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  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

How accurate is the stock tachometer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DiZzyBonne
  • Start date Start date Nov 18, 2007
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DiZzyBonne

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Aug 2, 2007
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Nov 18, 2007
#1
  • Nov 18, 2007
  • #1
Just out of curiosity, how accurate is it on a 2001 Bullitt? I remember hitting the rev limiter in neutral for a second a few months back, (twice, my friends bugged me to do it,) and as soon as I hit around 6,500-6,600 RPMs, it bounced around from there to like 6,200 RPMs a few times. If the rev limiter is set to 6,250 RPMs, assuming my limiter was never increased, I'm assuming either; A) my tachometer is off, B) it'll do that in neutral, C) the stock tachometer isn't accurate, D) my limiter WAS raised and I didn't know because I bought the car used. Also, what's worse, hitting the limiter in neutral or while driving? Today while launching for a friend for fun while heading home, my tires were a little wet, and I had a ton of wheelspin, and I didn't quite hit the rev limiter in 1st gear, but I got pretty high up, what looked like 6,300 RPMs.

Honestly, how bad is hitting the rev limiter every once in a while? By once in a while, I mean like once every few months, and obviously not intentionally.
 

DBMSTNG

I fantasize about it being BIG!
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Nov 18, 2007
#2
  • Nov 18, 2007
  • #2
your car should be fine. hitting the rev limiter isn't that bad.

to check your tach, hold in the mileage reset button while turning on the car. you'll notice your mileage doesn't show up anymore. press the mileage reset button to switch between different diagnostics. one will say tac and display the rpm in real time. this info is straight from the sensor, so it is correct. match that to what the tach is showing to see if the tach is correct. the tach is electronic, so i don't know how you could fix it if it is off.
 

tomustang

Psychotic Member
Founding Member
Jun 8, 2000
3,434
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McLean Hospital
Nov 18, 2007
#3
  • Nov 18, 2007
  • #3
Just try not to run it yo 7K, spun bearings are a result. It does sounds strange that it'll go to 6.6K though, I've seen that PI engines would hit the 6250 rev limit and 'bounce' to 6.4K back to 6K but not anything where it bounces between 6.5 to 6.6K
 
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DiZzyBonne

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Aug 2, 2007
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Nov 18, 2007
#4
  • Nov 18, 2007
  • #4
Yeah, I'm not sure if it was 6.5-6.6K, but it looked like it. As I said, it was like two months back. Anyway, when I do the mileage thing, will my trip meter reset?

[EDIT]

Nevermind.

http://www.hearsay.demon.co.uk/puma/DIC.html

Oh well, I liked knowing how many miles exactly I've put on the car since I bought it, haha.
 

hotmustang331

Active Member
Apr 29, 2004
2,967
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Bastrop,TX
Nov 18, 2007
#5
  • Nov 18, 2007
  • #5
^It resets back to 1 after 999 miles anyways...so its just a matter of time. It will not reset your REAL milage...that would cause legal issues and Ford would get in trouble.

Also back when I was on my stock tune, I THINK I remember my RPMs jumping to what looked like 6500RPM....also on my dads 00 V6 FOR SURE I remember it showing around 62-6400 sometimes...even though the rev limiter is much lower. Im not sure if the tack just over compensates and predicts that RPM or if the EEC glitches and misses its mark. But now after a tune it never goes more than the rev limit...weird.
 

2000fordstanggt

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Sep 6, 2005
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Westland, MI
Nov 18, 2007
#6
  • Nov 18, 2007
  • #6
the rev limiter IS there for a reason. its so you dont over rev
 
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DiZzyBonne

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Nov 18, 2007
#7
  • Nov 18, 2007
  • #7
I know it resets to 0 miles after 999.99, but I just like knowing exactly how much I've driven the car since I took it off the lot. I'm not at my car right now, but it's been about 4,090 miles since I bought her in August 14th.
 

