Is high speed driving considered severe?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Apr 8, 2012
Messages
204
Location
texas
Ok so this weekend I went from Killeen to El Paso, TX, its about an 8 hour drive, I traveled mainly on I 10, there really isn't much traffic on I 10 or police. My average speed was between 80 and 90 mph, speed limit is 80 mph most of the trip, that being said my rpm's were between 2000 and 3000, I just let my truck get up to speed and and maintained that speed with a light foot, the only time I really pressed down on the pedal was when I would go up steep hills to maintain my speed but I never floored it. My questions are: is this hard on the drivetrain? On the oil? Is this considered severe? Does it qualify for severe service?
 
Cruising is pretty easy in general, the question becomes what your sustained oil temp was. If high, it could oxidize faster, but overall I'm sure it is within design specs, so I wouldn't worry at all!
 
80 - 90 is hardly high speed driving.

Down an Autobahn at 130? Thats different
laugh.gif
 
I don't even think my truck is capable of reaching 130 mph with the factory settings, not trying to find out.
 
I think what you described is as optimal a condition as you could want.

Severe service is stop and go short trips, especially in a cold climate.

Your engine has run at the least revolutions for the millage, at around optimal RPM (Max Torque), at optimal temperature (unless there is something very wrong with your truck) for long'ish duration.

Heck, I used to drive those speeds in a 1.2 Liter car and not think anything of it.
 
Originally Posted By: jimmy87
My questions are: is this hard on the drivetrain? On the oil? Is this considered severe? Does it qualify for severe service?


Not hard on the drive train. Not hard on the oil (actually VERY easy). Not severe either...

Originally Posted By: jimmy87
I don't even think my truck is capable of reaching 130 mph with the factory settings, not trying to find out.


Prob max speed is 97 mph on your truck. (Tires limited)
 
Yup I've seen videos on youtube of the GM trucks factory speed limiter keeping it under 100. If the tires are only rated to 97, then how long can you safely drive at 90 without worrying about a blowout? An hour on new tires? Say they only have half of the tread left? Might be something else to consider.
 
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Isn't it listed in most manuals that highway driving is listed as severe?

Not in any manuals that I've ever seen.
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Isn't it listed in most manuals that highway driving is listed as severe?

Not in any manuals that I've ever seen.


Me neither. Heck, my 2005 Pathfinder with the 4.0 V6 is only revving 2000 at 70 and 2300 at 80. This would never be severe.
 
Originally Posted By: FZ1
This is Texas:It's all severe driving.


Not even close. Un correct statement.

I was in temps ABOVE 115 degrees in the shade last weekend. The low got down to a cool 103f at night. Drove at 80-85 for hours where the temps going INTO the engine was above 150f.

Water temps normally for the vehicle I was driving are 180-188f. Come up a grade and you'll see them climb to 204f. In these temps the highest I saw was 204f with the AC on full, in 4th gear turning above 4000 RPM for a few minutes to get to the pass.

I've got QS 5w30 oil in the engine and protected as well as ANY other oil.

The warmer temps down in Texas are EASIER on the rig than colder temps that you NEVER see up in the colder areas.

That is a fact that is proven by most tests. Now if you add in marketing (koolaid) with dumb tests like Las Vegas taxis and such then I can see some mindsets...

Bill

PS: With my infrared temp gun the pavement was almost 170 DEGREES.
crazy2.gif
 
Well right now im running 5w30 pennzoil synthetic blend/dexos in my truck, the truck does have a digital trans temp indicator, never saw the trans get hotter than 170 on the highway, the truck is equipped with auxiliary engine and transmission coolers.
 
Originally Posted By: gfh77665
I would think stop-n-go city driving in TX would be the worst, compared to highway cruising.


And you are correct. But even stop and go city in warm temps is easier on the engine when compared to the same operation in cold temps (well below freezing)

Add short trips in those colder temps and then we can start arriving at severe conditions.

Bill
 
If you thrash the vehicle, yes.

Cruising at hwy speeds on sealed roads is not severe.

Cruising at hwy speeds in dusty conditions such as on unsealed roads is severe due to dirt ingestion.

Towing or climbing steep inclines where the engine is under continual heavy load may be considered severe.
 
Last edited:
I drove my 2013 z71 crew cab with 10 miles brand new out Chevy dealer and take her to 100mph on first drive . I feel very comfortable at 100mph . But since I jack her up with 3 inch lift kit a week later with bigger wheel and tires . I don't feel comfortable going pass 90mph . The truck don't feel right . I don't know why . Mabe because it jack up ?

Next month I'm getting 2014 z71 full size crew cab . Since my neighbor just bought a 2014 F150 4x4 crew cab Eco boost V6 haha . Mabe I'm getting a desiel just to annoy him since he really care about gas miles .
 
Originally Posted By: jimmy87
Well right now im running 5w30 pennzoil synthetic blend/dexos in my truck, the truck does have a digital trans temp indicator, never saw the trans get hotter than 170 on the highway, the truck is equipped with auxiliary engine and transmission coolers.


Just drove a new 2013 Chevy Express 3500 down from Mass to FL at an AVERAGE speed of 69 mph for the entire 1435 mile trip.

Broke her in right, nothing even heats up at that speed at all.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom