a>, a large, round valve with a thumb lever attached to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Push down on this lever to open the throttle and rev the engine. Just avoid getting carried away, for safety\u2019s sake\u2014try to keep it below about 3,000rpm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-rev-a-car-in-park\"><a><\/a>How to Rev a Car in Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Start your engine, but don\u2019t take your vehicle out of park. Wait 20-30 seconds for the oil to begin circulating and lubricate all of its core components. Once the engine is idling smoothly, step on the accelerator and apply pressure slowly and smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure the needle on your tachometer stays below the redline or the end range of the gauge that indicates maximum sustainable engine speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-rev-a-car-in-neutral\"><a><\/a>How to Rev a Car in Neutral<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With your car running, and your engine sufficiently lubricated, nudge your gear shift over to the neutral position, marked as &#8220;N&#8221; on the gear shift. Doing this will prevent the soon-to-be-very-active engine from generating torque and causing the wheels to turn. Press down gradually on the gas pedal until your tachometer displays the desired RPM. Keep it below the redline, and remember to shift out of neutral when finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-rev-a-car-while-driving\"><a><\/a>How to Rev a Car While Driving<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The safest, most responsible way to rev a car while driving is to simply shift over to neutral and carry out the procedure described above. If for some reason you feel the need to test your engine speed while you\u2019re on the move, though, you also have the option of gunning it for a few seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re going to take this approach, find a straight, open stretch of well-maintained road and confirm that there are no other vehicles in the nearby vicinity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll also want to conduct your experiment in a spot without a posted speed limit, if possible. As you no doubt know, speeding is an offense punishable by stiff fines or jail time, and it could have far worse consequences if you\u2019re not careful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"703\" src=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Rev-a-Car2-1024x703.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Rev-a-Car2-1024x703.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Rev-a-Car2-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Rev-a-Car2-768x527.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Rev-a-Car2-1536x1054.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Rev-a-Car2.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-do-you-rev-an-automatic\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Rev_an_Automatic\"><\/span><a><\/a>How Do You Rev an Automatic?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Raising your RPMs in an automatic couldn\u2019t be simpler. Just put the vehicle in park or neutral and press down on the accelerator. The engine will surge, but the car won\u2019t go anywhere as long as it\u2019s in one of the two aforementioned gears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned, you can also rev the engine of an automatic manually using the throttle body, which sits alongside the intake manifold inside the engine compartment. Technicians frequently employ this method when analyzing engine function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-do-you-rev-a-manual\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Rev_a_Manual\"><\/span><a><\/a>How Do You Rev a Manual?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The key to revving the engine of a manual transmission vehicle is to engage the clutch, freeing up your transmission. Then hit the gas to boost your RPMs before shifting into the appropriate gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A crucial part of driving a stick shift is learning when and how to rev your engine correctly. Engine speed and ease of transmission are closely related. It\u2019s such a useful skill that there\u2019s even a special term for it: rev-matching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"simple-tricks-to-get-a-car-to-rev-higher\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Simple_Tricks_to_Get_a_Car_to_Rev_Higher\"><\/span><a><\/a>Simple Tricks to Get a Car to Rev Higher<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking for ways to get an already powerful motor purring like a wildcat in heat? Give one or more of these ingenious mechanical tweaks a shot:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Switch to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carsdirect.com\/aftermarket-parts\/why-install-forged-pistons\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">forged aluminum pistons<\/a> to cut down on your reciprocating mass<\/li><li>Increase your overall air intake by making use of variable lift valves<\/li><li>Look for ways to decrease your compression ratio (i.e. installing low-compression pistons, shorter rods, and thicker head gaskets)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-can-cause-a-car-not-to-rev\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Can_Cause_a_Car_Not_to_Rev\"><\/span><a><\/a>What Can Cause a Car Not to Rev?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your car isn\u2019t revving the way it\u2019s supposed to, then it\u2019s most likely experiencing technical difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Complications like low fuel pressure, a busted throttle position sensor, or a worn-out air flow regulator can all wreak havoc on your RPMs. And this is just a handful of potential explanations. There\u2019s no way to figure out exactly where the hangup lies other than to take your vehicle in for a checkup or pull it apart yourself in an attempt to sniff out the malfunctioning part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, both solutions will require some combination of time and money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"can-revving-the-engine-harm-your-car\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_Revving_the_Engine_Harm_Your_Car\"><\/span><a><\/a>Can Revving the Engine Harm Your Car?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Under normal circumstances, revving the engine from time to time shouldn\u2019t leave it any worse for wear. After all, car engines are designed to run at high speeds in short, periodic bursts and moderate speeds for long periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, if there are unaddressed mechanical issues affecting your engine or surrounding components, rampant revving has the potential to cause serious damage. For this reason, you should only do it when you\u2019re certain that your vehicle is in good working order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span><a><\/a>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about revving and the effects it can have on your vehicle\u2014and other drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-rev-matching\"><a><\/a>What is rev-matching?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rev-matching is a form of active revving wherein the driver of a manual transmission vehicle modulates their RPMs to facilitate a smoother transition between gears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Different gears have different transmission rates, and \u201cmatching\u201d a particular rate by bringing your engine up to speed can make the resulting shift feel less clunky. When executed skillfully, rev-matching reduces the strain on both the engine and the transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"should-you-rev-a-car-when-you-re-jump-starting-it\"><a><\/a>Should you rev a car when you\u2019re jump-starting it?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In situations where your car\u2019s battery is completely drained and you require a friendly jump just to get it started, revving your engine speed also speeds up the movement of the alternator, an electrical component that serves to charge the battery. As such, it can indeed help you get back up to full power faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-does-my-car-rattle-when-revved\"><a><\/a>Why does my car rattle when revved?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rattling can occur for any number of reasons, some of which have nothing to do with what&#8217;s going on under the hood. Nine times out of ten, however, the culprit is a timing belt or chain tensioner that\u2019s gone slack. Because of this loss of tension, the piece is moving around more than it should be, resulting in that annoying clattering sound you\u2019ve been hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"is-revving-your-engine-illegal\"><a><\/a>Is revving your engine illegal?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s no law (at least in the U.S.) against revving your vehicle\u2019s engine the way there are against peeling out or doing donuts, both of which can get you busted for reckless endangerment or \u201cexhibition of speed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even so, if your incessant revving is becoming a nuisance to other drivers, it\u2019s conceivable that the police could pull you over for disturbing the peace. You don\u2019t want to be <em>that<\/em> person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"does-revving-the-engine-waste-gas\"><a><\/a>Does revving the engine waste gas?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In a word, yes. The fact that you\u2019re essentially throwing away fuel when you rev up is a pretty compelling reason to think twice before making it a habit, and it\u2019s not the only one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Putting the pedal to the metal when it\u2019s not strictly necessary doesn\u2019t just burn precious gas and create environmentally-unfriendly exhaust in the process. It also subjects your engine to unnecessary wear and tear, which is the last thing you want if you\u2019re hoping to hold onto your vehicle for a while.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Let\u2019s be real\u2014there\u2019s something undeniably satisfying about revving your car\u2019s engine and hearing its mechanical heart roar to life. Beyond the intrinsic cool factor, there&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1288,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","wpcat-11-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1287"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1287"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1287\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1370,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1287\/revisions\/1370"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}