How often is it safe to gun one's engine?

[Deja Q]

Today I turned right onto a street.

I dunno how I missed it, but the minivan coming toward me was in the lane I turned to. :scared: I gunned the engine pretty hard. I realized in time that he wasn't going any faster than before (fucking old * supporting fart) so I stepped off the gas in time.

Would I have damaged a gasket or caused an oil drip to form?

I've noticed nothing different in acceleration (transmission seems the same) or any oil drips at this time, and I like to worry...

Thx!

[rfranklin]

1. What type of vehicle?

Sort of depends too on what you mean by "gunned the engine."

Accelerating hard now and then shouldn't be a problem unless you overrev the engine--that is, revving the engine beyond it's designed high rpm limit. Many cars have rev limiters so that if you do get into the danger zone, the engine just cuts off briefly.

[Deja Q]

2. 99 Subaru Impreza Sport

4 cylinder, 2.2L.

I think I'm okay, but I hate gunning the engine as such. It was a steep gunning but I did hear the engine whine so I backed off, afraid of blowing something. (I accidentally went too far a decade ago when I had a 1991 Ford Probe...)