A8 Engine straining at Low RPM’s
11-16-2012, 05:16 AM
#1
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
A8 Engine straining at Low RPM’s
I'll be as brief as possible
Many of us know that when driving a manual transmission, if you try to go from 1st to 4th at 20 mph (not that you would try to do this) the engine will strain. Likewise, when that car decelerates, to say, 20 mph and you are still in 4th gear, you may feel the engine straining as well. However, in an automatic trans, the governor (or whatever they call it these days) should automatically upshift/dowshift at appropriate speeds.
My A8 3.0 has 1400 miles on it and I have recently began to experience that during slow acceleration, after a gear change, the tach drops to approx 1100 RPM and then climbs from there. Unless I am in 1st or 2cnd gear, at 1100, 1200 RPM, the engine begins to strain. The engine strain can be also felt as vibration through the steering wheel as wellbut its obvious that the engine feels like its struggling. Once it gets to 1600 or so RPM in that gear, that strain resolves. No strain at all in any gear at >1500 RPM
The key here is normal acceleration (not going hard on the throttle) as the car slowly accelerates with each gear dropping to the lowest RPM that the tranny goes to (which is approx 1100) and then continuing to accelerate to the next higher gear. And this also happens to some extent when decelerating since it is posssible to slow do to 25 MPH and the trans is still in 5th gear.
Again, The key here is the low RPM’s at that next automatic gear change while feathering the throttle at these low rpm's (Lie you would need to do while in slow moving traffcie). it definitely does not do it in the first couple of gears (such as slowly accelerating from a dead stop or light)
I did not experience this within the 1st 1300 miles of ownership. Also, I am in D mode, not S mode when it happens since I mostly drive in D mode anyway. S mode tends to keep the RPM’s higher in every gear change
Many of us know that when driving a manual transmission, if you try to go from 1st to 4th at 20 mph (not that you would try to do this) the engine will strain. Likewise, when that car decelerates, to say, 20 mph and you are still in 4th gear, you may feel the engine straining as well. However, in an automatic trans, the governor (or whatever they call it these days) should automatically upshift/dowshift at appropriate speeds.
My A8 3.0 has 1400 miles on it and I have recently began to experience that during slow acceleration, after a gear change, the tach drops to approx 1100 RPM and then climbs from there. Unless I am in 1st or 2cnd gear, at 1100, 1200 RPM, the engine begins to strain. The engine strain can be also felt as vibration through the steering wheel as wellbut its obvious that the engine feels like its struggling. Once it gets to 1600 or so RPM in that gear, that strain resolves. No strain at all in any gear at >1500 RPM
The key here is normal acceleration (not going hard on the throttle) as the car slowly accelerates with each gear dropping to the lowest RPM that the tranny goes to (which is approx 1100) and then continuing to accelerate to the next higher gear. And this also happens to some extent when decelerating since it is posssible to slow do to 25 MPH and the trans is still in 5th gear.
Again, The key here is the low RPM’s at that next automatic gear change while feathering the throttle at these low rpm's (Lie you would need to do while in slow moving traffcie). it definitely does not do it in the first couple of gears (such as slowly accelerating from a dead stop or light)
I did not experience this within the 1st 1300 miles of ownership. Also, I am in D mode, not S mode when it happens since I mostly drive in D mode anyway. S mode tends to keep the RPM’s higher in every gear change
Last edited by GR8-LIFE; 11-20-2012 at 05:24 PM.
11-16-2012, 05:51 AM
#2
I wonder if the tranny shift points can be adjusted to 1300 instead of 1100. I know in the S4 my shift points were 1500, then after a firmware/software update for better fuel econopmy (i think) it shifted around 1300, and had the vibration during light loads and very low rpm. 1100 is rediculous. A v6 will never haul around 4400 lbs at 1100 rpm and be smooth. I think 1500 should be the minimum revs for the shifting points.
11-16-2012, 06:00 AM
#3
AudiWorld Super User
Wonder if there is a campaign for the transmission - I'd take it right to the dealer.
My 4.2 doesn't see anywhere near those kind of RPMS unless I'm farting around in S mode on a back road or on the interstate at speed.
My 4.2 doesn't see anywhere near those kind of RPMS unless I'm farting around in S mode on a back road or on the interstate at speed.
11-16-2012, 06:07 AM
#4
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
I wonder if the tranny shift points can be adjusted to 1300 instead of 1100. I know in the S4 my shift points were 1500, then after a firmware/software update for better fuel econopmy (i think) it shifted around 1300, and had the vibration during light loads and very low rpm. 1100 is rediculous. A v6 will never haul around 4400 lbs at 1100 rpm and be smooth. I think 1500 should be the minimum revs for the shifting points.
