# Subaru Tribeca How Fast Can It Roll?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-tribeca-how-fast-can-it-roll/63476>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** tribeca, transmissions, engines, subaru\
**Created:** [April 8, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-tribeca-how-fast-can-it-roll/63476 "2011-04-08T13:25:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![palatiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/977dab/32.png) [@palatiger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/palatiger)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-tribeca-how-fast-can-it-roll/63476/1 "2011-04-08T13:25:07Z")

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I go down a steep gravel road that at one point is 1/2 mile concrete ramp. I use 1st gear to try to reduce wear on my brakes - how many RPMs are safe? Is there some speed at which syncros or other transmission issues arise - I am not getting anywhere near the engine redline RPMs, but I know that is probably set for circumstances other than gravity pulling me to a high speed/RPM.

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**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:** [April 8, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-tribeca-how-fast-can-it-roll/63476/2 "2011-04-08T13:33:56Z")

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Is your transmission manual or automatic?  
What is the model year of your Tribeca?  
What is the redline on your tachometer?

I have the same 3.6 liter engine in my 2011 Outback, and it is redlined at 6,600 RPMs.

That being said, I would not be comfortable in this situation if the engine was turning at more than 4k for 1/2 mile or more, even if the engine can safely rev higher than that. If I was in your situation, I would use both the brakes and the transmission to control both vehicle speed and engine speed.

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-tribeca-how-fast-can-it-roll/63476/3 "2011-04-08T13:56:45Z")

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Don’t worry about your brakes. They cost a fraction compared to repairing your automatic transmission. You also waste lots of fuel revving excessively.

I would not allow the motor to rev past 3500 rpm. So use first or 2nd gear as appropriate.

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**Author:** ![Goldwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@Goldwing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Goldwing)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-tribeca-how-fast-can-it-roll/63476/4 "2011-04-08T16:12:03Z")

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Brake pads are the cheapest part on your car. Use them.

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**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-tribeca-how-fast-can-it-roll/63476/5 "2011-04-09T04:43:36Z")

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“You also waste lots of fuel revving excessively”

I doubt the engine is using any more fuel than at idle, as the computer would not inject any additional fuel seeing no throttle angle.