When should you shift cvt?

[dom_cull]

I have been wondering exactly when should i shift when in manual mode?

[mcheddadi]

anytime you want, it's made to have a slight (tens of a second) delay so that It can understand what you just did and adapt super fast.

[NissanAltimaGuy]

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but in my informal shade tree testing, I found no benefit to using that over leaving it in drive.

Twisty roads maybe? I dunno - I live in a desert so my test was more straight line performance.

[gearhead05]

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but in my informal shade tree testing, I found no benefit to using that over leaving it in drive.

Twisty roads maybe? I dunno - I live in a desert so my test was more straight line performance.

For me, the benefit of putting into manual mode is to let the engine rev higher so I can hear my exhaust and intake! lol

[dom_cull]

lol very true gearhead, I cant wait to get my fujita and custom exhaust.

[Ferguson]

In manual mode, you can just floor it and let the car shift by itself, if you like. I don't. I prefer to shift at about 6050-6100 RPM, roughly 100-150 RPM sooner, which can be a tough target to hit until you are used to it. Manual shifts are crisper and faster, especially after adding a full grounding kit. Also, at 6050-6100, you have just surpassed the max HP (at which point the HP drops quickly), and shifting then drops you right back into the high-end of the engine's TQ band. Much like a 6MT does. My own (and timed by my son) observations are that pure CVT mode is NOT the fastest way to drive the car. It never operates the engine at max HP or max TQ but settles for something somewhere in between. If that were indeed optimum, then the CVT should be faster than the MT (after the MT's initial better line launch), but I think we all know it isn't.

[Hussain]

leaving it in "D" is faster then manual mode.... its been proven by several members at the track...

[Ferguson]

I am aware that many have said so. Just stating that we've tried it, at various levels of tune, and have always found manual mode to be ever so slightly quicker. Not by much, mind you. My latest test was about .15 second to 75 MPH (120 km/h), done over several runs. If it was normal human error, you'd expect it to go the other way some times, but it hasn't. Maybe it's the car setup and tune, maybe the alignment of the planets on the days we test - I don't know! Hussain, I'm not going to refute your drag strip results, and you've got lots of experience there, but that's also not where I test, or drive... all I know is where I run my car.

[dom_cull]

i just took the car out and used it in manual mode and it seemed to be much quicker then just leaving it in "D"

[Hussain]

ya i'm not trying to argue, im just saying thats what some members have said but to be honest, CVT sort of has a mind of its own and thats why they cant dyno it... even in manual mode it changes from time to time which is why the numbers are so inconsistent... so maybe some cars like manual mode better? idk either....

[milkacaduke]

i've been wondering this question like forever and i ran a few tests alone and also with my friend's 2.5. im a 2.5 btw

these are just results of the tests, not saying that its a fact.

pure manual < pure CVT < manual+CVT

manual+CVT is something like manual 1-2 gear at like 5k+rpm and CVTbut again, these are just random tests, alot of factors are involved so...

there's one more way i tried CVT 1-3rd and at 3rd+ manual at high rpm << its mainly for exhaust sounds, not sure is it actually faster or not lol

but again, i wonder the same thing as everyone and my tests could be completely off its not professional tests

[Northernstar]

In manual mode, you can just floor it and let the car shift by itself, if you like. I don't. I prefer to shift at about 6050-6100 RPM, roughly 100-150 RPM sooner, which can be a tough target to hit until you are used to it. Manual shifts are crisper and faster, especially after adding a full grounding kit. Also, at 6050-6100, you have just surpassed the max HP (at which point the HP drops quickly), and shifting then drops you right back into the high-end of the engine's TQ band. Much like a 6MT does. My own (and timed by my son) observations are that pure CVT mode is NOT the fastest way to drive the car. It never operates the engine at max HP or max TQ but settles for something somewhere in between. If that were indeed optimum, then the CVT should be faster than the MT (after the MT's initial better line launch), but I think we all know it isn't.

Hi, sorry just one quick question, what is a grounding kit and what does it do?? never heard of it before

[Ferguson]

Hussain, I'm not arguing either, and we aren't comparing the same speed range either. You are talking quarter mile and my tests have all been from 0-75 MPH. It's possible we are both right! LOL

Hi, sorry just one quick question, what is a grounding kit and what does it do?? never heard of it before

A grounding kit consists of several heavy gauge cables (mine are 4 gauge) that connect various electrical systems directly to the battery ground, rather than relying on the chassis ground. The theory is that direct grounding improves the performance of several items, like on-board computers, stereos, sensing and control electronics, etc.

Here is a thread by the maker: zer...age=1

Mine was installed by my son in less than an hour and there was definitely a difference.

[Hussain]

i've been wondering this question like forever and i ran a few tests alone and also with my friend's 2.5. im a 2.5 btw

these are just results of the tests, not saying that its a fact.

pure manual < pure CVT < manual+CVT

manual+CVT is something like manual 1-2 gear at like 5k+rpm and CVTbut again, these are just random tests, alot of factors are involved so...

there's one more way i tried CVT 1-3rd and at 3rd+ manual at high rpm << its mainly for exhaust sounds, not sure is it actually faster or not lol

but again, i wonder the same thing as everyone and my tests could be completely off its not professional tests

what i usually do from a roll and it would probably work from a stop too is floor the gas all the way down in manual mode and at about 4k RPMs put it back in "D" but keep your foot all the way down on the gas the whole time.... its been a while since i tested it so i forgot exactly what RPM but theres a sweet spot around 4k RPM where it will just shoot up to redline and sit there... if you do it from say 3,000 RPM it will just go from 3k but if you do it too late it will sort of shift into the next gear when it goes to "D" but if you can hit the sweet spot the RPMs will shoot to redline.....

[DAAN.]

H man, I wonder : shoots to redline due to the 'sweet spot' = stresses transmission due to inferior gear + overworks engine

[theboydiddy]

to me i get a better torque. . .everytime i try to leave from a start on cvt mode i get a better start, also whenever im bout to race, i feel like i get a better control of it, specially down shifting steppin on the gas, then up shifting. i leve all the whack a** scions, civics and even g30s behind...BELIEVE ME!!! it has been done mny times.

[dom_cull]

do you have a 3.5 or 2.5?

[c46]

Sorry if this is thread-jacking. But since we were talking about Grounding Kits in the previous posts...

Does Grounding Kit void warranty? Has anyone had any experience taking a car with a Grounding Kit to a dealer for service?

[theboydiddy]

i go[QUOTE=dom_cull]do you have a 3.5 or 2.5?[/QUOTE

i got the 3.5

[Sentientbydesign]

Sorry if this is thread-jacking. But since we were talking about Grounding Kits in the previous posts...

Does Grounding Kit void warranty? Has anyone had any experience taking a car with a Grounding Kit to a dealer for service?

Like any other mod, it SHOULD not void your warranty. In fact, my G35 was at the dealer for a replacement engine (oil consumption issue) and the dealership actually reinstalled my grounding kit (incorrectly, but w/e).

Feel free to email me or start a new thread (and let me know) and I'll be happy to answer any other questions.

Back on topic. It's possible that the electronic logic used when in manual mode is to shift for performance instead of fuel economy. The real benefit I see, it just being able to utilize your entire powerband. No different that in a traditional automatic that shifts early (unless you're flooring it).

[IBCoupe]

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but in my informal shade tree testing, I found no benefit to using that over leaving it in drive.

Twisty roads maybe? I dunno - I live in a desert so my test was more straight line performance.

If you live anywhere where there's snow, you'd figure it out right quick.