Why is it dangerous to drive at low speeds
Traffic in cities, where the majority of cars are used on a daily basis, does not allow for fast movement. And the speed limit, coupled with the desire of most drivers to save fuel, further exacerbates the situation. In this case, the engine wears out, since it cannot develop high revs.
All (or nearly all) drivers know that engine power and torque are dependent on rpm. Typically, a gasoline engine reaches its maximum performance in the mid-range. Constant movement at high speeds does not lead to anything good, since the resource of the unit is rapidly decreasing.
On the contrary, driving at low speeds is also harmful to the engine. And many drivers believe that by not loading their car's engine, they not only extend its life, but also save fuel. However, this is not true, experts say.
At low speeds, the engine temperature rises. In the event of a malfunction in the cooling system, this leads to overheating and, as a result, to costly repairs. In these cases, the cylinder head is deformed, antifreeze can get into the pistons, and oil can get into the cooling system. The consequences of such mixing are nightmarish - the engine often fails.
Engines with small displacement, but with high power and torque at low revs, detonation occurs, which the driver may not feel, because it is very short. However, it loads the main parts of the drive unit quite significantly. The knee mechanism and cylinder head suffer from frequent exposure to this impact. The temperature rises, which leads to overheating of the head gasket and even corrosion of the piston crown and cylinder walls.
Low speeds can also cause the air-fuel mixture to form incorrectly, which means it burns incorrectly and evenly. Consequently, fuel consumption also increases. The most economical speed range for each engine is between 80 and 120 km/h, which is impossible to achieve in city traffic.
Running the engine at low speeds also contaminates the combustion chamber and catalyst. This is why modern engines sometimes need to be supercharged and run at high revs. They have to travel hundreds of kilometers at high speed, which, of course, must comply with the restrictions and conditions of the road.
On the one hand, to spare the engine, not giving it a lot of gas, and on the other - to constantly step on the accelerator pedal to the sheet metal. It is necessary to alternate operating modes and choose routes so that the engine can operate over a wide range of speeds.
