300 TE engine speed
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2
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1991 300TE
300 TE engine speed
I recently bought a 91 300TE. The car is in great shape, and, after a few fixes, seems to work quite well.
I am concerned, however, that the engine is running at -- what seems to me to be -- higher than normal speeds during highway operation. At 70 mph, the tach shows 3500 rpm.
The local dealer says the car is shifting into all gears when it is run on the rack. They feel there is nothing wrong. However, I've never owned a car that ran anywhere near that fast. Is this normal? Does the car have a very low rear end ratio. Or is something amiss?
Thanks
Scott
I am concerned, however, that the engine is running at -- what seems to me to be -- higher than normal speeds during highway operation. At 70 mph, the tach shows 3500 rpm.
The local dealer says the car is shifting into all gears when it is run on the rack. They feel there is nothing wrong. However, I've never owned a car that ran anywhere near that fast. Is this normal? Does the car have a very low rear end ratio. Or is something amiss?
Thanks
Scott
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
GLC 63
The '89 300 TE is definetly geared lower than the sedan. We have an '89 300 TE that we still keep around as a family spare. I haven't driven it in several years, but it is geared pretty low. I'm sure 70 mph is over 3000 rpm -- could be as high as 3500.
I don't know about the '91 model, but '89 does have a 2nd gear start. So normally you only feel two upshifts -- 2 to 3 and 3 to 4. It only kicks down to 1st if you punch it some. You can force a 1st gear start with the shifter.
I don't know about the '91 model, but '89 does have a 2nd gear start. So normally you only feel two upshifts -- 2 to 3 and 3 to 4. It only kicks down to 1st if you punch it some. You can force a 1st gear start with the shifter.
