--- Who actually uses the tiprtonic ?? ---

[trautotuning]

For changing gears?

I would think that it would actually help since you can upshift at lower rpms but Im just seeing who keeps it in full automatic and who actually uses the "manual" shifting and if it has improved your FE.


----------------------EDIT-------------------------------------------------

Another thing i just noticed! (Man I love this car...)

When I take my foot off the gas pedal quickly, on any speed and any gear below 40mph-ish, the tranny seems to go back into neutral... !

It drops just a tad bit above idling, but that means I can coast really far with no extra gas (making PandG possible!... but I still do not do it I think its a little harsh on the engine).

Anyway just letting yall know.

[theholycow]

I don't think many users here are equipped with tiptronic or other similar interfaces.

I would certainly use it if I had it.

[Karishnikov]

My wife's Passat has the tiptronic, and whenever I use it, I always upshift before it reaches 2000 rpm. Has a positive effect on FE.

[trautotuning]

Just to shed some light on the topic...

I have been "manually" shifting in my 2007 Mazda 6 and the good thing is that I can always shift at 1,900rpm; unlike the computer which shifts it at around 2,300 or even higher like 2,600 sometimes.

Also, the computer never puts it down in 5th gear when cruising at 30-35mph. But it will let me if I manually shift it causing the rpms to drop to near 1,000rpms while going 35mph.

Also, on steep slopes, I can start in 2nd. (I dont do this in flat ground though since it takes more time to accelerate an thus more time to get up to speed and thus wastes more fuel).

[Hoopster]

Originally Posted by trautotuning

On steep slopes, I can start in 2nd. (I dont do this in flat ground though since it takes more time to accelerate an thus more time to get up to speed and thus wastes more fuel).

I used to do this with my Mazda3 (2.3L) on flat ground and it worked great. I still couldn't get better than 29mpg highway so I'm happier overall with the Hyundai elantra.

[Lug_Nut]

My new (to me) Passat TDI has the tip. Not as useful as I had hoped. The engine and transmission electronic 'brains' limit the options available. In full auto they have total control. In 'manual' they maintain "veto" powers over the driver's request.
Full auto will not shift into 5th until 42 mph (speed controlled, not engine load controlled) and will drop back to 4th, absolutely without regard for accelerator pedal position or coasting or downhill conditions, at 40 mph.
It's not as if the engine doesn't have enough grunt. It's at 1500 rpm and well up into the diesel's torque curve, so "lugging" isn't the concern.
'Manual' will not permit activating 5th until 40 mph under any conditions I've yet tried, and will drop back to 4th, without driver selection, if speed drops back below 40. Once my request for 5th has been over-ruled the trans remains in 4th forever or until the speed is once again back above 40and I additionally submit yet another request to please let me have 5th again.
Pretty please?
Pretty please with ice cream?
Oh, come on damnit! I'm almost coasting, here! Gimme 5th!

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by Lug_Nut

It's at 1500 rpm and well up into the diesel's torque curve, so "lugging" isn't the concern.

Is it even possible to truly lug a diesel? I'm pretty sure that lugging is when excessive load causes huge amounts of detonation.

Oh, come on damnit! I'm almost coasting, here! Gimme 5th!

Perhaps it can be adjusted with Vag-Com?

[Lug_Nut]

Originally Posted by theholycow

Is it even possible to truly lug a diesel? I'm pretty sure that lugging is when excessive load causes huge amounts of detonation.
Perhaps it can be adjusted with Vag-Com?

My screen name might give you a clue as to my own opinion on diesel low rpm / high load operation.
I need to perform some phrenology on the car's brains before I start diddling around. I don't want to jump in before knowing what I want to do and how to accomplish those goals. My prior diesels had at most two controllers, one for engine, one for air bags. This one has about 8 and most are inter-related. I would rather be cautious than impatient.
I have the Vag-Com (now renamed VC something something) and the most recent updates, but without any service / diagnosis documentation (awaiting delivery of the ELSA service package I ordered) I'm content with leaving the car as it is for now.

[swng]

In the case of my 2004 MB E320 4-Matic, it only shifts to the 5th gear at or above 65 kmph (around 40 mph), so I often have to use the manual mode to up-shift (to the 5th gear) at 55-60 kmph (around 33.5-37 mph). I think it should help improve FE.

[trautotuning]

Hmmm that weird mine is RPM dependant, not MPH dependant (until about 15mph where it drops to 3rd from 5th or 4th and 5mph into 1st)

Heres the min values at which I can shift;

2nd- Any RPM, you can even start in 2nd instead of 1st.
3rd- 1,800ish RPM's.
4th- 1,900ish RPM's.
5th - 1,600ish RPM's.

So as you can see I can be doing 20mph and still in 5th I LOVE IT! And the shifts are almost instantenious not like other Tiptronics...

Anyway I suppose it depends on how every car is programed but nontheless tuning should be available with like the VAG-COM or such for other cars... ??