I have a 2011 S4, I will pay attention to how low the RPM goes in automatic mode. I am also thinking about asking the dealer for a test drive with one of his V6 Lot models just for a mile or 2, to see where it shifts. I do service both Cars there so there shouldnt be a problem
Last edited by GR8-LIFE; 11-16-2012 at 06:36 AM.
11-16-2012, 06:10 AM
#5
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
Possibly. I believe the 8 speed is a new tranny or atleast the 8 Speed/V6 is a fairly new combo anyway
11-16-2012, 07:38 AM
#6
I'll be as brief as possible
Many of us know that when driving a manual transmission, if you try to go from 1st to 4th at 20 mph (not that you would try to do this) the engine will strain. Likewise, when that car decelerates, to say, 20 mph and you are still in 4th gear, you may feel the engine straining as well. However, in an automatic trans, the governor (or whatever they call it these days) should automatically upshift/dowshift at appropriate speeds.
My A8 3.0 has 1400 miles on it and I have recently began to experience that during slow acceleration, after a gear change, the tach drops to approx 1100 RPM and then climbs from there. Unless I am in 1st or 2cnd gear, at 1100, 1200 RPM, the engine begins to strain. The engine strain can be also felt as vibration through the steering wheel as wellbut its obvious that the engine feels like its struggling. Once it gets to 1600 or so RPM in that gear, that strain resolves. No strain at all in any gear at >1500 RPM
The key here is normal acceleration (not going hard on the throttle) as the car slowly accelerates with each gear dropping to the lowest RPM that the tranny goes to (which is approx 1100) and then continuing to accelerate to the next higher gear. And this also happens to some extent when decelerating since it is posssible to slow do to 25 MPH and the trans is still in 5th gear.
Again, The key here is the low RPM’s at that next automatic gear change and gears higher than third, although it may do it in 3rd as well. But it definitely does not do it from a dead stop, which is in first gear and then you are quickly into 2nd.
I did not experience this within the 1st 1300 miles of ownership. Also, I am in D mode, not S mode when it happens since I mostly drive in D mode anyway. S mode tends to keep the RPM’s higher in every gear change
Many of us know that when driving a manual transmission, if you try to go from 1st to 4th at 20 mph (not that you would try to do this) the engine will strain. Likewise, when that car decelerates, to say, 20 mph and you are still in 4th gear, you may feel the engine straining as well. However, in an automatic trans, the governor (or whatever they call it these days) should automatically upshift/dowshift at appropriate speeds.
My A8 3.0 has 1400 miles on it and I have recently began to experience that during slow acceleration, after a gear change, the tach drops to approx 1100 RPM and then climbs from there. Unless I am in 1st or 2cnd gear, at 1100, 1200 RPM, the engine begins to strain. The engine strain can be also felt as vibration through the steering wheel as wellbut its obvious that the engine feels like its struggling. Once it gets to 1600 or so RPM in that gear, that strain resolves. No strain at all in any gear at >1500 RPM
The key here is normal acceleration (not going hard on the throttle) as the car slowly accelerates with each gear dropping to the lowest RPM that the tranny goes to (which is approx 1100) and then continuing to accelerate to the next higher gear. And this also happens to some extent when decelerating since it is posssible to slow do to 25 MPH and the trans is still in 5th gear.
Again, The key here is the low RPM’s at that next automatic gear change and gears higher than third, although it may do it in 3rd as well. But it definitely does not do it from a dead stop, which is in first gear and then you are quickly into 2nd.
I did not experience this within the 1st 1300 miles of ownership. Also, I am in D mode, not S mode when it happens since I mostly drive in D mode anyway. S mode tends to keep the RPM’s higher in every gear change
11-16-2012, 07:51 AM
#7
AudiWorld Super User
Very possibly the new combination may get tweaked.
In the interim you can always check here:
http://www.audiusa.com/us/brand/en/o...in_lookup.html
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11-16-2012, 09:17 AM
#8
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
thats what I find myself doing now at times but I dont feel like driving big luxury car with an auto trans like a sports car
11-16-2012, 09:18 AM
#9
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
Vaguely recall derfA8L posting about an early update to the 8 speed.
Very possibly the new combination may get tweaked.
In the interim you can always check here:
http://www.audiusa.com/us/brand/en/o...in_lookup.html
Very possibly the new combination may get tweaked.
In the interim you can always check here:
http://www.audiusa.com/us/brand/en/o...in_lookup.html
11-16-2012, 10:12 AM
#10
AudiWorld Super User
