Rev counter - Why ?

[Treborgonzo]

This is not necessarily a mercedes related question but why are they still fitting rev counters to cars - I have been driving 42 years and have never felt the need to use a rev counter to assist gear changes - I can tell when the car needs a gear change through experience as in my early driving days the cars I drove didnt have a rev counter. I also think it is a distraction to keep looking at a rev counter to judge when to change gear when your eyes should be on the road - there are enough distractions in the modern car with sat nav and complex audio/ipod systems - I also notice a lot of eco cars are now fitted with gear change indicators - all in all I think rev counters should be done away with and use the saved space for something more useful.
I now drive an automatic E270 which has a great big rev counter - what a waste of space !!!
Anybody any thoughts ??

 

[television]

I find the rev counter just something nice to have, it may not be of much use in normal driving, as most cars are Auto, the car decides the right gear and you cannot over rev one.
Its handy sometimes on fault finding, I cant say that it is a distraction as I have always driven knowing what is going on without looking at the instruments

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>Anybody any thoughts ??

Not really, except to say that Ford did a study some time ago (mkII Granada), and found that the vast majority of people change up far too early, and don't make use of the engine's performance range.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

I also notice a lot of eco cars are now fitted with gear change indicators - all in all I think rev counters should be done away with and use the saved space for something more useful.
I now drive an automatic E270 which has a great big rev counter - what a waste of space !!!
Anybody any thoughts ??

The rev counter will help you keep the engine speed where you want it for best performance. From the handbook you can discover at what revs the engine produces peak torque - probably between 1800 and 3500. If you then aim to allow your upchanges within that band, and cruise at say 2,000 rpm, you will achieve good performance and optimum economy. For example, on my S 320 CDI, using cruise control at 2,000 rpm gives an indicated 75mph and can achieve 44.5 mpg.

Gear change indicators, and other forms of fuel economy indication derive their read out from other sources and tend not to provide such accurate information.

A recent article in Mercedes Owner showed the benefits of this in a C 220 CDI, whereby a journalist achieved 40 mpg on a defined route, whereas an expert using this technique managed 48 mpg.

 

[brianbrian]

Nice to know when engine is hot or cold, or your stationary in traffic that engine is turning over right amount of revs,Brian

 

[100%Bitch]

It's nice to see how high you can get it too.

 

[rf065]

I had a car that was so quiet, I had to check the rev counter to see if the engine was still running. Apart from that, I like to have one & be able check what the revs are at any given time.

Russ

 

[Alex M Grieve]

It's nice to see how high you can get it too.

Hence the term "Red line Helen"?

 

[100%Bitch]

Hence the term "Red line Helen"?

No, that was for another reason that we no longer talk about.

 

[popuptoaster]

The more instruments the better as far as i'm concerned, i hate cars that have given up on the temp gauge and gone over to a light for instance, a gauge can give an early warning something is wrong and save you a LOT of money, an oil pressure gauge is one of the most usefull gauges you can have.

 

[television]

the temp gauge and gone over to a light for instance, a gauge can give an early warning something is wrong and save you a LOT of money, an oil pressure gauge is one of the most usefull gauges you can have.

I agree on those two, they tell you all you need to know

 

[rf065]

an oil pressure gauge is one of the most usefull gauges you can have.

Second only to a dipstick!

Russ

 

[television]

Second only to a dipstick!

Russ

With a oil pressure gauge, when that goes down when cornering and braking, and the ends start knocking, then you can use the dip stick to fill up quickly

 

[stumpy]

The Phantom and it's 'power reserve' gauge is quite cool. Most of the time it has plenty in reserve. I like lots of gauges in cars and I do find the MB needle sweep one of the smoothest. The economy gauge and oil px gauge are quite soporific to watch on the 12# series cars. My old Bentley displays the engine oil level at the push of a button on the fuel gauge which is kinda neat

 

[stumpy]

Second only to a dipstick!

Russ

That's often sat in the drivers seat

 

[djb]

The rev counter will help you keep the engine speed where you want it for best performance. From the handbook you can discover at what revs the engine produces peak torque - probably between 1800 and 3500. If you then aim to allow your upchanges within that band, and cruise at say 2,000 rpm, you will achieve good performance and optimum economy. For example, on my S 320 CDI, using cruise control at 2,000 rpm gives an indicated 75mph and can achieve 44.5 mpg.

Gear change indicators, and other forms of fuel economy indication derive their read out from other sources and tend not to provide such accurate information.

A recent article in Mercedes Owner showed the benefits of this in a C 220 CDI, whereby a journalist achieved 40 mpg on a defined route, whereas an expert using this technique managed 48 mpg.

I totally agree, + most useful for checking, knowing condition of the torque converter. know where the max torque range is = economical max power.

I wish there was a hidden oil pressure gauge like the hidden volt meter.

 

[carabind]

Going back to the rev counters, going back say 30 years ago these were only fitted to top of the range and/or sports models. Like electric windows, air con etc, fog lights they have all become commplace on everyday motors. Its now the exception that you see a car fitted without a rev counter. A rev counter costs circa £100+ to replace if it goes wrong (probably far more our "our" cars). But if manufaturers can build them i as part of s standard instrument panel, so all their cars have the same instruments, there is very little extra cost to specify and include one at time of assembly.

 

[jberks]

I like it sitting there telling me the engine is idling as I cruise along the motoway. Sure it isn't really any real use on most cars, though I did find that on my E240 I was in the wrong gear a couple of times (knocked the tiptronic) and with such a smooth quiet engine it's not always obvious. The revcounter was confirmation that something wasn't quite right.

Anyway - We already have fuel, temp, speed, computer readout, analogue clock and an array of warning lights alongside the tacho, so what else would you put want it's place?

 

[nickcc101]

I used to work with a lad who was profoundly deaf, so we fitted his car with a rev counter after he blew a couple of engines. No problems after as he changed gear before valve bounce by watching the rev counter. I suppose it would have been cheaper if he had bought a car with auto transmission. No slur on the hard of hearing is intended.

 

[hairyg]

I had a car that was so quiet, I had to check the rev counter to see if the engine was still running. Apart from that, I like to have one & be able check what the revs are at any given time.

Russ

Me too. It's the only way my wife can tell if the engine is running or not