2000fordstanggt

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Sep 6, 2005
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Westland, MI
Nov 18, 2007
#8
  • Nov 18, 2007
  • #8
DiZzyBonne said:
I know it resets to 0 miles after 999.99, but I just like knowing exactly how much I've driven the car since I took it off the lot. I'm not at my car right now, but it's been about 4,090 miles since I bought her in August 14th.
Click to expand...

wouldnt all you need is the exact milage when driven off the lot? ie- on milage on your title. and then current odometer figure minus original
 
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DiZzyBonne

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Nov 19, 2007
#9
  • Nov 19, 2007
  • #9
Yes but I don't remember it haha. I'll just do the math and test it when I leave to In'N'Out in a few.
 

kylebgt

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Jul 2, 2007
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Nov 20, 2007
#10
  • Nov 20, 2007
  • #10
Wow, something tells me that you will be rebuilding an engine very very soon . Ok hitting the rev limiter whilst driving is bad enough, but to rev like that when not under load? are you retarded??? I would NEVER exceed 4k in neutral. And you will be slower if you bounce off the limiter!! try shifting at 6k flat when racing. The powerband drops around there anyways. And try to only go past 3k maybe once every couple weeks. How old are you? Take alittle pride in your possessions and don't destroy it.
 
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DiZzyBonne

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Nov 20, 2007
#11
  • Nov 20, 2007
  • #11
Which is why I was asking . On a normal drive, I shift at around 2,500-3,000 RPM, depending on traffic.
 

2000fordstanggt

Member
Sep 6, 2005
404
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Westland, MI
Nov 20, 2007
#12
  • Nov 20, 2007
  • #12
DiZzyBonne said:
Which is why I was asking . On a normal drive, I shift at around 2,500-3,000 RPM, depending on traffic.
Click to expand...

my flows keep me in check. i have to keep it under 2000 rpm in order not to stand out
 

Betrayer00GT

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Apr 21, 2003
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Sacramento, CA
Nov 23, 2007
#13
  • Nov 23, 2007
  • #13
2000fordstanggt said:
my flows keep me in check. i have to keep it under 2000 rpm in order not to stand out
Click to expand...

Oh, yeah. I love my good ol' flowmaster "shift tone" for daily street driving and destroying civics from a stop light. Never need to shift at more than ~2.1k RPM for either of those activities. It hurts gas mileage, ya know?



I am just glad the cobra front brakes are in, so I don't feel the urge to engine brake to extend the life of my original front brakes (from May of '03) all the time anymore. Especially after a careless downshift into second that brought the tach to ~6600RPM right about the time I realized my boneheaded mistake.

Oh well, it has been a couple months since then. No harm, no foul I guess.
 

2000fordstanggt

Member
Sep 6, 2005
404
1
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Westland, MI
Nov 24, 2007
#14
  • Nov 24, 2007
  • #14
Betrayer00GT said:
Oh, yeah. I love my good ol' flowmaster "shift tone" for daily street driving and destroying civics from a stop light. Never need to shift at more than ~2.1k RPM for either of those activities. It hurts gas mileage, ya know?



I am just glad the cobra front brakes are in, so I don't feel the urge to engine brake to extend the life of my original front brakes (from May of '03) all the time anymore. Especially after a careless downshift into second that brought the tach to ~6600RPM right about the time I realized my boneheaded mistake.

Oh well, it has been a couple months since then. No harm, no foul I guess.
Click to expand...

i have yet to upgrade to the 13" brakes. so im constantly downshifting.
 

LaserSVT

Got FB banned again for saying nards
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
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Nov 25, 2007
#15
  • Nov 25, 2007
  • #15
I have the Cobra brakes (came stock ) and i still downshift when slowing down, never knew it was a bad thing, guess I will stop. Love the way the 4v sounds on deacceleration.
 

2000fordstanggt

Member
Sep 6, 2005
404
1
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Westland, MI
Nov 25, 2007
#16
  • Nov 25, 2007
  • #16
LaserSVT said:
I have the Cobra brakes (came stock ) and i still downshift when slowing down, never knew it was a bad thing, guess I will stop. Love the way the 4v sounds on deacceleration.
Click to expand...

nonono its ok, and very useful. it just uses more fuel, thats all.
 

eliteJAE

Member
May 29, 2007
0
1
16
Stanford University
Nov 25, 2007
#17
  • Nov 25, 2007
  • #17
i completely avoided engine braking ALL the time and now i find myself needing new brake pads theres something about being able to screw up a downshift and spin some bearings that scares the crap outta me
 
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