Rev It Up: Why Short High-RPM Runs Keep Your Engine Happy

Ever noticed how your car feels totally different when you give it a little extra gas on the highway? The throttle snaps to life, acceleration feels punchier, and the engine hums smoother. It’s not magic—it’s science. Short bursts at higher RPMs actually help burn off carbon buildup that quietly accumulates inside your engine. The trick is knowing when enough is enough.

If your car spends months crawling through traffic or coasting at low RPMs, deposits slowly form from unburned fuel. Over time, they harden, and removing them becomes a nightmare.

But the opposite—always redlining—isn’t better. Constant high revs can starve the engine of oil, especially if it’s old. Parts can wear faster, and repair bills skyrocket.

The sweet spot? Quick, spirited runs at moderately high RPMs. Cylinder temperatures rise just enough to burn away fresh deposits, while warm oil flows through, flushing tiny bits of dirt out of hard-to-reach spots. Just a minute or two, once or twice every hundred miles, on an open stretch, is all it takes to keep your engine feeling lively.

If you’re mostly a highway driver, nature does the work for you. Overtaking and cruising push the engine just enough to clear deposits naturally—no extra effort needed.

City driving, though? That’s a different story. Stop-and-go traffic, short trips, and constant braking mean your engine rarely hits the sweet RPMs. Automatic transmissions often stick to low gears for fuel savings, leaving the engine “sleeping.” Eventually, carbon builds up, causing sluggish acceleration, higher fuel use, and uneven performance.

The fix is simple: give your engine a little workout. Sport mode helps if your car has it—holding gears longer lets the engine hit the right RPMs. These short runs refresh performance and even help the catalytic converter: higher temperatures burn off buildup, restoring efficiency.

A few minutes here and there might seem small, but it keeps your engine happy, healthy, and ready for whatever the road throws at you.