Should I "blow out" my car periodically? By that I mean are there any engine benefits to accelerating with wide open throttle for say, the distance between two stop lights or 30 seconds on the highway?
I've always heard this but I'm not sure if it grounded in fact or fiction.

Stock '98 GS400 +250k miles.

 

The so-called Italian tune-up.
Theoretically, just running your car normally for 20min on the highway periodically is enough to "blow out" whatever it is you're looking to blowout..

Using a (good) fuel injector cleaner periodically will do a better job then redlining your car.
If you believe you have stuff to "blowout" then you can use seafoam or other related product (also only requires 2-3k rpm, not redline)

It depends on what you want to achieve.
This will put stress on your car. On a brand new car, this will not be no issue, you should be able to race your brand new car like a bat out of hell, all day all the time, for at least 3-4 years, no worries. (E.g. BMW's included maintenance)

But face it, all our cars are old. You do that on a 16year old car, then it could cause your tired old seals to start leaking oil ,or hoses to potentially pop off, or other random issue that doesn't happen with a new car; and doesn't happen if you just poke around like a regular soccer mom.

So you may regret racing your GS, since you end up with a repair bill for the part in your car that breaks down.

But, on the other hand, those gremlins already exist in your car, whether or not you race it now or race it later. If you are afraid of those issues; you are resigning yourself to never running the car at WOT anymore at all.

Which is fine too; at this point for me, this car is just to get around reliably; until I can get the gsf when it comes out.

 

I think it's perfectly fine to put an engine through its paces every now and then. Plus, it's a good way to check for misfires/hiccups under load in the upper RPM range.

 

I also agree with this, I definitely DO NOT suggest you red line your car constant for 20 min +, but for a short burst on the highway will not do the car harm. It will blow out certain carbon deposits etc.

 

good preventative maintenance always helps to lesson the carbon buildup... Periodically clean the TB, MAF, and replace intake filter along with fuel injection cleaner, and or Seafoam through a vacuum line. i can imagine with 250k miles you could have some buildup...