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Hybrid Vehicles Nissan Altima Hybrid Nissan Altima Hybrid
321 messages, Last post on Nov 19, 2009 at 9:31 PM
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Replying to: fxbor (Dec 21, 2007 6:52 pm) In regard to the shuddering, I live in Northern California. We've had some unseasonably cool weather just before the holidays. Frost almost every morning. In this weather, the car definitely shudders harder when the ICE kicks in, until it warms up. This is reasonable, considering that all the fluids (oils, greases, coolants) are all pretty viscous (even if the oil is a very thin 0w 20). Over longer trips, as the systems warm to their tasks, the shuddering returns to the slight bump we'd feel in the summer months. I am a backyard mechanic, and have listened for odd noises or behaviors. I don't think the harder bump is a problem. If it keeps bumping/shuddering hard come April/May, then we'll go see Nissan...
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Replying to: hiwayman (Dec 26, 2007 10:07 am) |
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Replying to: hiwayman (Dec 26, 2007 10:07 am) |
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Replying to: hiwayman (Dec 26, 2007 10:07 am)
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Replying to: irecycle (Dec 26, 2007 7:28 pm) Synthetic is always better in today's engines. The longer molecular chains make is slipperier for a given application, reducing friction and wear, and a condition in oil lubrication called "shearing" (that's a bad thing). Synthetic generally isn't recommended for break in, since it is so slippery that the part that would normally be polishing against each other, plus rings trying to seat don't do that break in work as well, but once you've broken the engine in, synthetic is the thing to get, if you can afford it. The one myth to avoid, though, is that you can go longer between oil changes with synthetic. That's true as far as the oil's ability to lubricate go, but remember that your engine is constantly dumping garbage into your oil, so even synthetic should be changed regularly to get that crud that the oil is carrying out of your engine. A filter will get some of it, but once the filter gets full, a relieve valve lifts in the filter, and the oil is no longer filtered. Change the oil! In regard to batteries and extending the range, like everyone else (and you of course) I'm hoping for a breakthrough in hybrid technology which will extend the electrical range of the car. Out here in California there are companies which will install plug-in systems in hybrids, but the installation is currently quite expensive (on the order of $5,000 or more) and voids your warranty. Right now the technology for plug in hybrids is more for bragging rights than anything else. More work has to be done. My chemical engineer friends tell me there is currently a new battery technology in testing stages which is going to make current batteries pretty pathetic, if they can get all the bugs out of the thing. Additionally, it uses some sort of foam technology which allows the battery to be molded into pretty much any reasonable shape, and the materials used are considerably lighter than current technology batteries. The implications to the automotive industry (and motorcycle and recreational vehicle) are pretty obvious. No more need to lose 1/2 the trunk space for a big brick of a battery, like we NAH owners do. The battery could be conformally mounted to the belly pan, or inside fenders, behind bumpers, or any number of places. Fingers crossed that they can get the bugs out of the thing...
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Replying to: hiwayman (Dec 27, 2007 2:12 pm) |
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Replying to: townboy325 (Dec 28, 2007 2:18 am)
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Replying to: hiwayman (Dec 27, 2007 2:12 pm) highwayman Where did you get this info? Everything I've read - owner's manual, shop manual, tech bulletins - the main recommendation is for 0W-20 year round. 5W-20 and 5W-30 are listed as acceptable substitutes but nowhere have I come across written recommendation to use 5W-20 in the summer instead of 0W-20.
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Replying to: saabgeorge (Dec 28, 2007 7:18 pm) |
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| Noticed a few posts about plug-in conversions and that there are some companies doing it for around $5000. I was wondering if that's practical and/or cost effective in a car that was not designed to be a plug-in. In the NAH I noticed that the battery drains fairly quickly if driven only in EV Mode. So even with a full overnight charge I suspect that you won't get more than a couple of miles down the road before the engine kicks in anyway. Plus, if I remember correctly, the control system keeps the battery in the 40-80% charge state to maximize battery life. I'm not sure how the battery technology differs in the Chevy Volt or the Tesla roadster, but I've read that the Tesla could go upwards of 225 miles on a charge if driven conservatively, which means that the batteries have to have considerably more charge capacity than that built into current hybrids. | |
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