The phrase 'strain the engine' is correct and usable in written English. It can be used to describe a situation in which an engine is being subjected to physical or mental stress. For example, "The driver was pushing the car to its limits, straining the engine and causing it to struggle.".
At this stage, if the engine still sounds like it's gonna buckle, then shift into 1st gear quickly and hit the gas pedal again and after a short distance, shift into 2nd again to avoid straining the engine too much.
Starting in second gear strains the engine, eats gas and puts extra wear on your clutch.
As he backed the throttle down, the vibrations slowed and the strain on the engine eased.
The Viper's cockpit which is a standard-issue, cheapskate Chrysler plastic bath gets so hot under the strain of the engine and exhaust that there must surely be other ways to burn yourself just by riding in it.
With the six-speed manual, it is easy to cruise along on flat roads at 50 mph in third or fourth gear without putting a bit of strain on the engine, which is kept liquid smooth by two balance shafts.
Fatigue life estimation of the rubber engine mount was finally made by using the maximum Green Lagrange strain of the engine mount and the fatigue life curve equation of the natural rubber material.
This reduces the strain on the engine while the oil is still cold and thicker.
Ludwig does not simply clarify my doubts with English writing, it enlightens my writing with new possibilities
Simone Ivan Conte
Software Engineer at Adobe, UK