question about normal/sport mode
#1
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question about normal/sport mode
Hi,
I just traded in my 14 IS 350 for 13 GS 350. In my IS, while i'm driving at any speed and change mode from Normal to Sport, i can see the RPM change higher instantaneously. But in 13 GS 350, nothing happens in RPM gauge. Is the 6 and 8 transmission different here ?
Mike
I just traded in my 14 IS 350 for 13 GS 350. In my IS, while i'm driving at any speed and change mode from Normal to Sport, i can see the RPM change higher instantaneously. But in 13 GS 350, nothing happens in RPM gauge. Is the 6 and 8 transmission different here ?
Mike
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So we can tell the difference (by RPM gauge) that the Sport mode hold lower gear(higher RPM) compared to Normal mode in 14's but not in 13's
thanks
Mike
thanks
Mike
#4
Lexus Test Driver
That is incorrect. In all years, and regardless of 6-speed or 8-speed, the Sport drive mode(s) holds the upshifts until higher RPMs.
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So while we are driving in Normal and switch to Sport mode, nothing happens in RPM gauge( i mean the needle on RPM gauge doesn't change(supposedly, jump higher), something is not right?
thanks
Mike
thanks
Mike
#6
Lexus Test Driver
What happens to the engine and transmission parameters when you change the drive mode to Sport is the engine's fuel and ignition mapping changes to increase the engine's 'tune' performance in less than WOT conditions, and when the transmission is in the full automatic (i.e. Drive in lieu of Manual) the transmission holds the various gears longer (under less than WOT conditions) and upshifts at higher RPMs so the engine is more in the peak band for torque and horsepower compared to if the drive mode is in Normal or ECO. All that said, if you go WOT (regardless of drive mode) the engine and transmission will perform at peak parameters...
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That's not what i saw in my 2014 IS 350. Whenever i switch to Sport mode, i can see higher RPM right away. Anyway, If GS 350 RPM don't change while switching mode, i'll move on :-). Thanks BCLexus for clearing all my confusions
thanks
Mike
thanks
Mike
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#8
Lexus Test Driver
In the IS 350 when you went to Sport drive mode (assumed while traveling at a constant speed); you say the RPMs jumped higher right away. Why did that happen? Did the transmission shift gears for some reason? For what reason did the RPMs jump higher? There is no logic (transmission shift, engine valve timing, fuel mapping, ignition mapping) for that action to have happened unless you were under load (e.g. accelerating). Can you explain it? Thanks!
Last edited by bclexus; 03-29-15 at 06:57 PM.
#9
Driver School Candidate
Perhaps the ECU on the IS is just tuned differently than the GS to encourage a downshift in sport mode. I had an Acura TL and when I went in to sport mode under the same throttle position / cruising speed it would always downshift if I was in 4th gear or higher to begin with. If I was in 2nd or 3rd and then put it in sport mode it wouldnt downshift.
I was hoping the GS would downshift the same as the TL but it doesnt seem to do that, instead I just downshift via the paddles. One could argue the IS is a car that might attract a more sporty / younger crowd and they are looking for that downshift in sport mode while the GS's target market is probably 10-20 years older and might not want that downshift and instead wants a smoother transition in to sport mode.
I was hoping the GS would downshift the same as the TL but it doesnt seem to do that, instead I just downshift via the paddles. One could argue the IS is a car that might attract a more sporty / younger crowd and they are looking for that downshift in sport mode while the GS's target market is probably 10-20 years older and might not want that downshift and instead wants a smoother transition in to sport mode.
#10
The only time I see the RPMs rise just by hitting Normal/S/S+ mode is when it's cold and the engine has not yet warmed up fully. ECO mode lowers the RPMs by a few hundred at idle.
#11
I think the OP is confusing sport mode with manual shift "sport mode". I came from an is350 and the RPMs do not change if you hit the sport switch, it's only the throttle and transmission mapping that are altered. But if you are in a gear above fourth and you put it into manual shift mode the transmission will downshift to fourth thus increasing the RPMs. I believe the gs350 works the same way. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
#12
Lexus Test Driver
In the GS, the manual shift mode works as a top gear limiter. If you're at highway speeds in 6th, that's where you'll be when you slap the shifter over to manual. You have to start paddling or manually throwing the stick to downshift.
I tend to leave it alone unless I'm coming up on a sharp turn at speed and want to push it. I've had a few times where I've had it in that mode and left it in 4th and floored it...and it wouldn't downshift to give me more power. "Oh, you wanted 4th, well that's what you get".
The crazy part, (and don't try this at home), is just how fast you can go in each gear before it pegs the rev limiter. I heard from a friend it's geared pretty tall in the 6th speed.
