the weather's effect on performance
 

so I just bought my '99 SE auto a couple months ago. it's been mostly hot and humid since I've owned it. 2 weeks ago it finally started to cool/dry off a little in Chicago, and I noticed a huge difference in performace - more responsive power between 2k and 4k RPM, smoother shifts, more predictable downshifts from 2nd to 1st, improvement in MPG, etc. I thought it was the shell V-Power gas I've been pumping working it's magic.

Now today its warmer and much more humid again - and the car runs like it did 3 weeks ago.

I know that all other things being equal, cooler air will yield more power - but why would that affect the tranny?

Also, it seems that the advanced ECM in these cars would compensate the A/F ratio to provide the same performance during hot humid weather.

What do you guys in humid climates do? are your cars just always sluggish, or do I have a problem?

car has 73K miles. TB and injectors were cleaned 10k ago. no codes.

What you are noticing is entirely normal.

You are fine. You can feel the effects more when you have a S/C. Tues nite, when it was cool, my car was quicker than yesterday on the dyno.
Steve

thanks for the replies you guys.

different subject - do you know anyone in the Chicago area that has illuminas with stock SE springs?? I'm really close to swapping out my struts to get rid of the harsh ride, but I'd like to ride along with someone who has illuminas before I drop over $700 on the parts/install/alignment just to find out they are just as harsh as my stock struts. I'd buy a case of their favorite beer for anyone that would let me ride along for a few miles and test out the ride quality.

Nick does - but I think he's on his way to HI :chuckle:

Show up to the barbecue this Saturday and ask...

bbq? where?

who's nick?

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=429461

His org name is nick... local guy.

We run at the track and dyno in the winter. It is still very humid, but at least it is cooler. It sucks right now b/c you almost have to run A/C and then on top of that it is extremely hot and humid and my Maxima does not like it. I want it to be cooler.

Its at Busse Woods in Schaumburg. http://f.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=429461

cool. I didn't even know there was a regional forum. I'll try to be there!

awesome im showing up too... what is everybody bringing to eat/drink?

You HAVE to love PR-CAI in the Winter. Yes sir the civics are going to be scared when the tranny comes out at 6.5K.

All the intake arguers should make dynos at each season to see the differences. I am pretty sure a PR-CAI will top all when it is 20F outside :) .

Mine does it too. Same exaCT THING

cold air going into your intake = more power....thats why people like cold air intakes. thats also why some drag strips are open late at night

man when its that cold out, i dont think it will matter. More in the summer to keep it away from engine heat, after 20 mph the air is sucked out from under the hood anyways.

for some reason my engine makes a lot of noise in the winter during acceleration, even at very low RPM. what can that be? is that normal?

good call....cooler more dense air is great......boosted cars beneifit even more from cold air

ive noticed now that the weather is cooling off my AM ride to work is much more enjoyable

^^^pics of signature mentioned R32 GTS-t