I have a 2006 Accord EX-L sedan, 4cl 5MT. When I am driving at 75 MPH in 5th gear. My Tach is at 3. I feel like this is high. Oil and oil/air filter all changed as directed with maintaince minder or at 3,500 miles. I dont push my car (redline etc.)

I rec. put new honda OEM rotors/pads in, but this was happening before that.

Before I take it to dealer to have them check... any suggestions/comments?
I was thinking it could be wheel bearings, as I know that those can be an issue with honda's. How would I check those? I am an avid DIY'er with experience and a willingness to learn.

Thanks for your help! :notworthy

For reference, my V6 auto idles around 2100 RPM on the highway at 75 MPH.

I don't think it is too far off if at all. I usually cruise pretty slow and my tach usually about right at 2000 RPM for 60 mph on cruise control. I have an auto though so gearing may be different.

i have 05 coupe with 19's, air, intake and exhaust. when i am on highway going 80 mph my rpm is 3000 sometimes 3200 depending on weather. Today at 95 mph my rpm was at 4500 maybe!!! If your car is stock it should be around 2500 rpm at 80 mph.

What you are saying is based on no information at all? You are saying slowing from 80 to 75 will drop his RPM 500-700? That doesn't seem right at all. It also doesn't seem to make sense that your mods would cause the engine to rev higher at the same speeds.

Anyway, I have to drive someone home tonight. I'll go 75 and report the RPM here later. But I do think the gearing is probably different between MT and AT. Looking at the Fit people complain about high revs at highway speeds in the MT compared to the AT.

Your car is running at the correct RPM. Rotors and oil would have zero to do with changing that. There is nothing for the dealer to check. If you want the engine speed lower you'll need to put in a six speed transmission...... just drive the car and enjoy it.

Yup. I have a 4cyl 5spd MT and at hwy speeds I'm cruising at 3k rpm. Smaller the engine the higher the rpm on the highway. That's why GM 3.8L v6's do 80 at 2,300rpm. But a 1.5L honda fit will be pushing 4,000rpm at 75/80 mph. It's all in the gearing, and power band of the engine.

If you want the engine speed lower you'll need to put in a six speed transmission
I believe the 6 speed manual from the TSX turns at a higher rpm than the 5 speed from the Accord, in the highest gear. With a manual transmission car the RPM to MPH in each gear does not change, there is not a torque converter which can vary this like in a auto transmission. You can do two things to change this relationship. On the cheap, put taller tires on. I have done this on my car. I put on the same size as they put on the Hybrid Accord. They are slightly taller and wider than the what is put on the non Hybrid Accords. While I thought I would get slightly more MPG from this change I actually lost 2 MPG. Might be from the larger contact patch and moving to a tire with better traction (AA) which raised the rolling resistance. I would take traction over MPG any day. On the no so cheap, change the gearing in the transmission. I am not sure if there is aftermarket support for our transmissions.

I read this before I went to have lunch and go to Target.

On the way I noticed this:

Going 75, I was doing about 2400 RPM and at 80 I was close to 2600.

I have 4 cylinder automatic.

I believe the 6 speed manual from the TSX turns at a higher rpm than the 5 speed from the Accord, in the highest gear. With a manual transmission car the RPM to MPH in each gear does not change, there is not a torque converter which can vary this like in a auto transmission. You can do two things to change this relationship. On the cheap, put taller tires on. I have done this on my car. I put on the same size as they put on the Hybrid Accord. They are slightly taller and wider than the what is put on the non Hybrid Accords. While I thought I would get slightly more MPG from this change I actually lost 2 MPG. Might be from the larger contact patch and moving to a tire with better traction (AA) which raised the rolling resistance. I would take traction over MPG any day. On the no so cheap, change the gearing in the transmission. I am not sure if there is aftermarket support for our transmissions.

The suggestion for a six speed was not truly realistic. The idea was that if you don't like the RPM that your engine is turning at a certain speed then add more gears to slow down the engine speed. It was a joke son, a joke. It is painfully obvious that the OP has no idea of how gears work or what RPM the engine should be turning.......the reference to rotors and oil & filter says that plain as day. The car is fine, there is an operator malfunction.

Thanks for all the input.

I have 2 things more to say...


1. Thanks AverageJoe for the real data. Thats exactly what I was looking for.

2. To RTexasF's last post: this OP did not know at what RPM the engine shoudl be at for 75 MPH, because to be honest, up until now, I never noticed. I dont stare at the tach, I watch the road. The reference to oil/rotors/filters was to set background, since those are the things I did to the car before noticed what I thought what a change.

So, maybe, before you go around calling me "stupid" with out actually saying it, would it be painfully obvious to realize we are here to help each other? :dunno:

To anyone different transmission in cars has a different gear ratio setup. Mine is a 5at and it is a 2.4 4cyl engine. At 90 it is right at 3000 rpm at 60 it is right at 2000 rpm. Usually the automatics are setup to run lower rpm at hwy speeds then the manual tranny itself plus gear ratios has something to do with it as well. The best thing to do is to go test drive a car similar specs and compare. Anyone with 2.4 4cyl 5at the speed I just mentioned for our cars and the rpm is normal this is for the 2003 - 2007 accords

It's all in the gearing and final drive ratios. I know that in the 5AT 5th is set to cruise at 2000 rpm while doing exactly 60, which I thought was high. But 5th is so tall that at I'm doing 75 at about 2500ish, maybe a bit higher. Next time I go on the highway I'll check. But this is the first time I've heard anyone complain about high rpms for the speed on an Accord. I recently had the chance to drive an M6 and at about 70mph it was cruising at 2250-2300 rpm. Now remember, the M6 has two MORE gears than the Accord.

i have 05 coupe with 19's, air, intake and exhaust.

No such thing as an 05 Coupe DX thats listed in your signature.

Yup. I have a 4cyl 5spd MT and at hwy speeds I'm cruising at 3k rpm. Smaller the engine the higher the rpm on the highway.

I'd figure you would be going alot slower with all your MPG posts, hypermiling tips and Fuel Max tires. :D

satinsilver- I've been squeezing some good MPG's out of my car lately. But I still like to move unlike some hypermilers... I'm not holding up half the world for 50 cents of gas. I like going around corners fast b/c it saves momentum/gas and it's fun! FYI, those tires are broke in now and are some of the sweetest tires I've ever had. Already put them through bad streets, torrential down pours, standing water and they manage it all! No hydroplanning, lost traction anything. Hats off to Goodyear so far. That is honestly a very advanced tire.

.... but yes I'd like an extra gear to lower hwy rpm by 500. 2,500 "I think" would be ideal for 80mph. I don't have any R&D to back that. Might be to low of an rpm if the car was loaded ith 5 passengers and luggage and towing a small trailer though... these are the scenarios the enigneers face when designing things like cruising rpm. So they aim for a happy medium.

One car that does less than 2500RPM at 80MPH is a 2009 BMW 335i...
But that's because it has the torque to use such long gears

The car I had before this one was about 4-5k rpm at 75mph