A lot of things are rougher before the car is up to temperature. Not coolant temp, oil temp, which our cars don't display. Transmission fluid also has to warm up and shifts may be more rough at low temps. I've never had an 8 speed, only a 4 and 6 speed transmission. When in sport/manual, I pretty much ignore 7th and 8th. But it's still a bit of time before I will figure out should I be in 2nd, 3rd, or 4th for spirited drives. I've just been very confused at how 4th is available at such low relative speeds

 

It is literally ONLY 5th gear when cold for me, that's why I was curious. The 4 cyl turbo actually does come with a oil temp gauge under the boost gauge we also have a oil pressure gauge.

 

The transmission will hold a gear if it thinks you are doing spirited driving. For example, taking a turn fast or after accelerating quickly. It does this so you can be in the HP range for better acceleration.

 

Yeah I just use normal mode most of the time. Sport mode actually does its job well when I'm driving more spiritedly.

 

Even normal mode will do it sometimes

 

Probably any drive mode except eco will hold a gear, this transmission has a G sensor. Plus in the 350 if you are in Normal and hit the kickdown button with the gas lever (right on the floor of the car) you actually drop a couple gears.

 

The owner's manual states that the AI SHIFT operation only happens in Sport mode though. I think if you've seen this happen in Normal, it's most likely for engine braking while going down a hill. That sound accurate?

 

Unless you want to drive with paddle shift watching tach. Driving in automatic tranny shifting is automatic, No? To save gas new cars always shift up fast as long as it is possible. Also TCU will learn your driving habit. With Mercedes vehicle it is very easy to put the TCU into learn mode. I wonder whether one can do the same with Lexus.

 

I get it and normally I like it in normal mode. A quick accel around a turn and stays ready for any next surprises. I just feather the throttle if I want it to shift up.

One thing about sport mode....If I want the max performance I definitely use it. Personally I cannot yet match the same performance with manual mode. I wont shift low enough, fast enough, etc.

 

This applies to the ECO mode only, the two other driving mods (in my IS350) stay in a lower gear a bit longer.

 

AFAIK you'd pretty much have to disconnect the battery to reset the ECU to make it go back to learning mode.

Maybe some of the differences folks are noticing are due to the learning?

 

^ Newer cars have ECU's that are constantly adapting. In the old days yes, shift points were learned when car was new or battery reset.

 

Yeah I did a little research, it does look like certain aspects of how the shifts happen - solenoid pressure, torque converter lock-up, and just shift timing in general - are adjusted over time. I've always read online that if the transmission is acting up, to try disconnecting the battery to get the programming back to its factory mapping. But yeah that could be "conventional" wisdom at best.

 

A LOT of armchair experts. I tend to take advice from industry experts or those that can actually take apart a motor.

 

That's cool. No one in here is claiming to be an expert. No need to devalue everyone's authority.

Anyone here who can take apart a "motor"? I think you meant "engine", but yeah, continue to solicit advice.