Pedal to the floor on auto.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 92
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From: Atlanta,GA
2001 E430
Pedal to the floor on auto.
Hey everyone!
Just always wondered is it bad to floor your car on auto. I don't do it every single time but, I do it a few times a day. I looked on different websites and some people say good, others say bad. What do you guys think? I also don't go like 0-200 Just sometimes 0-45 0-60 at most.
Would this be bad in the long run?
I drive 2000 e430 with 140k miles.
Thanks in advance!
Just always wondered is it bad to floor your car on auto. I don't do it every single time but, I do it a few times a day. I looked on different websites and some people say good, others say bad. What do you guys think? I also don't go like 0-200 Just sometimes 0-45 0-60 at most.
Would this be bad in the long run?
I drive 2000 e430 with 140k miles.
Thanks in advance!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 12
From: Charleston, SC
GL450
Any time you floor it, you're wearing the engine and other components more than if you drove it gently. Particularly if you floor it from a roll, meaning it has to also downshift gears (harder on the transmission), and particularly if you floor it up to redline versus just flooring it for a second (full throttle at low RPM causes less wear than part throttle at redline). So you're not doing the car any favors, but it is meant to take a certain amount of abuse.
With that said, I find that driving gently all the time can cause the engine to get a little lethargic. Deposits on the valves, gummed up oil in places, clogged injectors... I don't really know. But I remember I had a friend with a Civic who drove it like a granny. Every time I borrowed the car I would drive it with some enthusiasm, giving it gas and shifting midway through the RPM band (he used to shift so early he would dog the motor). After I drove the car, he always said the engine felt much better revving.
It's kind of like a race horse. If you want it to run fast, you need to run it from time to time. But if you run it all the time, you'll kill it.
With that said, I find that driving gently all the time can cause the engine to get a little lethargic. Deposits on the valves, gummed up oil in places, clogged injectors... I don't really know. But I remember I had a friend with a Civic who drove it like a granny. Every time I borrowed the car I would drive it with some enthusiasm, giving it gas and shifting midway through the RPM band (he used to shift so early he would dog the motor). After I drove the car, he always said the engine felt much better revving.
It's kind of like a race horse. If you want it to run fast, you need to run it from time to time. But if you run it all the time, you'll kill it.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 92
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From: Atlanta,GA
2001 E430
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 12
From: Charleston, SC
GL450
If you do 20-60 and truly floor it (meaning you depress the kick down switch under the pedal) you're telling the transmission to shift hard and fast down to first gear (it was probably in 2nd or 3rd) while the engine is making a large amount of torque. That gear change is probably the worst thing you're doing to the car, more so than the wear to the engine. Not the end of the world, it's just there's a limit to how many times that transmission can do that.
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Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Australia
W210 E320
A few times a day is probably excessive.
Every now and then I drive 'enthusiastically' but I don't feel the need to rev it out in gear 1 when pulling away from the lights....
Although I do make an effort to actually floor it/redline at least once a week or once per petrol fill up just to get rid of the sooty deposits in the engine - if you're behind the car you'll see the 'smoke' or whatever it is come out of the exhaust under hard throttle.. same with most cars.
Every now and then I drive 'enthusiastically' but I don't feel the need to rev it out in gear 1 when pulling away from the lights....
Although I do make an effort to actually floor it/redline at least once a week or once per petrol fill up just to get rid of the sooty deposits in the engine - if you're behind the car you'll see the 'smoke' or whatever it is come out of the exhaust under hard throttle.. same with most cars.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 293
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From: Chicago
2002 E430 4MATIC
Keep in mind this is a machine that is wearing out with every turn of the key, every shift of the transmission, every revolution of the engine, every day in the sun. It's not a living organism that can build muscle with exercise.
If you drive like you are in combat...you will need to maintain it like it is being used in combat.
If you drive like you are in combat...you will need to maintain it like it is being used in combat.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 92
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From: Atlanta,GA
2001 E430
True true and bmroxm5 I think I will do as you say. So I'll reserve a nice quiet day to punch it once a week 
.
And Figuero right...I don't have the money to maintain it as if it were in combat hehe!
Not related topic but...I want to get some AMG rims 5 spokes one for my car. I can't find stock size for my car. Anyone know where to get? I don't want any copies either.
. And Figuero right...I don't have the money to maintain it as if it were in combat hehe!
Not related topic but...I want to get some AMG rims 5 spokes one for my car. I can't find stock size for my car. Anyone know where to get? I don't want any copies either.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta,GA
2001 E430
