I've read that it's good to run your car at 5000 rpm's
for a certain amount of time once a year to clean out the upper
engine components and keep engine performing nicely.

I have a 5 speed. What's the best way to do this without
harming the engine.

ty
rd
99c70

If you have a 5 speed your car probably spends more time at
upper RPM then automatics (unless you shift at 2500 rpm all
the time) and I'd doubt you would have any propblems associated
with driving the car too "easy". If you occasionally take the
engine over 5000 rpm then you should be fine. Apparently,
the valves don't rotate in their seat until high RPM and the
rotation helps to keep carbon from building up under the valve
edge (which keeps it from fully closing causing power loss and
hard starting).

A better way to do this is simply to drive at highway speed for an hour or so. Take a day trip somewhere? What you describe may damage your engine if you run it like that for a extended period. Besides if you have carbon problems, blowing the engine out is not the only thing you need to do. You may have other issues to look at as well.

Good luck

Rick in Denver