I recently bought a 2005 Escape Hybrid AWD which I love. I usually never go over 65 or 70 in it. But the other day i was running really late and went 80. While going 80 I had to go up a hill. Now, typically it's fairly high RPM's at 65 and 70 (around 4000-4500). But at 80, it was right at redline. Now I know I was going up a hill, but is this normal? If it isn't is there something that I should be looking at?

I have already changed out the spark plugs. Anyway, any thoughts?

 

Probably at 80 you're pressing on the gas pedal so hard it uses whatever charge is available from the hybrid battery to help out. When you arrived at the hill I suspect there was no charge left in the hybrid battery to give a boost to climb the hill. So the engine, which is undersized, had to carry the load all by itself, hence the high rpm's. I'm surprised it will even go up a hill at 80mph.

 

Ha! I love your response. You are probably right, I actually had it on cruise control, but you could definitely hear it rev up. And now that I think about it, the hill is rather close by, so the electric engine may not even have been fully charged yet. I really appreciate you letting me know that it was normal. I was really nervous, since it is so new to us!