R34 Tiptronic General Questions

[Sliver]

I have an R34 Tiptronic, its the first auto I have owned so some of these questions may be a bit daft, please note I don`t have an owners manual yet. Also the number of threads on tiptronics is a bit thin.

1. Can I switch from Auto to tiptronic at any time?
I tend to do this quite often, auto on the motorway or city driving, then tiptronic everywhere else. At the moment I just shift the stick over and switch on the steering wheel at any time I like, is this OK to do.

2. Is there any problems with switching between auto and tiptronic often?

3. Can I treat tiptronic like manual and rev to the redline?
I notice that 1st - 2nd has a short delay, but 3rd / 4th shift very quick.

4. How robust are the tiptronic boxes?
For example the clutch under heavy launches, how long should I leave it between services? I understand the clutch is a fluid based system, does this wear / need replacing at any point? Full service interval details would be fantastic.

5. Can I leave the stearing wheel switched on all the time even when in auto mode, or should I switch it on and off as needed?

6. Any tips on best change points, I note peak power around the 4K mark? Also 1st - 2nd is a bit unusual, if I change to soon I get a kick, if I change too late it seems to take a moment to change.

7. Can I engine brake as in a manual, I use engine braking quite a lot and the tiptronic works well, but again how well compared to a manual and do I need to consider wear or robustness when I do this?

8. Have I forgotten anything that I should consider?

From Wikipedia
"Tiptronic® is a registered trademark, and it is owned by German sports car maker Porsche, who licenses it for use by others such as Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda."

Thanks!

[GRowsell]

Originally Posted by Sliver

1. Can I switch from Auto to tiptronic at any time?
I tend to do this quite often, auto on the motorway or city driving, then tiptronic everywhere else. At the moment I just shift the stick over and switch on the steering wheel at any time I like, is this OK to do.

Yes it's fine. Personally I find the steering wheel buttons are useless for 'spirited' driving as they are in the wrong place!

Originally Posted by Sliver

2. Is there any problems with switching between auto and tiptronic often?

No.

Originally Posted by Sliver

3. Can I treat tiptronic like manual and rev to the redline?
I notice that 1st - 2nd has a short delay, but 3rd / 4th shift very quick.

Yes, you'll just hit the rev limiter like in a manual. You'll find that on hard acceleration all the changes are near instant, it should only be slower when NOT on full throttle.

Originally Posted by Sliver

4. How robust are the tiptronic boxes?
For example the clutch under heavy launches, how long should I leave it between services? I understand the clutch is a fluid based system, does this wear / need replacing at any point? Full service interval details would be fantastic.

They are reputed to take 400hp OK. I will soon be testing that theory and beyond. Hard launches are fine as long as it's not continous, causing overheating. There is no clutch, it's a torque convertor. Until they go wrong, you'll only need to keep an eye on the fluid (which should be checked whilst hot and engine running and after shifting between all gears and back into Neutral). The A/T light will flash on start-up if you have any problems... then you just run it's self-diagnostics to see what's up (then you cringe and go and cry ).

Originally Posted by Sliver

5. Can I leave the stearing wheel switched on all the time even when in auto mode, or should I switch it on and off as needed?

You can leave it on if you like. As mentioned I don't use those buttons, so prefer the light not to be showing on the dash.

Originally Posted by Sliver

6. Any tips on best change points, I note peak power around the 4K mark? Also 1st - 2nd is a bit unusual, if I change to soon I get a kick, if I change too late it seems to take a moment to change.

It all depends on driving style and preference... do what works for you! Personally, I find that once moving I never go back into 1st as the car has so much torque that it can spin the wheels in second from about 10mph onwards.

Originally Posted by Sliver

7. Can I engine brake as in a manual, I use engine braking quite a lot and the tiptronic works well, but again how well compared to a manual and do I need to consider wear or robustness when I do this?

You don't get as good an engine braking effect, but it's useful all the same. As for harming the box, you'll find that the ECU won't allow anything too terrible to happen anyway (it will interfere if it's going to hurt the gearbox).

Originally Posted by Sliver

8. Have I forgotten anything that I should consider?

Excessive oil temperature is the death knell for auto boxes, so if you intend to abuse it, ensure you keep it cool (extra cooler) and use better grade ATF (something like Dexron III). If you don't know the history of the car, then changing the oil is an idea, but it's nigh on impossible to get all the old oil out anyway (unless you take the gearbox apart).

Originally Posted by Sliver

From Wikipedia
"Tiptronic® is a registered trademark, and it is owned by German sports car maker Porsche, who licenses it for use by others such as Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda."

The Nissan name for the R34 auto box is actually Daul-Matic

[Sliver]

Wow - Thanks Gavin. , less worry about treating it nice and kind.

Just had quite a spirited drive, IT GOES, and soooo effortlessly. As you say the gear changes above 1st are near instantanious.

Off to do some research on the science of 'torque converters'.

---

On the other subject,

For me I use engine braking more than most. Not found any solid argument either way, I just find engine braking a better way of slowing the car smoothly and flat. Would like to hear a good argument for it though, I get so many people telling me the same as above (How bad it is!)...