Rattle-rattle (engine lugging)

[andrew.j.thomas@xxxxxx]

Hi all.

An engine-rebuilding friend of mine recently opined that engines were
generally given a harder time lugging at low speeds than occasionally being
revved excessively. The deal was that "lugging" (three-quarters-throttle,
top gear, 22 mph kind of behaviour beloved of minicab drivers) ruined
bearings and big ends (listen to that knocking!), whereas the occasionaly
foray to the upper reaches was not detrimental, provided that engine
maintenance was increased to accommodate this.

I would bet that your European average four-cylinder 1.6, designed to
operate continuously between maybe 2,500 and 4,500 rpm, is more sensitive
to being "lugged"than a big 6 in-line or V8. Why exactly this is, beyond
the obvious reasons of size and stress, I don't know.

Any thoughts?

Andrew T
'95 318is.

------------------------------