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Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

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Old Sep 28, 2002 | 07:00 AM
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Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

I was messing around the highway (no cars) with a GSR yesturday
and I've learned few things.
when you race on a roll, take your o/d off (so you go on 3rd) then shift to 2nd.
call for the launch and stomp the gas, then to 3rd at redline
now, it won't go over 4rpm, so before it reaches there, turn your o/d off and WOOHOOO~~ rpm keeps rising!!
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 07:01 AM
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what...
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 08:04 AM
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yeah took me a bit to figure it out..... If i floor the accelerator, mine always shifts right before redline..... I must be special
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 08:05 AM
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same w/me .....gas it slowly off the line so you dont spin too much, then when your off smash it, and it goes all the way to red for me in each gear
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 08:07 AM
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thats wierd.. i just leave mine in gear and stomp the gas and it goes to redline all the time i dn't have to push any buttons or anything thats wierd
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 08:31 AM
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Re: Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

Originally posted by Sexima
I was messing around the highway (no cars) with a GSR yesturday
and I've learned few things.
when you race on a roll, take your o/d off (so you go on 3rd) then shift to 2nd.
call for the launch and stomp the gas, then to 3rd at redline
now, it won't go over 4rpm, so before it reaches there, turn your o/d off and WOOHOOO~~ rpm keeps rising!!
Hmmmm my automatic always shifts at 6K RPMs with no problem. At the 1/4 mile track I use my left foot to press down the brake pedal and use my right foot to hold the RPMs at 2k and then launch it. I just floor it after that and the RPMs goto 6K with no problem shifting. My best 1/4 mile times have been using this method (16.0 1/4 mile with no mods), I tried several other methods of shifting (IE using the O/D off button = 16.2 1/4 mile made no difference with or without it the car doesnt have the chance to reach 4th gear anyway, shifting from 2nd to drive = 16.5 1/4 mile, and shifting from 2nd to drive with the O/D off = 17.1 1/4 mile I screwed up the launch so that time was really bad my 60' was 3.4 seconds) none of these seem to get the same times nor are they as consistant. Also I wouldnt mess with the auto tranny by trying all these shift techniques just let it do the job for you, thats what it was built for.
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 08:33 AM
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Re: Re: Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

wow those are pretty crappy times even for a stock auto..... is the track elevated?..... stock i ran a 15.6.... and a certain someone ran a 15.2 on the board =)....
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 08:46 AM
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Re: Re: Re: Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

Originally posted by seximagtr
wow those are pretty crappy times even for a stock auto..... is the track elevated?..... stock i ran a 15.6.... and a certain someone ran a 15.2 on the board =)....
Its Epping in NH which I think is about a 1000 feet above sea level. Also your car is a GXE which is lighter than mine, FYI the 15" GXE rims alone give you about a 100 pound unsprung weight advantage. Also is your car auto or 5 spd? that makes a big difference. I know of someone who ran a 16.5 with mods on there automatic 4th gen SE but they had 18" rims on there car. So it can really very alot depending on the year and the trim of the Maxima.
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 08:49 AM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

97 GXE riding on 24 lb 17's =) usual bolts ons i guees
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 08:52 AM
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Mine shifts at redline too. No problem with that.
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 08:59 AM
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Re: Re: Re: Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

Originally posted by seximagtr
wow those are pretty crappy times even for a stock auto..... is the track elevated?..... stock i ran a 15.6.... and a certain someone ran a 15.2 on the board =)....
I would like to point out that my best time (5 spd. stock at the time) is a 15.9, and I have a 5 speed. But there is a point that you're missing and that point is, mine and 98SEBlackMax's cars are the SE model, which are slightly heavier than your GXE. And for the record, the 15.2 stock time that you're talking about (if I remember correctly) was a 5 speed, not an auto.

Probably best to look at all the facts before calling someone out on their crappy times...
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 08:59 AM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

Originally posted by seximagtr
97 GXE riding on 24 lb 17's =) usual bolts ons i guees
Now I am confused. Were you running with the 17s and the "usual" bolt ons when you made this 15.6 1/4 mile? Or were you truly stock when you made this run? Also is it an Auto or a Manual?
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 09:02 AM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

the 15.6 was with my 17's and my pop charger... nothing else....

the 15.2 was stock AUTO time..... one of the moderators i believe....

deezo ran a 15.4 stock too =)
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 09:04 AM
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Re: Re: Re: Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

Originally posted by seximagtr
and a certain someone ran a 15.2 on the board =)....
If you are talking about Ben (mzmtg), technically he was not stock - he had an OSCAI.
-Cyrus
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 09:04 AM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

oh.... yeah it's him =)
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 09:06 AM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

Originally posted by seximagtr
oh.... yeah it's him =)
Nope, not stock, K&N panel filter and OSCAI...

