My 1991 Accord seems to run pretty high rpm's on the highway. When I am at 70 mph or so it is running right below 3000 rpm's. Is that right or a bit high. If it is high what do I need to look into. Also it seems to shift pretty hard and late. I checked the fluid and it looks good.

1991 Accord Sedan
Automatic
2.2 4 cylinder

 

My Accord is the same...at 70mph it is right at 3,000rpms...Disable overdrive, and it shoots up to 3,500rpms. Its probably due to the 4.01:1 final drive ratio on the transmission, which is the stock final drive. That seems to be normal, unless all Accords are having the same problem.

 

Okay good to know. The 2007 F150 I am coming from would cruise at about 1900 RPM's so it was much different.

Also, when this Automatic shifts it kind of surges a bit. It seems to hold pretty long and then surge and shift kinda hard. Fluid level looks okay. Anything I can do to make this better.

 

The automatic in the Accords is a hard shifter...It has two modes, soft shift and hard shift. Under hard acceleration, heavy load, or WOT, its in hard shift mode, but during deceleration, light acceleration, or when coasting, its in soft shift mode. The reason the F-150 is at 1900rpms at 70mph is because 1. its a V8 and 2. it has more gears on the transmission.

 

Okay I see. Well I need to jsut not worry about it and drive this thing. For $1600 it ain't going to be perfect. I would love to get an inexpensive paint job on it though. I went to Maaco and they quoted me $650. Kinda hard to justify. I was hoping $300 or so.

 

i have a 95 coupe lx. at 70 i'm at about 2800. its usual. my bro has a 2006 si and at 70 its almost at 3k also

 

that's where it should be for that year accord

 

its normal. thats nothing. when i had my b16 ef civic si at 70 id be at around 3500rpms.

 

Can anyone explain why highway RPM is so high. I understand that engine size plays a role, but couldn't I have just one more gear so I can cruise at 2,000RPM instead of 3,000.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 11:11 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can anyone explain why highway RPM is so high. I understand that engine size plays a role, but couldn't I have just one more gear so I can cruise at 2,000RPM instead of 3,000. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Manual transmission have one more gear than the autos.

 

I test drove a 96 EX 5-speed and it appeared that it had the same RPM as my 96 LX auto.

 

thats because autos tend to have taller gears. another gear on it would make the car a slug. in fifth gear at 2200rpms the car doesnt like to pull. not until like 2500rpms.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 11:11 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can anyone explain why highway RPM is so high. I understand that engine size plays a role, but couldn't I have just one more gear so I can cruise at 2,000RPM instead of 3,000. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Because it's not a diesel?

Because it's just 3 gears + overdrive?

Because it's .......

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mbogosia &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Okay good to know. The 2007 F150 I am coming from would cruise at about 1900 RPM's so it was much different.

Also, when this Automatic shifts it kind of surges a bit. It seems to hold pretty long and then surge and shift kinda hard. Fluid level looks okay. Anything I can do to make this better.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Adjust the throttle cable that goes to the trans pressure lever.
Loosen it off then adjust it back tight a little bit; with a long screwdriver resting on the pressure lever, start to open the throttle, just as the RPM starts to barely increase the pressure lever should barely move.
Driving test; rolling down the road at very light throttle 25 mph, floor the gas and the trans downshifts to first.
Repeat the drive at 27-28 mph and when you floor the gas the trans only drops to second.
FWIW the Honda trans of those years does shift with a positive pressure, it engages the clutch plates faster for less wear. It should not feel like the GM mushy diarrhea shift.

Here is what my tach shows at normal highway speed



Modified by hondadude at 5:58 PM 5/28/2008


Modified by hondadude at 6:00 PM 5/28/2008

 

3 grand is normal for an auto as it's a 4 speed... i have a 5 speed and it does 2700-2800 at 70 in 5th... just be glad u don't have a jdm h22 5 speed it puts the engine at 3500 in 5th at 70... hence why my h22 powered accord has a usdm h23 trans in it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by johnnyo032003 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">3 grand is normal for an auto as it's a 4 speed... i have a 5 speed and it does 2700-2800 at 70 in 5th... just be glad u don't have a jdm h22 5 speed it puts the engine at 3500 in 5th at 70... hence why my h22 powered accord has a usdm h23 trans in it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, Preludes rev WAY higher.
My Accord does about 2.600 or so. I didnt get anywhere close to 3k when driving on the interstate yesterday going 70+

 

You should feel lucky my old GSR I'd be in 5th gear doing 65mph and my tach would read between 4500 rpm and 5000 rpm. Talk about burning gas!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 11:11 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can anyone explain why highway RPM is so high. I understand that engine size plays a role, but couldn't I have just one more gear so I can cruise at 2,000RPM instead of 3,000. </TD></TR></TABLE>

no, engine lacks torque to pull the car at a lower RPM

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hondadude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

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if I had my engine at 4K in top gear I would be 150 mph

 

My '92 EX does the same thing. It is normal, these little engines don't make much power down low, so they have to be geared a bit lower.

My 'vette has a four speed auto, with a final drive gear of 3.08:1, at 70, I'm cruisin' along at 2250.

My Nova has a three speed auto, with a final drive gear of 2.73:1, at 70, I'm pullin' about 2800.

Believe it or not, it's actually BETTER and more efficient to cruise in your power band, I get better mileage in the 'vette if I'm over 2500 RPM, but at that RPM in fourth I'm doing just under 100 which is only ok on the most desolated of roads.

My buddy has an '01 SS Camaro that runs 11.8's in the quarter, with 4.11:1 rear gears and the six-speed tranny he's cruising along at 70 at just under 2100.

 

My Accord does the same thing. It's normal, because the final drive ratio is not that short of a gear.