At what point do you lug?

[SVOboy]

It might just have been my excited ears, but during my test drive last night (Before the tach died) I was upshifting at 1400 and cruising at 1000, and didn't hear a sign of lugging, so that's like woah to me, and I know it's different with my mom's car, so I was sorta just wondering....

Mom's 93 camry lugs under 1500 as a general rule, sometimes a bit higher under load in 5th and sometimes starts lower if it were 2nd or 3rd without load or something like that.

[thisisntjared]

under 1600 and i lug. ive got to keep it closer to hella vtec y0

[95metro]

Just a question, but what exactly is happening when the engine is lugging? I know the engine is stressed trying to turn the wheels in a higher gear, but is the clutch slipping or what?

I've noticed that I can coast in high gear at very low speeds, but if I hit the accelerator then it starts shuddering like mad. No tach so I don't know what rpm.

[SVOboy]

The clutch isn't slipping, I think it's just the engine isn't making enough torque to do crap with the longer gears, *shrug*

[95metro]

Too much rolling resistance to keep the engine running I suppose? Basically like letting the clutch out with no gas when in gear at a dead stop - engine speed can't compensate for the added load. I'll have to do some research...yay!

[SVOboy]

Please post links if you find anything good!

[tomauto]

My civic starts to lug around 1100 rpms. Or 1250 when the a/c is on. Its kinda scary how much the a/c effects the bottom rpm.

[95metro]

Well, I'm still checking into it, but here are a few links:

http://www.jpcycles.com/Tech/Articles/enginebreak.aspx

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories...8031&ran=43046 (Q&A)

http://www.hadmac.com/technical_info.htm (bearing damage from lugging - fatigue and overlay fatigue)

A few other sites I have found claim that lugging causes detonation in the engine. If this is the case, then a higher octane fuel may provide a way to drive at lower rpm. If it works then it would actually give some truth to the statement of higher octane fuel increasing FE.

I'll check into some more.

EDIT: Virtually every engine re-manufacturer warns against engine lugging when breaking in your "new" rebuilt engine. They all state that it causes detonation plus the "newly lubricated" condition of the rebuild isn't as protected from friction as a "broke-in" engine....

Hmmm, so would an octane boost allow for lower rpm cruising?

[philmcneal]

as long as your not pressing enough accel to force to increase speed at low rpms, its cool.

when the engine cries... you'll hear it trust me. If your tire pressures are as high as mine I don't think you'll get lugging at all

[krousdb]

While steep climbing hills, 1200 is when I back off and downshift. I regularly climb moderate hills in 5th at 1200, no lugging. On level roads, I can cruise at under 1000 RPM.