Can my this 4 cylinder truck sustain these speeds or will it overheat the engine?

Question

The car is a 2003 Honda Element with a 4 speed automatic and is awd.

My question is if I'm on a highway that allowed speeds of up to 150 mph(for example, the Autobahn) what is the maximum speed this truck can comfortably cruise at until the gas tank is emptied? Will 70 mph pushing it? Could it sustain 85 mph? If so, would 90-95 mph be comfortable for it or would that be pushing it?

The car has 130,000 miles

Answer 1

Overheat is a small problem. If it even happens. 2 things to know. Is it the long stroke or short stroke engine? If long stroke. 1/2 of red line rpm. Short stroke 2/3 rpm of red line. Over that is when you loose a timing belt. When that happens you can often view a rod end threw the side of the block. Or less often a rod just lets loose. Then you look under the vehicle were the last oil is dripping from the pan to see it. But over heat normally happens when you are doing 2 to 3 mpr. Pulling a 10% or better rubble grade up a mountain side. In low gear. Coming down you check for brake overheat. Often it pays to stop & just let all cool off. Above 45 mpr you are into hard wind. Hard to over heat a vehicle above 45 mpr. Unless pump is out. Or no fluid in it.

Answer 2

A Honda Element is not a truck.

Answer 3

you should be more concerned if the suspension and your skills are up to the speed

Answer 4

Go to Utah and drive 85 on the freeway legally and see how you like it.

Answer 5

It's a matter of the radiator size vs engine size. As a result, big ol' V8s overheat more than smaller engines because they are more wasteful and makers don't match the engine size with appropriate cooling. There is a long hill on hi-way 5 in BC that takes out RVs and muscle cars but small car are no problem. It helps to keep the rev's up so that the water pump is working hard. Going fast is not as much stress as thin air and mountain passes. BTW, yes automatic transmissions means more heat and poorer mileage but mostly that was a problem with older cars.

Answer 6

check redline RPM, set it for 1/2 redline and cruise reasonable 4000 rpm for 8000 rpm redline. might go 2/3 redline for some.

Answer 7

If my 2000 Accord can do sustained highway speeds, that thing can

Answer 8

98 Nissan Altima troll strikes again with new car.

Answer 9

REALLY STUPID idea to "cruise until the gas tank is emptied". That will leave you on the side of the road with no way to move forward. You'll have to call a tow truck to get you to the next gas station.

Answer 10

Most cars are set up to cruise comfortably at 3000 rpm or thereabouts, whatever speed that produces (usually around 70mph) is your cruise speed. Pushing a vehicle over it's cruise speed, especially an old one, for prolonged periods will increase strain on the whole vehicle leading to potential damage.

In athletics terms you never see a sprinter win a marathon.