...I'm going to put the paper filter in and block the OSCAI and see if it makes a difference next week.

My car shifts at almost redline any time I floor it. No fancy lever manipulation or button abuse needed.
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 09:23 AM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

do you recall what rpm you launched it at? Did you feather the throttle or just hold it down outta the hole?



jeez with the mods i have, you'd be in 14's
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 09:44 AM
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Originally posted by SprintMax
thats wierd.. i just leave mine in gear and stomp the gas and it goes to redline all the time i dn't have to push any buttons or anything thats wierd
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 10:20 AM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

Originally posted by seximagtr
do you recall what rpm you launched it at? Did you feather the throttle or just hold it down outta the hole?



jeez with the mods i have, you'd be in 14's
Well If I had a 95~97 GXE 5 Spd I would run in the mid to low 15s stock. I just like the looks of the SE better so thats why I bought it.

When I launch I go at 1500~2000 RPMs while holding the brake down, works every time. My launches are almost identical every time and there is almost no wheel spin. After I break out of the gate I just floor it and the auto tranny does the rest for me. There isnt a whole lot of challenge in driving an automatic max, I think ive reached the best ETs that I can get with my car because all of my latest times are almost indetical; with little or no variation.

Also you need to understand that there are differences within the 4th gen line-up. 95~97 GXEs auto or manual are always gonna run the fastest stock, period. Before you insult someone's 1/4 mile time you should first look at what year, trim, and mods they have before making any comments. The only reason I mentioned my ETs was to show that there is no need for any shifting and/or O/D button pressing to yield better 1/4 mile times, I tried several shift methods but I found if you leave it in drive with the O/D on it works best.

My $ 0.02
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 10:50 AM
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uh...what?

You really shouldn't turn the O/D on/off while moving above 10 mph, preferably not while moving at all.
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 10:50 AM
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There's nothing special about the GXE over the SE. The only weight differences will be how you're car is optioned out. A 95 SE with no power moonroof, power seats, or ABS will weigh just as much as a 95 GXE. A moonroof adds about 20lbs, power seats ~8 lbs each, ABS ~10lbs, spoiler ~8 lbs. So you're looking at a difference of 54lbs between a fully loaded SE vs a barebones GXE. On a Maxima, 54 lbs won't really do anything in terms of performance. The 97-99s SEs came with slightly heavier rims which negatively affected performance, IMO.


Dave
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 11:24 AM
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that's what i was trying to say, but even the 16 alloys shouldnt make such a big difference.... sounds like you have some issues with your car bro




P.S. I wasn't insulting, if it came out that way... It's just that your car should be running faster.
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 11:26 AM
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Originally posted by Dave B
There's nothing special about the GXE over the SE. The only weight differences will be how you're car is optioned out. A 95 SE with no power moonroof, power seats, or ABS will weigh just as much as a 95 GXE. A moonroof adds about 20lbs, power seats ~8 lbs each, ABS ~10lbs, spoiler ~8 lbs. So you're looking at a difference of 54lbs between a fully loaded SE vs a barebones GXE. On a Maxima, 54 lbs won't really do anything in terms of performance. The 97-99s SEs came with slightly heavier rims which negatively affected performance, IMO.


Dave
Well anyway Im talking more about the model years more than the trim, it averages somewhere out to .3~.5 secs difference on the 1/4 mile times for 95~97s than it does for the 98~99s. The trim has some effect but it isnt drastic.
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 11:38 AM
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not necessarily....... the 95 had a slight horsepower difference due to less emissions restrictions on the exhaust... That's it... otherwise the 95-99 is basically the same power wise.
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 12:41 PM
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Whats Red Line?
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 12:47 PM
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Dude. cmon!!! don't telll me that you don't know what the red line is.
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 12:50 PM
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Originally posted by optimus310
Dude. cmon!!! don't telll me that you don't know what the red line is.
Newbies, they just don't get it.
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 01:06 PM
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Originally posted by njmaxseltd

Newbies, they just don't get it.
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 01:54 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

Originally posted by seximagtr
wow those are pretty crappy times even for a stock auto..... is the track elevated?..... stock i ran a 15.6.... and a certain someone ran a 15.2 on the board =)....
Man really i went to the track for the first time last night and i had runs about 16.62 and then 16.68 then 16.72 then 16.88 i keep getting worse times everytime i run it. the first run i turned overdrive off the second one i left it on the fourth run i started with overdrive on and turned it off to shift to the fourth gear and had the worst time. what made me so confused is that the 4th run i was racing i think the recent generation of the rx-7 all candied out and i smoked him terribly, i knew he killed his engine or something cuz he got a 20 second quarter time. I was running with a place racing cold air intake my max is a 99 gxe cali spec. How can i get better times without putting on more mods?
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 05:20 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Figured out WHY our autos don't go past 4rpm at tracks

