Not a car guy. What would be the downside to keeping the gear shift on "S" all the time other then perhaps poor gas mileage? From a lay person's perspective it seems that it would give the car more oomph all the time. Is it bad for the transmission? I did some googling and I seemed to get the impression that using the "S" gear shift was not that much unlike using say second gear which implied that it is more suitable for going up hills giving the car greater acceleration. I did not get the impression that the "S" gear shift is meant to be used ALL the time. I kept bumping into advice similar to this, "The S is second and the L is low. Selecting Second shifts the transmission into a lower range of ratios for better acceleration and increased engine braking. Use Second when you are going down a steep hill, or in stop- and-go driving."

So now I am not so sure. Can the "S" gear be engaged all the time for a more sportier mode on the LX CVT model or is it a bad idea and should just be used for short bursts of acceleration? Will engaging the "S" gear all the time damage the transmission? TIA.

 

I drive mine is sport mode all of the time. Nothing wrong with that. Honda would also not make a sport mode if it damaged the CVT trans. That is all.

 

I'll come out of sport mode when I get to about 45mph/cruising. No need to run those high revs.

 

Thanks for replying.

>I drive mine is sport mode all of the time.

Right.

>Honda would also not make a sport mode if it damaged the CVT trans

I agree but the question I believe is would Honda suspect that someone would drive ALL the time in "S" mode? Perhaps they are basing their assumptions (no damage to the CVT trans) on whether or not most people would come out of "S" mode during the appropriate time (if there is one, I don't know). So when you say you drive in "S" mode all the time you do mean all the time, right? Like on highways, backing up, parking, and city driving? TIA.

 

Thanks for replying. So you mean other then above 45mph you are always in "S" mode like for parking, backing up, around town driving, hills up and down? TIA.

 

Not really. If I'm cruising around in 35-40 zones, probably in S. Really, just drive it; it isn't a race car. S has its place for getting on the highway, hills, city traffic.

 

Copy that. As usual I tend to overthink things.

 

Thats what I do best. I'm a diesel tech; I have mechanical empathy. It physically hurts me to hear my engine cruising at city/suburban street speeds at 3,000rpm.

 

Unless I’m deliberately revving up through the gears (6 spd manual), my car seems to be at, in 6th, 3000rpm@60 mph, 3500@70,etc...it’s kinda annoying, but still get over well 40mpg on road trips, average maybe 34 around town. 4th, 5th, and 6th are so close, Honda could’ve done better with ratios, but...not annoying enough to get a CVT. I ended up with a black Fit (only manual available, probably my last color choice...). Have only driven a few cars with CVT, including a couple of Fit test drives, not for me. BUT, as as leaving the automatic in Sport mode, only problem I’d see would be a lil less mpg, no big deal, that’s what I’d do if I had the auto - if it were bad, Honda might’ve had it automatically do back to D after a certain amount of time in S....go for it, I mean, it’s continuously variable, not like it’s changing gears, per se

 

Seems to me that sport mode is only running 3, maybe 4 speeds. Revs are too high for me at 40/45; generating more heat, wearing parts, oil life...she'll "downshift" well enough in drive to pass or zoom zoom.

 

@NWCH

@JorbNorb

@Fuelish

Thanks to all who responded. Apologies in advance since I am about to ask another question for dummies

 

Yes Honda has done a ton of testing on the revised CVT trans. And they expect drivers to use it or it wouldn't be there. No need to question something when there has never been reported problems to start with.

 

The CVT is considered a 7 speed. More of 7 shift points as CVT's don't have gearing. These cars don't have enough HP to worry about wearing the tranny or engine out by using sport mode. Honda put it there to use, so use it. Quit coming up with theories or excuses why it will hurt your car when it isn't even something that is a common issue overall. There are no massive reports of Honda owners blowing their trans or engine using "sport mode" because Honda designed a great product overall.

 

I'm not coming up with theories, friend. It's a fact that higher revs will accelerate wear and shorten lubricant life. People are free to operate their vehicles how they see Fit.

 

Except if you do your proper maintenance than its not even an issue. And almost all Honda engines love being revved up to higher RPM's, not even a huge concern with the H brand.

Change your oil on a regular basis and don't worry about it so much. Facts.

 

Higher engine temps will evaporate blow by in the crankcase and prevent fuel dilution.

 

According to the manual sport mode is there for use:

 

Except Honda builds their engines so that they can handle the high revving and they are also very good making them last that way. Driving them to their max potential will not ruin the engine in any way. These are very under-powered and have a very solid drivetrain. Come on people... smh

 

In my 2018 Sport, I often make use of the paddles. It is not necessary, but I like the additional engagement. Sometimes I just use sport to keep the revs up as desired.

I would like to add, that in my experience, even in "D" drive mode, I find the CVT is more than willing to give you revs when you poke the throttle a bit. Not as much as in "S", but it's much more willing than the 4 speed in my '09 Elantra, for example.

As far as higher revs being bad for the engine, I want to point out that the engine in the Fit uses VTEC, which doesn't kick in until 5,500 RPM. It's a feature of the engine that doesn't even do anything until 5,500 RPM. I'm not saying you should live at that RPM, but higher revs are clearly something Honda had in mind in the design. Not to pick on my Elantra, but that engine sounded anything BUT happy north of 4000 RPM. Just something to keep in mind, FWIW.