I found the sweet spot...

[Paula]

NO.... not that one !

The sweet spot in the V ..... and I don't like it.*

I drive to Mom's generally about once a week, 35 miles on the interstate, then another 10 on the "bad road". After months of doing the I-40 run at 3K rpm, or 66 mph, I decided to find "the spot" about two weeks ago. Left the cruise alone, turned off the "head-bangin' Queen" cd, and just felt and listened to the car.

Hit the spot at 3,400rpm / 74 mph. Car smoothed out, engine purred, cruise got set, and "We Will Rock You" got cranked back up !

* The reason I don't like it is because it reduces my gas mileage. At 3K rpm, engine noise is louder, but mpgs are better.

Paula

[DreamU]

Hit the spot at 3,400rpm / 74 mph. Car smoothed out, ...

Was there something 'not smooth' before (like a vibration) or did 74mph just feel like the speed the car was made to run at?

[Paula]

No, there were no problems at other speeds...... this (the 3,400 rpm) just seems to be the speed that my car really likes.

My husband taught me about how to listen to a vehicle to find the "sweet spot" for the engine. On my V, this speed just sounds right.

Paula

[kc5f]

Maybe that's what I need to do to get better mileage on my CVT! Since it runs 60mph at 2000rpm and 75 at 2500, I guess I just need to start driving at 102mph and my Versa will be happy...

[DreamU]

One other advantage is that I always felt safe from getting a speeding ticket at 74mph. With a posted speed of 65 its only 9mph over....

[Paula]

My Mom's CVT runs about 1K rpm less than mine at the same mph.

DreamU... as far as speeding tickets, the interstate speed in TN is 70, so I feel reasonably sure that I won't get a ticket for 74, and probably wouldn't get one for 79, but there's NO WAY I'm going to drive this little car at a constant almost 80 mph, especially the way the draft off the 18 wheelers knock it around.

Paula

[proxim2020]

I think you may be correct. Now that I think about it, on my trip back home last week, I kept my speed low (65-72) and my gas mileage dipped between 29 and 31 mpg. This was for about 4 fill ups. On the last day and a half of driving, I picked my speed up (I needed to get home by a certain time). I kept the speed around 75 and the MPG jumped to 31- 34mpg. My wife and I were puzzled that we were getting poorer gas mileage at the slower speeds and attributed it to being up north and it being hilly.