Technical OK, 'splain this to me...

Something that has been mysterious to me over the years (and I've been too self-conscious to ask) is I occasionally witness someone, usually at a car show, etc... that when they are parking their car/truck they will rev it up, to say 1500-2000ish rpm, before turning their vehicle off. My powers of observation and imagination have yet to come up with a reasoning for this. Is it just ego to announce their arrival, or is there a practical reason for this habit that I've overlooked?

Signed,

Stymied in Seattle

 

Learned it from my Dad, just something your supposed to do !!!

 

Yep me too.

 

if you have a motor that runs rich at low speeds sometimes to rev it up and then idle back down - but, if good breathing motor just adding fuel that will not get burned helps nothing - except a statement that you have arrived

 

Man some people got real shit to worry about

 

Tinea pedis......?

 

If you have an engine that likes to run in the upper enchilada but fouls plugs down low, this practice helps clear the plugs so it's easier to start when it's time to leave.

 

Same reason some car's whine'd it up at the track, Clean out the low speed driving "load-up" with heavy cam/comp. Parking at show.... But it is played out a lil excessive by guy's with stock crate motor's etc.

 

Maybe they just want to let people hear it. Don't most hot rodders like to hear an engine? I do.

 

Because we can. It's written in our DNA or something.

 

the "Italian Tune". Veni Vidi Visi!

 

My great Uncle used to do this all the time. He had always had stick shift cars and got a 59 Ford with an automatic. Now long after he got it he did his regular rev up before shut down and ran it through the back wall of the garage.

 

I was taught by my grandfather to do this with my 33 as its high compression motor runs rich at idle and can at times, depending on the weather, diesel after you hit the key so blipping the throttle clears out in buildup while putting to park and fully shut down.

 

Hot Rod 101 dude... Get the book.

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Same thing happens with Harleys at red lights. They keep cracking the throttle til the light turns green. I don't mind....I like the sound.

 

My father used to do that in his cars in the 1950's. He said that was to put a little charge back into the battery..

 

I thought that helped the light turn quicker.
I love to hear my flowmasters rack off a couple notes before I shut her down.

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If you had a cam lot of duration and overlap it might run rich in the idle circuit, and the points ignition system didn't burn off the fuel like the new multi spark ignition system.

Big Block owners that do this

 

I thought the idea was to insure that the cylinders got filled up with fresh fuel and air mixture so the engine was easier to start next time.

I always thought it was a load of Malarkey though.

 

I need all the help I can to get the motor started when I want to leave. If I shut off the motor when warm, the gas boils out of the carb and floods the motor. If the plugs are fowled when I shut it off, it will be just that much harder to start. I do not have a large cam, just poorly adjusted carburetors and dirty points.

 

OUCH !!!! But you have to give gota56forme credit . If that is all he has to worry about , then he must be doing something right. I could use some of that .

 

Maybe these car show guys who do this just want to exercise one foot before they sit their ass in a lawn chair for 4 hours.

 

I think all of us older guys heard the "clear it out" before you shut it off thing years ago.
I'd say that a good portion now are more in the "look at me, I'm here" mode now though.
I don't mind guys doing that and am probably as guilty as the next guy. What bugs the crap out of me is the guy with open headers who has to fire his car up and gun the engine several times every half hour on the half hour do draw the mouthbreathers over to it to gawk and listen to his story. Usually on a car that a lot of us walk pass without more than a second glance.

 

I guess there are many reasons for it getting started. I heard that it was to sling oil up into the engine after idling. Maybe before the days of efficient oil systems.

 

I thought it was to strike fear into the hearts of those with lesser motors.

 

Old wives tale , similar to the one about running the engine to warm the oil up to help get the sludge out when draining oil.

 

Revving an engine prior to shut down indicates someone is afflicted with the small penis syndrome. A very common affliction in the hot rod community.

 

Funny, my wife was just asking me why our neighbour always does this with his Lamborghini’s.
I said something about the good for the engine.
She said something about making a statement that he had just arrived.

 

Seems most really don't understand the way things work..!

I agree with the..."my dad did it".
BUT, I don't.

Mike

 

I heard it was to prevent the blinker fluid from jelling. Or maybe it was to get the right harmonics for the muffler bearings.