90 Civic, 3K rpm @ 100km/h normal?

[giantyogurt]

I was test driving the car, I think it was 1.6L engine, and kept my eyes on the tach and it was getting quite close to 3K rpm when going over 90km/h. Being used to driving a Camry with 2.2L engine revving at just over 2K rpm for the same speed, I was wondering if it was normal for the smaller engine.

If not, what can I do to keep it running at lower RPM other than driving it under 80km/h? Is it just being an old engine?

[Police]

yes, 100km/h @ 3K is normal.

[giantyogurt]

Thanks!

[Mr_ET]

I'm guessing it's an SI then. 110 is around 3250 rpms

[mo_money2supe]

It's due to the higher gear ratio that's giving you higher rpms at those speeds, NOT the age of the engine.

Since your camry has enough usable power in the lower rpm range anyway, it has lower gear ratios to help save fuel mileage; whereas, the Civic's motor needs the higher rpms to make usable power. Also, fuel mileage savings does not need to come from the gearing itself since the Civic's smaller engine already accomplishes that.

Of course, different models of Civics have different gear ratios as well. Lower end models have lower gear ratios for the fuel savings, and higher end models have higher gear ratios for power.

[EK 2.0]

pfffffft consider yourself lucky...

At that speed in top gear I am at 4200rpm's...

[5hift]

^^

Haha thats what I was thinking. My prelude rev's around the 4K mark for that speed and its a bigger 2.2L opposed to the 1.6L.

[giantyogurt]

Wow, over 4000 rpm at 100km/h? I must be in for luck then!
I guess I've been driving my old man's car for too long coz I couldn't imaging driving a civic with that small little enging constantly revving at over 3K rpm which will drive me nuts with that noise!