Is Redline Good For Your Car's Engine? Italian Tune Up

Does The Italian Tune Up (Redlining Your Engine) Actually Work?

Does a redline a day keep the mechanics away? The Italian Tune Up is often thought of as a solution for removing carbon from an engine, but does it really work? Looking into multiple research papers on the subject, I sought to answer three main questions: 1). What temperatures do carbon deposits form? 2). Can carbon deposits be removed from excessive heat? 3). Can engines get hot enough to remove carbon deposits?

An engine's redline is the highest speed it can safely operate. At this engine speed, you'll generally be at higher loads, and the stress and strain on the engine is high. Cylinder temperatures increase with the production of more power, and this heat can have effects on the engine internals. Is it enough to remove carbon deposits? Check out the video to find out!

Referenced Literature:

Engineering Explained is a participant in the Amazon Influencer Program.

Don't forget to check out my other pages below!

NEW VIDEO EVERY WEDNESDAY!

[jameshunt]

I’m a nice guy, every time I rent a car, I do the Italian tune up for them

[stevep]

Sorry Officer I was just cleaning out the deposits in my engine

[jefftalbot]

I do the Italian tune-up all the time! Step one put vehicle into “R” for race. Slam on the throttle and it feels like I am going back in time.

[chrisfix]

My drift car gets an italian tune up for like 2 minutes straight... Same with the clutch and brakes lol! Awesome video Jason! I actually have been wanting to test this in real life and do some before and after pics!

[vague-rant]

Ah. So that's the Italian tune up...I'll stop putting marinara in my gas tank now... never forghetti

[pw]

I paid for all my RPMs so I’m going to use all my RPMs

[dadoVRC]

I drove my ex-girlfiend mum's car to go to a concert, 300km away from home.
That car, an Opel Corsa 1.2 Twinport, I think never had any moment running over 3000rpm, and never at full throttle.
We used that only because my car at that moment doesn't have air conditioned...

We was 5people in car.
We started and on the highway it was impossible to reach our speed limit, 130km/h in 5th gear, only in 4th and only on flat road.
The engine was clogged at the point I wonder we can't reach the concert...
After some km in 4th gear at full throttle (at 130/140km/h, no more) car started to run better.
After 70/100km the car were running like new.

Returning home, next morning, I can keep 130km/h in 5th gear, and when I push the pedal it reached over 170km/h with a noticeable acceleration...just noticeable, I'm speaking of a 1.2L engine.

The next day, the car owner said me "what did you do to the Corsa?
It is a lot more powerful, I started from a roundabpout and I made a wheelspin!".😂😂

This happened (just for laugh) in Italy...
I'm Italian and I lived in the middle of the Alps, at the time.

[hoonaticbloggs]

As a mechanic for many years I can confirm, an engine driven hard for longer periods but with regular maintenance will run better and last longer than an engine used for short journeys. The Italian decoke is a credible thing for sure

[hissingoose]

if it's a GM it'll just overheat naturally, no carbon deposits.

[JimGriffOne]

I redline all the time in my car. It's on its 5th head gasket replacement. So, no. Don't drive like me.

[amp]

Constant redlining isn't for me, but hey, whatever floats your valves.

[neomateo]

As an experienced mechanic I am convinced it works in instances where vehicles have been driven very slow for years usually by older customers. After finding nothing obviously wrong I have often taken customers vehicles for extended "test" drives to more remote locations where I can open it up for awhile. Had very good results. Trick is guesstimating if engine is up to it beforehand. Did it to a car of my own I bought from an old dude who never went much above idle for years and managed to kill it quite quickly. The engine was so gummed up it was hard to tell just how badly worn it was until being driven harder over a period of a few weeks after a full service. Started blowing smoke and rattling in the bottom end. Best advice for engine health is change oil and filter regularly and also drive vehicle as it was designed. If you want to drive everywhere at low speed get a ride on mower.

[gedas]

When you bring your 200hp car to a track day, and go back with 220hp car

[eightosaurusspelunk]

I'm not really comfortable giving my car an Italian tune up. That being said, I always give an extensive one to rental cars.

[chinchilla]

My BMW keeps overheating my engine under regular load periodically. I just now found out it's keeping my engine clean. Thanks, BMW!

[habans]

"a redline a day keeps the carbon away" lol

[Moon___man]

unhooked my radiator to achieve 325 degrees.. bye bye carbon!

[AlessioSangalli]

I am just visiting my mom in Italy and I just gave her 1999 1.3l Corolla and Italian tune-up - whether it works or not, I felt like having a duty to give that car some happiness. I know she hasn't used the stereo in 15 years (it still had my Metallica Kill'em All CD inserted) so I gave a tune-up to the speakers too

[anagennao]

OK, got it... never shift out of first gear!

[jordonbiondo]

In the bike world, the main reason I see people recommending an italian tune up is not strictly removing carbon deposits in the engine, but rather to keep either the fuel injectors clear, or more often keeping your carburetor jets clear. As well as keeping most of the carburetor cavities clean of deposits formed by bad old gas breaking down. I'd like to see a video looking at these cases.