I tend to leave it alone unless I'm coming up on a sharp turn at speed and want to push it. I've had a few times where I've had it in that mode and left it in 4th and floored it...and it wouldn't downshift to give me more power. "Oh, you wanted 4th, well that's what you get".
The crazy part, (and don't try this at home), is just how fast you can go in each gear before it pegs the rev limiter. I heard from a friend it's geared pretty tall in the 6th speed.
#13
Lexus Test Driver
In the GS, the manual shift mode works as a top gear limiter. If you're at highway speeds in 6th, that's where you'll be when you slap the shifter over to manual. You have to start paddling or manually throwing the stick to downshift.
I tend to leave it alone unless I'm coming up on a sharp turn at speed and want to push it. I've had a few times where I've had it in that mode and left it in 4th and floored it...and it wouldn't downshift to give me more power. "Oh, you wanted 4th, well that's what you get".
The crazy part, (and don't try this at home), is just how fast you can go in each gear before it pegs the rev limiter. I heard from a friend it's geared pretty tall in the 6th speed.
I tend to leave it alone unless I'm coming up on a sharp turn at speed and want to push it. I've had a few times where I've had it in that mode and left it in 4th and floored it...and it wouldn't downshift to give me more power. "Oh, you wanted 4th, well that's what you get".
The crazy part, (and don't try this at home), is just how fast you can go in each gear before it pegs the rev limiter. I heard from a friend it's geared pretty tall in the 6th speed.
(*Speed limiter is electronically governed at 142 MPH preventing max speed of ~170 MPH · **Engine will not reach redline in 5th or 6th gear)
1st Gear:
Tire Size: 265/35 x 19" = 82.6" Circumference
Final Drive Gear: 3.615
1st Gear Ratio: 3.52
Engine RPM: 6500 Redline = 41.6970892440055 MPH (Up-Shift Engages 2nd Gear @ 3940 RPM)
2nd Gear:
Tire Size: 265/35 x 19" = 82.6" Circumference
Final Drive Gear: 3.615
2nd Gear Ratio: 2.043
Engine RPM: 6500 Redline = 71.84226830097863 MPH (Up-Shift Engages 3rd Gear @ 4650 RPM)
3rd Gear:
Tire Size: 265/35 x 19" = 82.6" Circumference
Final Drive Gear: 3.615
3rd Gear Ratio: 1.401
Engine RPM: 6500 Redline = 104.76356469585963 MPH (Up-Shift Engages 4th Gear @ 4845 RPM)
*4th Gear:
Tire Size: 265/35 x 19" = 82.6" Circumference
Final Drive Gear: 3.615
4th Gear Ratio: 1.000
Engine RPM: 6500 Redline = *146.77375413889936 MPH
**5th Gear:
Tire Size: 265/35 x 19" = 82.6" Circumference
Final Drive Gear: 3.615
5th Gear Ratio: 0.717
Engine RPM: 6500 Redline = **204.7053753680605 MPH
**6th Gear:
Tire Size: 265/35 x 19" = 82.6" Circumference
Final Drive Gear: 3.615
6th Gear Ratio: 0.586
Engine RPM: 6500 Redline = **250.46715723361663 MPH
6th Gear - 50% of Redline:
Engine RPM: 3250 = 125.23 MPH
Maximum Torque: 277 ft-lb @ 4,800 RPM
Maximum Horsepower: 306 SAE net @ 6,400 RPM
#14
If you are driving down the road maintaining a constant speed and change the drive mode to Sport you will see no change whatsoever. The tach will not increase or decrease RPMs, the transmission will not shift gears.
What happens to the engine and transmission parameters when you change the drive mode to Sport is the engine's fuel and ignition mapping changes to increase the engine's 'tune' performance in less than WOT conditions, and when the transmission is in the full automatic (i.e. Drive in lieu of Manual) the transmission holds the various gears longer (under less than WOT conditions) and upshifts at higher RPMs so the engine is more in the peak band for torque and horsepower compared to if the drive mode is in Normal or ECO. All that said, if you go WOT (regardless of drive mode) the engine and transmission will perform at peak parameters...
What happens to the engine and transmission parameters when you change the drive mode to Sport is the engine's fuel and ignition mapping changes to increase the engine's 'tune' performance in less than WOT conditions, and when the transmission is in the full automatic (i.e. Drive in lieu of Manual) the transmission holds the various gears longer (under less than WOT conditions) and upshifts at higher RPMs so the engine is more in the peak band for torque and horsepower compared to if the drive mode is in Normal or ECO. All that said, if you go WOT (regardless of drive mode) the engine and transmission will perform at peak parameters...