Here's what these non-CVT drivers are missing: The CVT is actually designed to create more of a slowing force after being off of the gas a certain amount of time. If you downshift in the CVT the car will downshift as it is designed to do. After having your foot off of the gas for about 3 seconds, something changes, and the transmission will actually provide more help in slowing the car.

Another thing, the CVT and the TC-SST are designed so that when the cruise control is set, and you are going downhill and increasing speed above what is set, the transmission will downshift to provide the slowing forces it needs to bring speed down. It CLEARLY states this in both vehicle manuals (I just traded in my 09 GTS with CVT, so i know that thing inside out).

One other last thing to debunk this "downshifting in the CVT is bad" theory: If downshifting on the CVT were as detrimental as all these people are saying, don't you think Mitsubishi would be even half smart enough to limit that somehow? The only thing they limit is downshifting into the red.

 

When you do that in any car, you are wearing down the clutch, granted it is normal wear, but I prefer use the brakes and change the pads more frequently (which is a job I can do by myself in a few hours) vs changing a clutch that is really expensive, that is not counting the cvt, which would be super really expensive.

Use the brakes for braking.

 

This maybe true for every other transmission but I have checked with the manufacturer. The design is radically different then your manual or regular automatics.

The CVT can protect itself from excessive pressure of downshifting. Since it is the computer controlling its engagment and disengagement to the powertrain. The transmission never has to be 100% engage. Also there are TQ limiting algorythms that I believe go beyond the original idea of cancelling out just vibrations.

There are two technical documents I already posted earlier in this thread that would shed light and address this question.

 

Why not just use the brakes?

 

oh i dont know, less effort lol

I personally dont engine brake. but it is something that is possible. You could apply both to reduce wear on your braking system.

 

i do both..i already feel my breaks wearing kinda more than they should and its really helpful to use the downshift to help breaking

 

this is actually kinda funny, when i bought my 09 gts i specifically asked if downshifthing on cvt would mess it up, that lil f`er said it is fine...so mixed ways i see. well ive been doing it for 3900 miles now. and shes still a beast.

 

I will occasionally do it between stop lights while going slow or when approaching stop signs. It does clearly state in the owner's manual that the CVT and ECU will not let you downshift and put the needle into the red. I would think that if the car lets you do it, there shouldn't be much to worry about -- but I wouldn't make it a habit. Doing it to the CVT has to be better than downshifting a conventional automatic. I cringe when I ride with idiots who do that.

Isn't that what a 10 year/100,000 mile drivertrain warranty is for anyways?

 

You engine will flip a code if it is a problem. Your tranny has alot of sensors. If there is a fault you will get a code. Other then a turbo there is very little you can do to it that would harm it.

This tranny section has been open for a while and there havent been many problems recorded. even on the Nissan forums. Its a bullet proof Tranny and this is why from a manufacturer stand point... its perfered.

 

There is one reason to use the tranny to slow the car down it may save gas. The difference is you are not allowing the engine to simply idle and use fuel, the engine will keep running with the tranny moving it.

This for what I know is how Diesels do it, so not sure the extent of how this motor does it.