I have a 1996 Maxima SE 5-speed. It is well maintained, it has 185k miles on it. I have owned it for seven years. I mostly drive on the freeways, at the speed limit (for Oregon) of 65mph.

I know that 5th gear is overdrive, and that 4th is direct drive (no gear reduction). On flat freeways I drive in 5th to save gas. Up gentle and moderate slopes I use 4th. For the steeper stretches, like mountain passes, I sometimes use 3rd gear.

I am 59 years old. I have been driving stick shift cars for over 20 years. Volvos, Porsche 924, and also the Nissan 4 cyl. Pickups 1984 and 1994. I am used to downshifting for more power, but also to keep the load off the bearings. Much like downshifting a 10 speed bicycle, downshifting is easier on the human, and the Nissan. Higher revs at less torque is less stressful.

My son learned to drive in the pickup trucks. He usually upshifts too early, and downshifts when the engine labors, if at all. When he drives my Maxima, he seldom downshifts to 4th. He says that the engine has "plenty of power". He cannot comprehend why I am concerned about bearing wear and abusing the engine.

My son wants to drive from Portland, Oregon to a music festival near Denver, Colorado. I will lend him my Maxima. I will not be with him. My concern is that he will encounter a lot of steeper hills, especially in Colorado. I want him to downshift when he should.

I have tried to explain why a car should be downshifted for 13 years now. Maybe I could show him some responses from other Maxima owners. Perhaps your opinions will carry more weight than dear old dad.

Honestly he's probably not going to do as you say when he leaves town, no matter what.

At 291,000 miles I keep mine in 5th on cruise control on hills, unless I'm passing.
Any added "stress" on the engine would be less detrimental than the extra RPM. Imagine 6 pistons and rods changing direction at every revolution, at 2500 RPM that would be 15,000. Now downshift to third and turn what, 3200RPM? That would be 19,200 direction changes per minute. Now imagine the Gforce inflicted upon the pistons and rods, and the load placed upon the main and rod bearings.

I think your son is on the right track, saving fuel and placing less stress on the engine. The only time I would downshift is when the RPM drops under 2K, or when I need to accelerate.

A good guide I gave my newb friends on driving the 5MT is this.

Multiply each gear by 10mph, that's when you should upshift.

When slowing down, stay in gear as long as possible.

If you did not come to a complete stop and you have to accelerate again, use the upshift schedule I told you, never use 1st unless you're at a complete stop.


It's honestly not the best, but it avoids confusion and lets me sleep instead of OMG IM GOING 25 WHAT GEAR SHOULD I BE IN?!?!?!?!

This is the VQ motor. Over square dimensions, most winningest motor on Wards auto world. Smooth as silk. When u hard charge up to redline in 3rd, 4th or 5th gear, you can hardly tell because you feel no vibration. You look at the tach and your like People drive their cars to 300, or even 400K miles with the original motor, just with basic maintenance to boot.

Not only that, there are guys on here putting cams on this very same motor and revving it to a ridonculous 7200 rpms....and the VQ handles it. Sure, longevity is reduced, but the fact that it can handle it at all says ALOT about the motor.

Hell, there's even a previous generation VG guy on here with a 700K miles original motor

Change your oil regularly and replace your anti-freeze every so often and this motor will just.....keep......going. Nissan builds motors.

you are overanalyzing and overboard with concern here. while he may not articulate it in a technical fashion, your son is right. the engine has plenty of power, and the notion that driving

you can lug this engine in 5th gear at 1500 rpm if you want. i do quite often and i have the oil analyses that prove this isn't a problem as far as wear goes. i drove a 200k mile maxima from chicago to vancouver and back without blinking an eye and i certainly didn't downshift at every incline like you are suggesting needs to be done. my oil analyses didn't change from before and after that trip (2 years ago now).

4th gear is not direct drive. it is .955:1

Exactly! Unless you can actively hear the engine bogging down (which like Nealoc said is below 1500 rpm) You are fine keeping it in 5th. This car 'does' have the power to handle hills without down shifting. I would be willing to argue that down shifting would technically cause more wear and tear as RMP's = wear.

Well.... I.......... appear to have been wrong...

