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I just bought a 2006 kia rio sedan with a manual 5 speed transmission. During the test drive I couldn't go over 55mph (wasn't near any freeways)

My first time on the freeway the rpms were around 3300 at 65 mph and the car sounded like it needed to shift to another gear, but there's obviously not another. Is this normal? If so, a long trip at 70 mph wouldn't be pleasant.

I obviously don't want to damage anything. I've only owned one small 4 cyl car before and it was an automatic. I'm stressed out because I've already spent more in repairs than I wanted to and will really be bummed if there's a issue with the transmission.

Lightness Races in Orbit
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Dexter74
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3 Answers3

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The specs for this vehicle show that it has a 5-speed manual and that 5th gear is OD/Overdrive. According to the performance data here:

Kia Rio Gear Ratios

The following table from that page lists the speed at 1000 rpm for each gear:

1000rpm speed:     (km/h/mph)
I:                  7.7 / 4.8
II:                13.6 / 8.5
III:              20.4 / 12.7
IV:               27.1 / 16.8
V:                33.3 / 20.7

So in 5th gear the you should get 20.7 mph in 5th gear at 1000 rpm. Scaling this to 65 mph (multiplying both values by 3.14 or the ratio of 65 mph/20.7 mph) gives a predicted rpm of 3140. That's in line with what you read as 3300 rpm.

So yes, that seems to be the normal rpm at 65 mph. Your rpm could be a bit high due to an inaccurate speedometer or tires a size or two smaller than the tires on the test car.

That engine speed does not seem unusually high for such a car.

Note: I edited the to include the image from the page rather than the link as it is the results of a search and is not a direct link.

jwh20
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13

That is the excellent Mazda B3 engine. It will give you 300k service if you treat it nicely. It loves to rev. It does not like to lug.

If you are at high power at low RPM (e.g. an RPM that feels right for an American V8) and you start hearing what sounds like tappet noise, that is actually the main bearings bottoming out metal on metal. Stop that instantly and downshift.

It really loves to rev. I doubt you could damage the engine at any (high) RPM you would dare put on it. Obviously, don't run it past redline, but the ignition system won't let you do that; it will shut off spark and/or fuel at that point.

DavidRecallsMonica
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Harper - Reinstate Monica
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3

I got 3,000 rpm at 120 km/h on a Hyunday Grand i10, 1.2 lts engine (~5 lts/100km)

Candid Moe
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