CVT and some performance mods OK?

[eurazn]

Hi, eventhough the CVT is a great machine and a blast to drive in, I need more power to keep me satisfy. Anyhow, I want to add an OBX header, borla or magnaflow exhuast system, , and HAI. Can the CVT engine handle such modification? Advice and comments are be greatly appreciated.

[nonsequitur]

There are owners who come into this Forum occasionally who have put modifications on their CVT-equipped cars. We would like to get some updates from them since the technical viewpoint is that adding power is not a good idea. Their experiences may validate or rebut this opinion. Who's out there to provide update to us?

Use the Search function in this Forum. We've had lots of discussion of this subject.

[dukesantos]

We have done some minor mods to our CVT: Mini Mania exhaust (nice sound and lighter), panel air filter, replaced the run flat wheels and tires with lighter ones, and removed the spare tire to save weight. I doubt if we added much power but the weight saving also equals better performance. We also spec'd it without a sunroof as another weight saver. The car has run quite a few autocrosses and track days and done well, no problems with the mods.

I wasn't aware of any chip tuning for the CVT but I doubt if you would notice any improvement. Chips work best with turbo or supercharged engines, IMHO.

[eurazn]

Quote: Originally Posted by dukesantos

We have done some minor mods to our CVT: Mini Mania exhaust (nice sound and lighter), panel air filter, replaced the run flat wheels and tires with lighter ones, and removed the spare tire to save weight. I doubt if we added much power but the weight saving also equals better performance. We also spec'd it without a sunroof as another weight saver. The car has run quite a few autocrosses and track days and done well, no problems with the mods.

I wasn't aware of any chip tuning for the CVT but I doubt if you would notice any improvement. Chips work best with turbo or supercharged engines, IMHO.

Yes, has chip mod for the CVT. Severals have it and love it. Anyhow, it seems to me (as suggested) that I should reconsider to reduce the car's weight rather than increasing the power. Please let me know if you have anything else to add on this matter. Many thanks for your reply.

[Rally_it]

Ok. I think im a good example for this thread.

My car has:
Borla exhaust
PiperX air intake

Weight being removed constantly
lightweight wheels(planning on buying even lighter ones)

So far the CVT is running flawlessly. Granted, i dont have the header yet, but i think i may get a throttle body first. My CVT has 28k miles on it and it is still running strong, and fast. The CVT mod for the is GREAT. I'm a little scared to add more power, but only because of the rumors that float around. I'm going to give the some time since its my my most recent mod, and then start stepping it up again if the CVT holds on strong.

removing weight does help a lot, especially with the wheels since they are unsprung weight. I took the rear seats out, removed some unnecessary trim pieces, my spare tire, my heavy stock rims, and I am currently planning on removing the front stock seats for some lighter racing seats. Of course, weight removal could never harm the tranny in any fashion

[jazmini]

I've got a cold air intake (CAI), which is a free-er flow, and cat back exhaust (free-er flowing exhaust that is just from the catalytic converter back) and have no problems what-so-ever. Later, I'll add more stuff to increase power and will also reduce weight too, but that's still a few years away. Someone has posted of doing fairly extensive mods to their CVT equiped MINI and said they had no problem -- they had: header and exhaust, cam, free-er flowing head, CAI, increased flowing throttle body, and more, with suspension mods too.

My personal opinion is if you do the engine upgrades but don't floor the gas pedal all the time, then the transmission should hold up ok. Hopefully the extra power will be present without feeling the need to constantly floor it. For example, take-offs are the hardest on the transmission, which requires the most torque. However, I'm not saying don't drive fast or spirited, as that's where the fun is.

But weight reduction is crucial with any small engined car, as the MINI. Lightweight tires and wheels are the best place to start there, as the gains are the highest.

Presently I've got the 15 inch 8 spokes (15 lbs) and stock Continental tires (14 lbs) so the weight of each tire/wheel combo is just over 29 lbs (which is fairly good). A pound saved at the tire/wheel is equivalent to four pounds on the body. If I can get the tire/wheel weight down further, say to 26 lbs, that's a savings of 3 lbs per tire/wheel or 12 lbs for that, which multiplied by the factor of four is 48 lbs, quite good -- then removing the spare tire/wheel adds more, maybe 15 lbs. It all adds up. You'll definitely feel a 50 lb reduction.

Plus, the manual shifts in the CVT seem quicker when the weight is less, i.e., such as when you are driving alone compared to when you have someone else in the car.

[eurazn]

First of all, I would like to say thank you for all of your replies. It seems that chip, exhuast, and cold air intake will not hurt the CVT (if I don't abuse it too much). Honestly, past summer I drove in manual mode a lot and got car to go quite fast sometime. Especially in cool weather, sometime the car just imaze me that it can be that fast. However, after extensive abuse, I notice the band is slipping and will not engage when hard acceleration and changing gear for a second or two. Currently, I drive it more carefully by using SD most of the time when I need to accelerate and D to save some gas. I do still have fun on curves and turns though .

Here is my plan by the summer:
1) 15" Flight Rotas and Toyo Proxes 4
2) H-sport springs and rear sway.
3)
3) Borla catback exhaust

Mod that I want to build (with the help of the physic's workshop). Very hard to achieve, but doable :
CAI or HAI
Front and rear strut
Light brackets
Front and rear diffuser

[nonsequitur]

Quote: Originally Posted by eurazn

However, after extensive abuse, I notice the band is slipping and will not engage when hard acceleration and changing gear for a second or two.

What does this sentence mean? It seems important to understand this one.

[eurazn]

The car doesn't accelerate, seems like it's in neutral while it's in first or second gear. Maybe slipage I really don't know.

[nonsequitur]

Quote: Originally Posted by eurazn

Maybe slipage I really don't know.

I would encourage you to read the technical brief on the gearbox. It's posted here in the CVT Forum (ZF ecoTronic VT1F Automatic Gearbox Description), giving a more detailed review of how it works.

"Slip is death" in this gearbox. I really doubt that your machine's pushbelt is slipping, but you may be experiencing a dance with the EMS2000 computer as it works to map the inputs from that right foot into translated action from the VT1F.

[Rally_it]

I have a feeling that like on your initial acceleration, they have built in a short lag so that you shifting gears isnt too abrupt and jolting. Its a shame there isnt a "sport" mode for the manual mode that jolted you but shifted faster

[Rally_it]

I wish there was some way to find out how my CVT is doing in terms of wear. That way i could gauge how my mods and driving style are affecting my tranny. I have been talking to some tuners, and may actually be going one step further and adding the throttle body once pilo racing releases their new one, and then getting my updated to take the throttle body into account.

[eurazn]

Thanks Rally, I hope that is what happened like you desribed. I will take nonsequitur's advice and will discuss this with the dealer when my car is in for rattle fix. Once again many thanks

P.S: Rally, could you give me a review on with the CVT?

[Rally_it]

certainly...i will make a new post so everyone can see it in the CVT forum...it will be there some time tomorrow. I have a lot of work to do tonight

[Vicki2]

i thought this is an appropriate thread for me to ask a question in ...

I have a automatic one with sunroof and 17'' s spoke wheels so alreadfy my car is heavier, i got warned about straining the gearbox when i first out my s spoke wheels on but it seems fine.......

Im looking to get a PLAYMINI exahaust system fitted in a few months and also get the car chipped ......... would it be able to handle these aswell as already having the extra weight of the sunroof and the heavy wheels?