AaronM Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 Hi, I was coming back from the store with stuff to make some Chocolate Fudge . I turned the corner on a longer street in our neighborhood. I slowed down to about 15mph (speed limit 45). I then popped the shifter in 2 because I heard it was fun, not sure of what it would do. I then slowly brought it up to speed and at about 40 ish, the Flowmaster was singing at about 4000 rpms. I wasn't sure if it was going to shift or not so I left off the accelerator and it slowly went back to normal engine speed (It sounded very cool). Now for my questions. When I put it in 2 and I am going about 15mph, does the transmission stay in second gear, or does it go down to first. Also, I think it was in first gear when I was accelerating, I backed off because I wasn't sure if it was going to shift. Does it shift for you from 1 to 2? It was really fun and I was just wondering so next time I can let it shift gears if it is safe doing so. Thanks! Aaron 18 Year Old Male Black 1992 STS 4.9L 90,XXX Miles Flowmaster 80 series muffler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regis Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 Far as i know Aaron when you manually put it in 2nd gear, it will stay there until you manually shift it to a higher gear. Anytime you start in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd it'll stay in that gear unless you manually shift gears OR put it into D (drive). Try this sometime when you know the conditions are "safe". Come to a stop, put it in 2nd gear or 1st (if you can) and put the gas to the floor and shift to the next gear at around 6000rpms. Do that for each gear until you either run out of gears or it becomes "unwise" to go any faster. You'll enjoy the experience. -kg "Burns" rubber " I've never considered myself to be all that conservative, but it seems the more liberal some people get the more conservative I become. " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davedog Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 is that "safe" for the engine? Crystal Red Tintcoat Exterior | Shale/Brownstone Interior | 32k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronM Posted August 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 is that "safe" for the engine? My next question exactly ! 18 Year Old Male Black 1992 STS 4.9L 90,XXX Miles Flowmaster 80 series muffler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 I'm sure it is safe. There is a rev limiter in the PCM that will prevent over revving it. 1st, 2nd & 3rd are limiting. If you start out with the shifter in 2nd and go WOT, the car will start out in 1st and shift to 2nd but then stay in 2nd. I did this just the other night, preventive maintainance you know . Likewise with 3rd, it will just lockout OD. It's not much different than WOT in OD, the car will wind out to redline, then shift on it's own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcd1184 Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 I'm probably missing something but when I really put my foot through the floor, the transmission shifts itself out at ( from what I can see while trying to cover all the bases at major WOT) a little over 6000 rpm. When there is so much going on in a full blown WOT, why would you want to take away the transmission's function, if it is working properly? Kent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davedog Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 can i ask a Stupid Question here (no laughing please): What does "WOT" stand for, and what exactly is WOT, and is it safe for your engine? -dave Crystal Red Tintcoat Exterior | Shale/Brownstone Interior | 32k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arash Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 WOT= Wide open throttle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davedog Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 Thanks.....now what exactly are you doing when you WOT? Crystal Red Tintcoat Exterior | Shale/Brownstone Interior | 32k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northstar101 Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 your flooring it, Pedal to the metal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davedog Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 well thats kinda what i though, i just thought there might be more to it sorry - told ya it was a stupid question! -dave Crystal Red Tintcoat Exterior | Shale/Brownstone Interior | 32k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 I'm probably missing something but when I really put my foot through the floor, the transmission shifts itself out at ( from what I can see while trying to cover all the bases at major WOT) a little over 6000 rpm. When there is so much going on in a full blown WOT, why would you want to take away the transmission's function, if it is working properly? Kent There is realy not much need to manualy select a lower gear and override the trans unless you are trying to clean out the combustion chambers to solve a cold carbon rap problem. The following is a quote from the master himself. "Occasional Full-Throttle Acceleration Is Good For Your Engine There are many advantages to occasional full throttle accelerations with a Northstar and any engine. It keeps the carbon cleaned out of the combustion chamber. This is maybe a little more important with the Northstar than some other engines due to the tight squish volumes between the piston and the cylinder head. It's designed this way to promote good in-cylinder mixture motion (good combustion) but it has the down side of providing a ready place for carbon build-up to touch the piston - causing noise. Ever heard of the Northstar "cold carbon rap" problem?? Simply put you'll hear a rythmic, piston slap-like noise when the engine is cold. Very prominent and very annoying. Cause: excessive carbon build up causing the the piston to contact the carbon on the head - causing it to rock in the bore and "slap" Much more evident when the engine is cold and the pistons haven't expanded to full diameter yet. Simplest and easiest "fix" for this: A few good WOT (wide open throttle) accelerations to clear the carbon out. That is all it takes to eliminate the problem and prevent it from re-occurring. Occasional WOT accelerations also help seat the rings to the ring lands and exercise the rings and keep them mobile and from becoming stuck in carbon in the ring lands. At high RPM and WOT the rings move around on the piston - they actually rotate on the piston and will polish away any carbon and seat themselves to the sides of the ring grooves. This is especially important on the 2000 and later Northstars which had hard anodized top ring lands on the pistons. Very hard and wear resistant - also harder to break-in and seat the rings to the sides of the ring-lands to promote the best possible