Originally posted by 99maximagxe
Man really i went to the track for the first time last night and i had runs about 16.62 and then 16.68 then 16.72 then 16.88 i keep getting worse times everytime i run it. the first run i turned overdrive off the second one i left it on the fourth run i started with overdrive on and turned it off to shift to the fourth gear and had the worst time. what made me so confused is that the 4th run i was racing i think the recent generation of the rx-7 all candied out and i smoked him terribly, i knew he killed his engine or something cuz he got a 20 second quarter time. I was running with a place racing cold air intake my max is a 99 gxe cali spec. How can i get better times without putting on more mods?
Well for starters you are gonna get worse times as the day continues, all of the times Ive quarter-miled the first run of the night is the best one and from then on it gets slightly worse even as the ambient air gets cooler. I think the car gets heated up from each consecutive run causing an increase in 1/4 mile times.

In my opinion I would just leave it in Drive and forget using the O/D button or any other shifting method because its an automatic.

You can modify your radiator fans to manualy operate to help cool your car in the staging lanes and after the run. Also before and after the run leave the heat on maximum blast to help draw heat away from the engine. Im guessing you must of been running on a hot and/or humid day cause your 1/4 mile times seem high, but with some practice and cooler weather I'll bet you can bring them down.

You can also take stuff out of your car to reduce static weight (IE spare tire, jacks, tools, any aftermarket amps and/or speakers), also race when you have a 1/4 of a tank of gas or less. Dropping the pressure on your front tires can be helpful too (usually 25 PSI), I dont recomend it for everyone because with my luck I'll forget to reinflate them on the ride home. Well I hope this helps
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 05:59 PM
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Uh..........I ran 15.62 stock. 15.4.........I wish.

I never had problems with getting my auto to redline. Maybe your being soft with the VQ.
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 09:20 PM
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Yeah, the VQ...

Redlines for me whenever I put it to the floor
Old Sep 28, 2002 | 10:14 PM
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Makes sense

i think i had this problem too from the roll (not sure) but o/d is meant to save gas while driving long distance highway miles and when you drive at high rpm's, if my memory serves me correctly, u burn gas faster which leads to more gas usage. Shifting at 4k puts the least usage of gas per gear and i guess that's why u don't shift high....
Old Sep 29, 2002 | 08:06 AM
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Originally posted by Lime
uh...what?

You really shouldn't turn the O/D on/off while moving above 10 mph, preferably not while moving at all.
Why not? I've been doing it in my 91 and 98 Maximas as long as I've had them.
Old Sep 29, 2002 | 09:51 AM
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Originally posted by Pseudopods


Why not? I've been doing it in my 91 and 98 Maximas as long as I've had them.
heh
how many miles and how many transmissions have you replaced?
Old Sep 29, 2002 | 10:55 AM
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yeh dont mess with tranny it will come back to u
Old Sep 29, 2002 | 11:54 AM
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Originally posted by Lime


heh
how many miles and how many transmissions have you replaced?
91 SE Auto - 152,000 miles. Original tranny.

98 GLE Auto - 44,000 miles. Original tranny. (not many miles though)

Both cars still run as strong as the day I bought them. I never heard of not switching the O/D off while driving. Wouldn't it be just like downshifting?
Old Sep 29, 2002 | 12:47 PM
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then how the heck do you go down to 2nd without turning OD off?
when you are in 4th I mean..
Old Sep 29, 2002 | 12:59 PM
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Originally posted by Sexima
then how the heck do you go down to 2nd without turning OD off?
when you are in 4th I mean..
Woudln't it be like stepping on the gas, the car jumps down into 2nd. Or, I shift down into 2nd (from O/D).

I'm not being cantankerous here, just wondering why? I've done this in every car I've owned for the last 13 years, with no problems. It seems like it's easier on the trans to shift it down than to labor it in traffic or small hills and such.

Just wondering?
Old Sep 29, 2002 | 07:27 PM
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Originally posted by Pseudopods


Woudln't it be like stepping on the gas, the car jumps down into 2nd. Or, I shift down into 2nd (from O/D).

I'm not being cantankerous here, just wondering why? I've done this in every car I've owned for the last 13 years, with no problems. It seems like it's easier on the trans to shift it down than to labor it in traffic or small hills and such.

Just wondering?
I have no problems with my Max changing in each gear at the redline (6k) but I agree that is seems smarter in some traffic to turn off the O/D so the car stays in 1st 2nd and 3rd ONLY.It does not change into 4th gear at all. It can be changing to 4th and then back down to 2nd/3rd all the time when you are speeding up and slowing down, then cruising in heavy traffic.

I would really like to know if that is correct about NOT being a good idea to dis-engage O/D while moving...



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