CVT 6th Gear

[ALLEGROAE]

2009 2.5S

On long interstate runs, and on normal terrain, is there an advantage in MPG's to run in 6th gear as opposed to "D?"

I do notice, from time to time that pulling a slight grade that the RPM's seem to climb as the CVT determines it needs to alter it gear-selection. I would appear to me that running in 6th might deliver a bit more economy........OPINIONS ??

[insaneturbo13]

2009 2.5S

On long interstate runs, and on normal terrain, is there an advantage in MPG's to run in 6th gear as opposed to "D?"

I do notice, from time to time that pulling a slight grade that the RPM's seem to climb as the CVT determines it needs to alter it gear-selection. I would appear to me that running in 6th might deliver a bit more economy........OPINIONS ??

from what i understand on the subject. if you leave it in 6th and push the gas it wont downshift but will still use more fuel, so if you left it in d and let it downshift it would use the gas more efficiently. then shifting when letting off the gas... any other ideas or perspectives?

[masterbeatty]

well if you feather foot it in my opinion the D was the best for economy. Last summer i drove from CT to WA with a full trunk an 80lb dog, my wife and i, and i was getting 35-40 mpg. the whole way with regular fuel. i filled up 8 or 9 times i cant remeber but i was getting awesome fuel economy with the CVT in D.

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

I've debated that idea in my head as well, but you'll notice that your car, due to gravity, will slow down when going up a hill, assuming you don't change your throttle. Putting it in "6th" would force the transmission to not go down to a lower gear ratio but I believe you lose MPG in the sense that you are using the same fuel (or more, if you hit the gas to keep your speed same as before the hill) but your car is traveling slightly slower (or less distance per given amount of fuel it consumes). So, you either let the car compensate in "D" by increasing RPM and torque to the wheels or you mash the throttle a bit more in "6th" gear or "D" and still net some loss in MPG up a hill.

I suppose a Mythbuster style investigation is in order for this mystery..... Hmm..

[ALLEGROAE]

Sounds like a GREAT idea !!

[ALLEGROAE]

Any other opinions????

[fiveliterbeater]

i have an opinion but it doesnt concern the question you asked....is there a reason why you own an Altima but then love to boast pics of your Corvette? are you ashamed to drive an altima or something? why don't you have pics of both?

[ALLEGROAE]

i have an opinion but it doesnt concern the question you asked....is there a reason why you own an Altima but then love to boast pics of your Corvette? are you ashamed to drive an altima or something? why don't you have pics of both?

Not at all !

I bought the Altima for my daughter, and am proud that she drives it while she is away at school.

I drive a Toyota 4Runner and my wife a Volvo. I have lots of toys, and the most photogenic are the Corvette and my boat. The boat is a 1997 model, and though it looks new, is older.

Sorry if you offended by the Vette, I just enjoy it and wish to share.

Again, I am proud to have purchased the Altima for my daughter.

[fiveliterbeater]

oh don't get me wrong! vette looks amazing! its just that under the tag of what car you own, it says altima and then in your sig is a vette.
i just figured you didnt like to show it off, which i can see why....

Corvette > Altima

[ALLEGROAE]

Anyone else use the "manual" feature of the CVT? Other than to play with things, I really don't see the purpose at all. If you in fact don't get better performance (most claim to the AUTO mode being best) and don't get increased economy (earlier post claims AUTO mode best) then why even put it on there?

[razah9]

When there's a turn coming up I might drop to 1st or 2nd to come out of it
better than I think just leaving it in D because of the lag & how much
you'd have to press down on the throttle to get the same output. Just for
spirited driving with lots of curves to have it at the sweetest gear ratio
in a predictable manner. I think that makes sense lol..

[AviBen]

Two uses for "sports/manual" mode for me: I use the Ds/sports-mode for performance quite often, and manual shifting to slow down without riding the brakes (and, given my mods, I love the rumbling snap-crackle- and-pop sound as the engine downshifts into higher revs while I slow down). Perhaps it's my imagination but it seems like I get quicker response (higher revs sooner) and acceleration in Ds mode. Sometimes I long for the days many years ago when I drove a manual but, given how much driving I do in heavy traffic, I'm sure I would soon get tired of all the work.

[ALLEGROAE]

Thanks everyone for the replies, you pretty much said what I thought in the first place.

All said, it is just another cool thing on a cool car.

[ALLEGROAE]

Thanks everyone for the replies, you pretty much said what I thought in the first place.

All said, it is just another cool thing on a cool car.

[ALLEGROAE]

Thanks everyone for the replies, you pretty much said what I thought in the first place.

All said, it is just another cool thing on a cool car.