Chevrolet Malibu Forum : “why is my car over reving at 4200 rpms instead of 7000??”

probably a rev limiter on your car stops it from going to 7000 to save your engine

It depends if your 1999 has a 2.4L four cyclinder or 3.1L V6.
My 2000 Model year engine, since V6 was the only engine, the highest rev I have seen is about 5,000 RPM, given that most push rod engine does not rev at high RPMs.

when your car is in park or neutral it will only rev to 4200 rpm to stop idiots like you from blowing your engine.  in gear it will reach about 6500-7000 rpm's.  why do you need to rev so high it ain't a sports car stupid.

1
Why are you rev'in it that high in neutral in the first place?

I can understand this question if you were talking about driving the car down the highway, and being confused by the fact that the engine doesn't rev to as high as the gauge shows, but why would you be rev'in like that in neutral?

2
Cars rarely allow or are capable of reaching the max numbers on a gauge.  If your gauge reads to 150, you'll prolley top out at 120 type of deal.  Tach reads to 9000 you'll prolley hit a limiter before 7000.  And for good reason.  The valve trains in street cars are rarely strong enough for high RPM's.  The gauges are just that, gauges, not the ability of your car.

put it in neutral then you can rev the hell out of it

because its called a rev limit so you donr blow your engine up most cars have them now.