My past has been like this... I started driving 1960s and early 1970s Chrysler products with the 318 engine and the old 3-speed automatics.
They had less horsepower than the Maxima does. About 150hp net. The transmissions would downshift on the hills and mountain passes. In some of the higher altitude mountains in Utah I would have to down shift from Drive to 2nd gear. Later on I had a 1982 Pontiac Firebird. It had a 305 cu
V-8 with a whole 135 hp and an automatic. Same story. gutless wonder. Downshift equals power. Then came the early 1970s Volvos. 115 hp 4 cyl and stick-shift. Adequate power only when down-shifted on hills. They would lug in top gear. (4th). Then a Porsche 924 a whole 95 hp. Great handling, but no power unless downshifted. Also the 1984 Nissan pickup. OK power, if downshifted on hills and some slopes. Then the 1994 Nissan pickup. More power.... this is my sons daily driver now.

I was used to the less powerful cars, and got used to downshifting to prevent engine damage. The Maxima is actually the most powerful car I have owned. There is no power loss due to in-efficient automatic transmissions. It appears that I have been over-cautious for several years now. I will still want to downshift on the major hills and passes. I will also enjoy 5th gear and full-time cruise control as much as possible Since I drive mostly on the freeways, I will enjoy not messing with the clutch most of the time.

Nealoc187, your oil analysis results combined with your driving habits convinced me. Your car has the some mileage as mine does.

Thank you all for your opinions.

Have you driven a Maxima automatic? Because of the abundance of low-end torque of its great V6, it may feel as if there's no power loss, but the 5MT will handily out-run the 4AT.

I was referring to the automatic transmissions in the older cars I used to drive. The Chrysler torqueflite My 64 dodge dart had pushbuttons...
my 68 dodge coronet, 1971 chevy vega, the one in the Firebird.

I have not driven the Maxima with an automatic. I am sure they are much better.

I like some of the older cars due to their simplicity. Yet the newer cars are better in so many other ways.

Time to go home and enjoy my 5th gear all the way home.....

This has got to be the best advice I have seen when trying to explain how to drive a stick (no homo).

Yea AAck mang, thats good advice. Ima use that the next time someone ask me about when to shift gears.

OP,

I agree 5th gear is to save gas. But on the VQ motor and the 5spd, honestly, if you maintain speed/gearing ratio you always have power. Sometimes Im cruising in 5th gear at 40mph just to save gas. If im being aggressive or following a buddy with more HP than me I will keep it in 3rd just to make sure I have POWAH lol. But honestly, with this motor, your son is driving fine. Takes ALOT to kill this motor...im talking YEARS of neglect, abuse, and bad gas.

A lil OT but, the 4th gens IMO has the best gear ratios I have driven in.

I remember test driving a Mazda 6 4 cyl 5spd and the gear ratios were all wrong. Only first gear had power.

I test drove a g35 with 6spd and 6th gear was useless except for the highway. I liked the power but the gear ratios were off.

The best 4cyl 5spd I have driven is a altima. Accord would be the next best. more like 1a and 1b. Both cars fun as hell to drive

you are being overprotective... I hauled my future in laws and my gf from Ohio to New your passing thru PA and WV... the car was completely loaded... I could barely close the trunk and had 4 people in it... cruise set at 70mph going up the and down the hill the VQ barely had anything to say... in 5th gear for hours at the time... her dad was actually impressed that the engine was so quiet and I never had to downshift b/c of the hills... His is driving a passat 1.9tdi manual... the VQ has plenty on power to cope with what ever you trow at it... don't worry your maxima will be fine... mine has 207K on the original 5 speed tranny and still rocking the oem clutch as well... and yes if I want to be jerk i can make her scratch tires up to 3rd...
Just tell him to use premium gas only and the maxi will be fine..

I was going to say poor maxima and don't let him drive but these are some pretty good guidelines. If something still goes wrong, that's why they make automatics.

That will ensure some damn good granny driving!

In normal driving I normally up shift from 3rd to 5th around 40mph. Your son will be fine driving in 5th gear mostly.

If you wanted an accurate gauge of the engine load you could install a vacuum gauge on the car and then try to maintain a certian engine load.