The ECU has a rev limiter up near 7krpm that will force you to stay at safe engine speeds.

 

it does have a redline it just doesnt show it on the tac. after 5000rpm when the shift light comes on "the little yellow arrow" that is the redline. i dont know why they did it that why, beats the hell out of me.

 

With the exception of the SVT, no North American foci from 2000-2007 have a red mark on the tach.

The redline is the rev limiter, and there is no fear of being in that RPM range, assuming proper engine maintenence and warmup.

On a stock Zetec, the limiter is set to 6750, and approximately 6500 RPM on a stock 2.3L Duratec.

The solid little yellow arrow is just a friendly suggestion that you're in the upper end of the rev-range, and the Ford warranty mongers are requesting that you keep the revs lower.

With the exception of boneheaded downshifts, the computer will keep you in the safe range.

 

With the exception of boneheaded downshifts, the computer will keep you in the safe range.

There's also the theory that you could float a valve badly if you drive around at the limiter. Has that ever actually happened to anyone?

 

There's also the theory that you could float a valve badly if you drive around at the limiter. Has that ever actually happened to anyone?

My absolute honest view and opinion is that this is not true, with all due respect to the notable tuners that don't agree with me.

I agree with Cosworth, 7100RPM is the upper limit on stock valvetrain, and the Ford configuration is well short of it. I've seen no evidence of any issues even up to a routine 7100RPM.

 

I've been running with a 7100rpm limit for a year and a half. No issues so far. I usualy don't rev past 6500 because of the shape of my powerband. It is nice to have the extra headroom so I'm not shifting right at the revlimiter.

 

I had the gas pedal get stuck on the floor mat once & my engine was litterally bouncing off a 7k rev limiter in neutral for like 15 seconds till I figured out what the hell was going on. I figure if it was going to happen on stock pistons & cams, it would have happened then.

Aftermarket cams on the other hand... that's why they make upgraded valve springs.

 

redline is 6750rpm with fuel shutoff around there.. a flasher will raise it to about 7200rpm

dunno why it isnt shown.

 

thanks for the help guys i just wanted to make sure what rpms i can push my car too

 

mine sees a 7k 1st gear shift quite often, 2nd and up, about 6100 ish

 

mine sees a 7k 1st gear shift quite often, 2nd and up, about 6100 ish

6100 is a good idea. Whether or not it's safe, a Duratec with stock cams and intake manifold simply won't make a lot of power near the redline. It's faster to shift lower than that and drop the RPMs back into the fat torque band.

 

my rev limiters at 6900...read FS's xcal 2 page on rev limiters.

 

after 5000rpm when the shift light comes on "the little yellow arrow" that is the redline. i dont know why they did it that why, beats the hell out of me.

That little yellow arrow is an indicator for conserving gasoline. If you watch it for a while you will realize that it comes on at different rpms. In my old Escort GT, it came on based on intake manifold vacuum and rpm. In my ST it seems to behave the same way. When it comes on, push a little harder on the accelerator and you will notice it goes out.

Dewey

 

When i still had my shift light turned on i got two arrows, one im going to assume was for the "save gas" mode and the higher one for if your getting on it.

 

i've bounced the redline at 7k a few times on full boost. The flasher is set to 6.5k but while spinning through 1st gear at full throttle the redline wont hold it at my preset and it'll bounce at 7k. The head has held up fine for me.