Can D Mode cause long term engine damage?

[Zoza]

Disclaimer: I wasn't sure whether this post belonged to the DSG thread and if so, please move it.

As the thread title says, everytime I drive in D mode I can't help but feel that I'm doing some long term engine damage by driving it underpowered.

Hitting 6th gear at 60km/hr sitting at ~1300-~1500 rpm just doesn't feel right.

For the first 1000km I've driven in a combination of S/Manual mode to avoid this issue. Even the manual mentions not to drive the engine underpowered during the run-in period, yet they go and put stupid programming on D mode.

[Tim]

during the run in period you want to put load on the engine moreso than revs. D would probably be better suited than S
If the car is shifting up to 6th I would think that you arent applying any throttle so I dont think you will be causing any issue.

At the end of the day what you want to do is use the throttle. Dont baby it. But dont over rev it.

[Corey_R]

What Tim said.
During run in period you obviously want to vary the load and the revs. To be honest, with these modern cars, it seems like the "run in" ideals are changing to some form of "wait until the oil is at running temps, and then drive it like you stole it" - as early as possible in its life.

As for once you're past the run in period, no, 6th gear at 60km/h at 1300rpm is fine. As soon as the load exceeds what is safe for those revs/speed, the DSG will drop down. If you actually have an appropriate amount of throttle, the shift-down will be almost seamless (if your throttle load is too low during a shift down, there is a ~800ms "gap" in power delivery).

[Zoza]

I'd have to say I subscribe to the "wait until the oil is at running temps, and then drive it like it was designed to be driven" method.
I've done it with my WRX and HSV and owned both cars past 50,000 k's without any issues, so it must work

The only downside with this car is such a high fuel consumption for a 2.0L engine.

I've been trying to stick with D mode over the last few days, but I always find myself downshifting to get into that 2-2.5k rpm range.

[FJ Steve]

I'd have to say I subscribe to the "wait until the oil is at running temps, and then drive it like it was designed to be driven" method.
I've done it with my WRX and HSV and owned both cars past 50,000 k's without any issues, so it must work

I wouldn't put 50k kms as a benchmark. In fact....the value of a correct run in process will be realised at 3x (or more) that mileage.

[Zoza]

I wouldn't put 50k kms as a benchmark. In fact....the value of a correct run in process will be realised at 3x (or more) that mileage.

I've never owned a car with that many miles on it... My usual turnaround for cars is always around ~3 years even though I tell myself (or get told by the wife) that this is it, I'm keeping this car until it breaks down.

[DreamensioN]

FWIW, in 2001 when I got the 200SX, I didn't "baby" the engine, but I didn't go over 5000rpm for the first 1000km. And I did vary the load (both acceleration, and engine breaking). After the first 1000km I then started to drive it a bit harder - that said I didn't see my first rev-limiter until 5000km in. It took about 2-3 months to get to 5000km.

I've now got 160,000km on the dial, and the car still makes almost 200rwKW, with no sign of any problems whatsoever.

[FJ Steve]

I've never owned a car with that many miles on it... My usual turnaround for cars is always around ~3 years even though I tell myself (or get told by the wife) that this is it, I'm keeping this car until it breaks down.

fair enough. But what you're now saying is that you have no real proof that your particular run in style is successful or not (and I'm not saying it isn't). Just that you need to have the runs on the board (or kms on the clock) to back your statement up.

We had a Mazda6 (owned from new) which I put 290,00kms on it. No engine rebuild, only timing belts changed at the prescribed 100k kms intervals. Normal services etc. I reckon that speaks for my run in style. Vary the rpm, vary the load, always increasing both with distance.

So to answer your first post in this thread....I don't believe that driving the vehicle in "D" mode will cause harm to it (provided you continue to vary the revs and the load)

[Ryan_R]

Or just push the gear selector to the left and drive in manual mode (using the shifter or paddles to change up/down). If you slow down too much or stop it'll downshift for you.

[Leon]

I've now got 160,000km on the dial, and the car still makes almost 200rwKW, with no sign of any problems whatsoever.

That's a pretty impressive result considering that's basically what they came from the factory with. I'm guessing you've serviced it extremely regularly, which always helps.

Out of curiosity, any mods to it at all? Or is the engine still as the Gods of Nissan intended it?

[Zoza]

That's correct. I have no real proof that my run in style is successful. But there is no real proof that suggests otherwise.
Its one of those things that seem to be highly subjective.
Its in the same basket as idling your engine for a period of time to "warm it up" before you drive it.

I've now got 160,000km on the dial, and the car still makes almost 200rwKW, with no sign of any problems whatsoever.

Current: Nissan S15 200SX (too many mods to list)| 197rwKW

Perhaps the parts that were to fail were replaced already?!

[Zoza]

Or just push the gear selector to the left and drive in manual mode (using the shifter or paddles to change up/down). If you slow down too much or stop it'll downshift for you.

Ryan, I would do that, but then fuel consumption ends up being 14-15L+... Mind you I've even managed 20L/100km for a short period of time (3-4km)... Thats how much my 6.0L V8 used to drink

[DreamensioN]

That's a pretty impressive result considering that's basically what they came from the factory with. I'm guessing you've serviced it extremely regularly, which always helps.

Out of curiosity, any mods to it at all? Or is the engine still as the Gods of Nissan intended it?

Perhaps the parts that were to fail were replaced already?!

Haha.... I could see that coming.

The 200SX made 147kw at the flywheel when new. Mine now make 197kw at the wheels. But the engine block is still 100% factory original. I've only done bolt on mods (intercooler, suspension, exhaust, cold air intake, ECU, boost controller, injectors, cams). Everything from the valve springs down to the oil sump is still Nissan original.

[Leon]

Thanks for pointing that out Zoza -- I should know to read the signature before asking stupid questions...

[Brian916]

One thing I've noticed with the DSG is how eager it is to change up on gentle throttle openings. From idle, it's only in 1st for the first 2 - 5 meters of driving before it changes to 2nd, and maybe 50m further for 3rd, 4th, and often within 80m of starting gently, I'm in 6th at 60kmh

As I'm new to the DSG thing, is that normal? The Polo GTi I tested was far less eager to change up.

Put them into the 's' setting, and then it holds gear for ages or changes at around 3k rpm. Just in 'd' it seems to be in a 'super economy' mode.

Mind you, the engine doesn't seem to labour at all doin that either. Maybe I need to put my foot down more!