[Mike_B]

I read the manual and found out how to shift and run in 5th/OD. I've had my 2010 Titan since November. I think I've put 5 or 6 tanks of gas through it and getting about 14+ mpg so far driving in 4th. I was stoked when I found out about 5th gear because most of my miles are on the highway so I thought I'd get a mileage boost. Didn't on the first tank anyway. got 14.1. I also don't care for the way it drives in 5th. Kick down on acceleration seems more abrupt especially in cruise control. It seems to shift up to 5th too early also. I feel like I'm still trying to get up to speed and then it levels off on me.

Is this the general impression of how it operates in 5th/OD? I'm tempted to just keep it in 4th all the time. Before I discovered 5th I was pretty impressed with how the transmission operated and how the truck drove in general. Over hills and on level.
Mike

 

[HudsonValleyTitan]

lol...why would you lock out 5th/OD? You most certainly WILL get better fuel mileage (common sense there) by running at a lower hwy RPM and it will be somewhat quieter. Kickdown or passing gear will be more because you're going from 5th to 3rd rather than 4th to 3rd, however not all downshifts will get you to 3rd....you'll just drop to 4th from OD (5th) at light throttle. BUT...if you prefer it in 4th, leave it there and enjoy it!...it's your gas money.

 

[Mike_B]

That's just it: in one tank, anyway, I didn't see a change in mileage. I'll keep it up and see if my average mileage goes up.

 

[Anavrin351]

if it shifts too early, press the gas peddel down abit further, and it wont shift until you let off.

 

[nissanbyblood]

:rofl::rofl:^^^:rofl::rofl:

 

[Haze]

i'm guessing you have a column shifter? otherwise i don't understand at all how you wouldn't know you had a 5th gear. i leave mine in 4th while i'm driving around town and below 60mph to avoid more shifting than necessary which can be hard on a transmission. Do you guys with column shifters have a little button i'm guessing that turns O/D on normally it would automatically go into O/D unless it was turned off.. confused a little here by this..

 

[sudden urge]

i'm guessing you have a column shifter? otherwise i don't understand at all how you wouldn't know you had a 5th gear. i leave mine in 4th while i'm driving around town and below 60mph to avoid more shifting than necessary which can be hard on a transmission. Do you guys with column shifters have a little button i'm guessing that turns O/D on normally it would automatically go into O/D unless it was turned off.. confused a little here by this..

The column shifter defaults to 5th at every startup.

 

[loufish]

How do you NOT shift into "D" when coming out of Park?...

 

[bestatchess]

How do you NOT shift into "D" when coming out of Park?...

I felt a little stupid when I finally figured out that the console shifter moves sideways between 4 and D after a few days of driving.

 

[Mike_B]

I felt a little stupid when I finally figured out that the console shifter moves sideways between 4 and D after a few days of driving.

I felt a little stupid, too, but the console shifter goes from N straight down to 4. I thought that 4/D meant that it shifted to OD automatically. That's why they call it an "Automatic". Anyway, I'll see if it makes a difference in my mileage. I'm trying to be real light on the accelerator and consistent to see how the mileage turns out.

 

[loufish]

I felt a little stupid when I finally figured out that the console shifter moves sideways between 4 and D after a few days of driving.

I can see that.... but tank after tank?.....:eyebrow:

 

[Haze]

I felt a little stupid when I finally figured out that the console shifter moves sideways between 4 and D after a few days of driving.

I did the same thing my first drive home from the dealer, then i realized it and felt a little silly myself

 

[FishnAlaska]

I did the same thing my first drive home from the dealer, then i realized it and felt a little silly myself

Me too, but drive home was 110 miles!

 

[desertruner09]

I drove in 4th for the first month or so I had my Titan. I thought that 4/D were the same thing. Also, since it was a gated shifter, I figured it was some sort of "safety" thing having to go down and over from N to 4/D. Man, did I feel dumb when I found another other gear...

 

[AZPRO4X]

I always run my truck in 4th around town .

 

[Haze]

Me too, but drive home was 110 miles!

mine was about 85 so i'm not too far off!

 

[Haze]

Yeah i run mine in 4th around town to avoid extra shifts.

 

[dman1458]

I dunno call me crazy but I leave it in D and let the truck sort itself out. I mean why bother in 4th around town? Are you really going to do damage? If this were the case I'm pretty sure they would tell us that in the manual or with warnings all over the place. I can't be bothered the hassle of remembering to put it in 5th when I hit the hwy.

 

[Silver_Seven]

If not mistaken I think the manual says to leave it 4D. After 66K I cant imagine driving in anything but 4D unless i manually sift it to third going downa steep hill in ice so i dont have to use the brake. With so many hills and so much traffic in the Pittsburgh areas my truck runs smoothly without braking and the transmission moves effortlessly to the right gear with no discernable movement to me in the drivers seat. I do like to manuals shift my Titan through all the gears when I'm feeling frisky and have a heavy foot. Oh the power of this truck!

 

[VK56DEHAN]

if you leave it in D, under normal acceleration (2000rpm) the torque converter will lock out in 5th (O/D) at 42mph...which causes the bogging effect and you loose all "power", especially with 2.94 gears.
if you leave it in 4th gear, the torque converter will lock out at 45mph under normal acceleration but in a shorter ratio allowing a little more power w/ no ill effects to the tranny or torque converter.

i leave my shifter in 4th at all times until i hit 60mph then shift into D. over 8k miles i have experienced 2mpg better than just leaving it in D with no change in habits. regardless its up to you. it wont hurt the engine or tranny either way. the engine produces power regardless and the tranny is controlled outside of your ability to harm it (to an extent).

as far as fuel consumption, if you leave it in 5th yes, it is at a lower rpm. but, since it is mechanically link in a 1/1 ratio...you are actually wasting gas by not leaving it in 4th. in 5th, you have to apply more gas in order to create accelerating power as opposed to a 1/? (shorter) ratio (4th). in 4th, the engine does not have to work as hard to achieve the same task. its all just leverage in a complicated way.