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AT Shifting RPM

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3.8K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  Snowtrout  
#1 ·
So I'm a new Xterra owner and still getting used to the personality of the car. My previous main ride was a 2003 Element EX that I loved for 210,000 miles. One thing I notice about the Xterra is that it is obviously much more of a truck than the Element. Bigger engine, bigger vehicle, etc.

Something I also notice and wonder about is how the transmission shifts. I swear that on level ground the AT shifts at about 1200 RPM, and will go through 1-2-3-4 and go 45 MPH at never get above 1200 RPM. She idles at about 700 RPM. I've changed the fluids and everything works smoothly, it is just strange to me how quickly and frequently it shifts to maintain that low RPM on flat ground. If I climb a hill or accelerate more, it will sit at about 2000+.

Is that what yours do?
 
#2 · (Edited)
Yep. The Xterra has far more torque (and 1 extra gear) than the Element, so it doesn't need to rev as high in order to put out the necessary power. If you shifted the Xterra at the same RPMs that the Element did, you would probably get 10 MPG.

In normal around-town driving, my RPMs stay below 2000. In idle on level ground, my Xterra will gain enough speed to shift to second gear.
 
#3 ·
I also notice that my Xterra seems to rev higher when started cold. These days in the PNW the mornings are about 50 degrees. The X idles up to about 1600 RPM before working its way down to the normal low idle of about 700. Seems higher than my other cars. Is that normal too?