# Driving down the highway in 2nd gear (like a genius) **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 17, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-down-the-highway-in-2nd-gear-like-a-genius/92544 "2016-02-17T19:50:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ChrissieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@ChrissieD](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrissieD)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-down-the-highway-in-2nd-gear-like-a-genius/92544/1 "2016-02-17T19:50:37Z")
This morning, cause I was so very awake, and at my best, I drove down the highway with top speeds of maybe 55 to 60 for a little under 3 miles in 2nd (I have a 2013 Honda CR-V automatic). I noticed it went to 5000 rpm, far away from the redline. Will this cause any damage to the car? Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-down-the-highway-in-2nd-gear-like-a-genius/92544/2 "2016-02-17T19:58:44Z")
No, it is very unlikely that any damage was done. Back in the '70s, I drove most of the way from Cincinnati to Dayton, Ohio in second gear, as a result of my passenger leaning over the console to…let’s just say that she…assisted me…while I drove. **;-))** I didn’t discover the fact that the trans was in second gear until I exited from the Interstate in Dayton, and I estimate that I probably drove at least 40 miles in second gear. A few days later, I drove back to NJ–sans problems–and I continued to drive the car without any problems for another two years or so. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-down-the-highway-in-2nd-gear-like-a-genius/92544/3 "2016-02-17T20:10:56Z")
Agree, I wouldn’t worry about it at all. Some might say you performed an ‘Italian tune-up’, which is used to try and clear out deposits in the cylinders… ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-down-the-highway-in-2nd-gear-like-a-genius/92544/4 "2016-02-17T20:41:13Z")
**_@ChrissieD_** “Stuff” Happens! I Hope You Were Awake Enough To Turn Up The Radio To Drown Out The Extra Noise From The Revving Engine! 😉 _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![Sloepoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sloepoke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sloepoke)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-down-the-highway-in-2nd-gear-like-a-genius/92544/5 "2016-02-17T20:48:40Z")
@VDCdriver I think that post should have been in the distracted driver forum . ---
**Author:** ![ChrissieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@ChrissieD](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrissieD)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-down-the-highway-in-2nd-gear-like-a-genius/92544/6 "2016-02-17T20:52:22Z")
Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2016, 5:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-down-the-highway-in-2nd-gear-like-a-genius/92544/7 "2016-02-18T05:28:26Z")
Burned a little extra gas is all you did. That engine has a rev limiter that won’t let you hurt it.