Low RPM and oil circulation

Joined
Oct 27, 2018
Messages
700
Location
MD
Hello,
In both my Maximas 09(94k miles) and 11(96k miles), transmission is programmed to run the most efficient (lowest RPM possible) for the speed, I seldom see my tachometer get to 2.5K RPM, with most of the time between 1.5k and 2K, unless driving uphill. Even at highway speeds of 70mph, RPM sits at like 2.1K. And to be honest I am nervous to give it more gas for higher torque since the CVT in these cars is the weakest point.
I was thinking, would that (at least on the long run) cause oil slugging, low flow and accumulation of carbon deposit? and would that concern for less than ideal lubrication and oil flow for the engine?
I use PUP5w30 (5w30 API SM or SN is user manual recommendation) and Nissan filters every 5k miles in both vehicles. Both are well maintained cars.
 
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Originally Posted by OilUzer
Do you have an OD on/off switch or something like S4 or D4?


No overdrive on/off switch, but it has manual mode which allows driver to manually "shift gears" or technically choose ratios on the CVT.
 
CAT 3606

Maximum Power 2481 HP
Maximum Torque 13424 lb-ft @ 820 rpm
Rated Speed 750-1000 rpm
Minimum Power 1998 HP
 
What's funny to me is how you don't want to rev the rpm up hardly at all... I hit 5,000 rpm almost daily in my Nissan Altima VQ CVT equipped car. Did it earlier this afternoon in fact
lol.gif


With now 310,000 plus miles on it too. . Got the car with 39,990 miles on it.. So plenty of high rpm runs this car has endured quite well.

My car runs at 2,500 rpm at 80 mph... It does have more rpm vs a rental 2015 Nissan Altima I had several years ago. That trifling car ran at 1200-1400 rpm at 74 mph... That's low rpm for 74+ mph in my opinion.
 
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Originally Posted by bbhero
What's funny to me is how you don't want to rev the rpm up hardly at all... I hit 5,000 rpm almost daily in my Nissan Altima VQ CVT equipped car. Did it earlier this afternoon in fact
lol.gif


With now 310,000 plus miles on it too. . Got the car with 39,990 miles on it.. So plenty of high rpm runs this car has endured quite well.

My car runs at 2,500 rpm at 80 mph... It does have more rpm vs a rental 2015 Nissan Altima I had several years ago. That trifling car ran at 1200-1400 rpm at 74 mph... That's low rpm for 74+ mph in my opinion.


Interesting brother, what year is your 3.5 Altima? You have the original CVT? What's your cvt fluid change intervals? External cooler?
 
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My 3.6L Wrangler with a 5 speed automatic and 4.10 gears normally runs in the 2,000-2,750 rpm range. I'm pretty sure the oil is circulating real nice in it.
wink.gif
 
Somewhere on this site is a topic where it explains that the "most ideal" RPM for oil circulation is 2000 in most vehicles.

P.S. I drive a manual AWD Honda CR-V and my RPM is 3100 @60mph, and 4000 @80mph. When it was stock height and had no roof rack - it got 28mpg. Now with suspension leveling kit, A/T tires, and a big roof rack it gets 23mpg. That's average mpg. Straight highway may be better, but I never tried.
 
Two stroke EMD 645x16; 3,000 hp @ 900 rpm, 710x16s (cubic inch x number of cylinders) 1050 rpm.

GMC/Chev 2020 L5P Duramax, 10th gear .615 od x 3.42 diff with a 34 inch tire. (275/65/20)
 
Originally Posted by mahanddeem
Originally Posted by bbhero
What's funny to me is how you don't want to rev the rpm up hardly at all... I hit 5,000 rpm almost daily in my Nissan Altima VQ CVT equipped car. Did it earlier this afternoon in fact
lol.gif


With now 310,000 plus miles on it too. . Got the car with 39,990 miles on it.. So plenty of high rpm runs this car has endured quite well.

My car runs at 2,500 rpm at 80 mph... It does have more rpm vs a rental 2015 Nissan Altima I had several years ago. That trifling car ran at 1200-1400 rpm at 74 mph... That's low rpm for 74+ mph in my opinion.


Interesting brother, what year is your 3.5 Altima? You have the original CVT? What's your cvt fluid change intervals? External cooler?



Hey man....

It's a 2008 SE 3.5L ...

Orginal CVT too... Changed the fluid for the first time at 283,500 miles with 3 drain and refills... And did a 4th and final change just a month and a half ago.

No external cooler.

Honestly a lot of highway miles.. (like 96 percent highway cruising 64-79 mph)...

[Linked Image]
 
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I reach 85mph and 4k RPM at least once daily. I do change castrol cvt fluid every 10-15k. Bought a pallet of it why not. I think they would be better served around 2500-3000RPM all day vs stop and go. That is a cvt killer. I can recommend either Castrol Cvt or Redline Cvt fluid in any HCF2 spec'd transmission.Both have served me well. Keeping fresh clean fluid is the fountain of youth for a transmission.
 
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