seal. Many oil consumption complaints on the 2000 and later engines are related, to some extent, with the rings never seating to the sides of the ring-grooves due to lack of load as the engine was babied around forever. Even engines with rings stuck in the ring-grooves due to carbon build up can eventually be freed up with enough high RPM operation. WOTs warm up the engine thoroughly and clean out the exhaust due to temperature in the exhaust and high flow rates blasting particles, rust and such out of the system. Frequent WOT operation will not hurt the engine or the transmission. They're designed for that. The healthiest engines that I have seen at high miles are always the ones that are run the hardest. Rings are free on the pistons and sealing; no carbon buildup. The exercise that I think works best for many things is to select manual 2nd gear on an isolated stretch of expressway. This takes the transmission shifting out of the question if you are worried about hurting it. Start at 55 MPH or so and go to WOT in 2nd gear and hold it until the RPM reaches near the normal shift point - i.e. 6500 for an L37 and 6000 for an LD8. Hold the throttle wide open until the engine reaches, say, 6200 for an STS and then just let completely off the throttle. Leave the transmission in 2nd so that the engine brakes the car and creates some pretty heavy over-run conditions at high vacuum levels. Let it slow until it is about 55 or so and then go to WOT again and repeat. This exercise really loads the rings, allows variable RPM operation at WOT for several seconds continuously, creates heavy over-run which tends to unload the rings and make them move and thus exercise them in the ring grooves and it will blow-out carbon and the exhaust - all without creating a spectical of yourself and attracting the attention of cops. You can do it on most any freeway and stay within the 70-75 MPH range allowable. Once a week like this will keep the engine cleaned out and healthy and is DEFINITELY recommended for the Northstar in particular. The Northstar engine was designed/developed/validated to be run hard. It was expected that people would use the performance of the engine - which few people seem to do. The biggest single problem that many issues stem from is lack of use at full throttle by the owners. It just doesn't like to be babied around. The rings are low-tension by design for good high RPM operating characteristics and low friction/good power. They work best if "used" and kept free. In every conversation with owners I have had, once the owner started doing the WOTs and using the power of the engine they report no more carbon rap, better oil economy, no "smoke" when they do light it up (keep the exhaust cleaned out. If you notice a "cloud" at WOT then you are not doing enough WOTs...) etc... A bit of judicious use of the other end of the throttle travel is a GOOD thing..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regis Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 ^^^^ Good post Larry. I think Bbobynski would be proud. "Burns" rubber " I've never considered myself to be all that conservative, but it seems the more liberal some people get the more conservative I become. " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcd1184 Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Thank-you Larry. You have filled in the "missing something". Kent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyG Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Yeah Larry, I have that one framed and hanging on the wall above my bed too. Never underestimate the amount of a persons greed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronM Posted August 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Hi, Thanks for the info!!! I still have not done a WOT, I am a little scared , haha! I think I need to merge onto the expressway, hehe. It was really fun riding in first gear up to 40, made some nice noise pollution ! I think I am going to do that now whenever I ride on that street. All the people who live there will know it is me . The Cadillac needs to be driven like it was made to, WOT at every light, haha, just kidding! Drive safe everyone! -Aaron 18 Year Old Male Black 1992 STS 4.9L 90,XXX Miles Flowmaster 80 series muffler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davedog Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Hi, Thanks for the info!!! I still have not done a WOT, I am a little scared , haha! I think I need to merge onto the expressway, hehe. It was really fun riding in first gear up to 40, made some nice noise pollution ! I think I am going to do that now whenever I ride on that street. All the people who live there will know it is me . The Cadillac needs to be driven like it was made to, WOT at every light, haha, just kidding! Drive safe everyone! -Aaron hello fellow WOT virgin -dave Crystal Red Tintcoat Exterior | Shale/Brownstone Interior | 32k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfoo Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Heh.. I WOT every time I drive. Still hasn't fixed my oil consumption problem though :> but it hasn't hurt anything and I do it constantly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adallak Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Aaron, do not try to get 6500 RPM out of your 4.9 L. It cannot do that much. The saddest thing in life is wasted talent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adallak Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Do not listen to all these crazy Northstar owners , if you do too much WOT with your 4.9 L , you'll end up with WOW The saddest thing in life is wasted talent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronM Posted August 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Do not listen to all these crazy Northstar owners , if you do too much WOT with your 4.9 L , you'll end up with WOW HAHA! I will probably do it maybe once a month. It would freak me out. Also, why can't I do 6500 RPM? JUST KIDDING - KABOOOOOM! 18 Year Old Male Black 1992 STS 4.9L 90,XXX Miles Flowmaster 80 series muffler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadillac STS Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 It's simply incredible when you drop the gear selector in 1st and mash it from a 40mph roll all the way up to 80mph on back roads... For all you 4.9l owners, let me describe to you how the N* powered cars feel when pushed. When you gun it from a 40 roll one would first feel and hear a slight pause as if the engine is taking a deep breath of air followed by a huge surge forward with the exhaust rippin’ while the front end lifts and your body gets sucked into the seat... not saying the 4.9l doesnt offer the same pleasure, just sharing from a northy point of view Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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