Thread: Letting the engine "rest" / driving for long periods

Greetings,

My GP is my first car, Ive been driving for a year now so pardon me if this seems like an odd question.

Is it necessary to let the engine rest periodically? I am the type who can drive for 9 hours straight no problem, i was just wondering if its bad for the car to run it for extended periods of time at a constant RPM (i.e. 2000 RPM at 70mph on the highway with cruise control).

The car itself is in good shape, the engine runs like almost new even at 225k, the transmission is in fine shape AFAIK, the fluid looks good and smells normal and it shifts smoothly (except for the one time in triple digit heat in stop and go city traffic), and the cooling system is (now) up to snuff.

I ask partly because in June I am taking a trip from Maine to Kentucky(17 hour drive) and I plan to do it with only one stop.

Thanks

I think you'll be fine.

Cars were built to be driven. So drive the damn thing.

Originally Posted by Chadgervais

Greetings,

My GP is my first car, Ive been driving for a year now so pardon me if this seems like an odd question.

Is it necessary to let the engine rest periodically? I am the type who can drive for 9 hours straight no problem, i was just wondering if its bad for the car to run it for extended periods of time at a constant RPM (i.e. 2000 RPM at 70mph on the highway with cruise control).

The car itself is in good shape, the engine runs like almost new even at 225k, the transmission is in fine shape AFAIK, the fluid looks good and smells normal and it shifts smoothly (except for the one time in triple digit heat in stop and go city traffic), and the cooling system is (now) up to snuff.

I ask partly because in June I am taking a trip from Maine to Kentucky(17 hour drive) and I plan to do it with only one stop.

Thanks

Your car is LAUGHING at 2,000 rpm. Drive the thing like Dan said. Just make sure you get a FULL inspection done before your trip. Suspension, brakes, fluids, lines, electrical, etc, all should be in check before a trip like that. Cheers!

i used to drive both my last 2 pick up trucks for 10 plus hours a day, dont worry about it. as long as the temp stays normal, the engine dont know its being run for 1 hour or 8.

Originally Posted by Oxfire

Your car is LAUGHING at 2,000 rpm. Drive the thing like Dan said. Just make sure you get a FULL inspection done before your trip. Suspension, brakes, fluids, lines, electrical, etc, all should be in check before a trip like that. Cheers!

Thats a given. I always do a pre trip inspection if im going out of town. I had the state inspection done last week, so brakes are new all the way around, front sway bar link was replaced, and she dont squeal anymore since i had the belt replaced. My water pump and p/s pump were replaced in September, elbows in October.

I bought this car last January at 199k, the previous owner kept up on everything, he had it since 5k, before that a GM exec drove it. I know this car has been cared for and my mechanic said that if he had to guess the mileage, his guess would be below 75k, he said he would be surprised if the car, body and all did not make it to 400k. I plan to drive it until it dies, then for a few weeks after that.

The only thing "wrong" with it is the duckbill valve in the fuel pump. I have to prime it a couple times before starting otherwise it just cranks. I and my mechanic agree, its more of an annoyance than anything. It started in May and I was worried about this winter condensation in the fuel line freezing and preventing gas from flowing, but even on these -20 mornings, she fires up like a champ.

like others said you'll be fine, i just wanted to add that driving your car for consistant straight hours is one of the best things to do for your motor. thats the best way to clean your motor. consistant fuel and cycling oil will clear up a bunch of carbon, etc. also it will allow your PCM to set more precise parameters like Long term fuel trim and others which at the end of the day may allow your car to perform a lil smoother on your next drive. just remember, driving this long will knock off a bunch of carbon oand gunk so change ya oil, if youve been changing ya oil pretty often than your motor is most likely in great condition. At the end of the day, an engine would rather be driven than sitting all day and an oil change is like taking it to the spa....drive that bad boy

Gotta keep wrackin' up those miles.

Originally Posted by nos4blood70

Gotta keep wrackin' up those miles.

Oh I plan on it. I bought this car with 199,386 of someone elses miles on it, my goal is to put at least that many of my own on it. On Saturday I will have owned it for a year and as of today im just a hair over 226,000. Since i have owned it, i have driven it every single day, I have a repair shop that has a great turnaround and they do excellent work.

you get better turn around time when working on it yourself. at least i do. and better labor rates.

Drive it and enjoy it. Took mine on a 1,000 mile road trip when it had 189K. Loved every minute of it.