DSG question

[snapey]

Evening guys,

I've had a search around but there doesn't seem to be any posts that seem to tie in with what I'm asking. Basically, I've recently purchased a Scirocco R and its a fantastic car but I'm just after clarity on the characteristics of the DSG that seem to be confusing at times.

Firstly, if for example I pull up at a junction, traffic lights etc and put the car into N from D, occasionally when swapping back to D, the car seems to be slightly hesitant when pulling away before springing into life. Has anyone experienced this before or is it a normal characteristic?

Secondly, when in manual mode and shifting down the box at revs (<5K), the changes seem occasionally pretty hesitant some times are pretty jerky. Normally in D, the changes seem alright and the upshifts are pretty seamless, I'd have thought that the downshifts would be equally as smooth?

Luke

[sub39h]

why are you putting the car in neutral at traffic lights?

[rich83]

If using N at traffic lights, when you put it back in D give it a second before you accelerate. If I hit the gas too soon I get the same thing as you describe.

[h4rdy]

why are you putting the car in neutral at traffic lights?

I could be wrong but I was under the impression it was good practice due to heat build up in the Gearbox Oil?

[sub39h]

i treat it like a torque converter auto. i leave it in drive. i don't think i've ever read any advice to the contrary. the only time i might stick it in neutral is at night if i know the traffic light is gonna be a while on red so i can put on the handbrake so my brakelights aren't on as a courtesy to drivers behind me. (it strains on the handbrake in drive - something i've been meaning to get checked.)

in regards to your manual shifting, when you're really pressing on mine can be jerky as well. i'm gonna get a REVO DSG remap as apparently that helps. my car is a 2006/55 though, and they haven't developed software for the later 6sp yet (like you'll have in your 'Rocco R).

hope you're enjoying the car otherwise! can the car handle 265 bhp through the front wheels?

[snapey]

i treat it like a torque converter auto. i leave it in drive. i don't think i've ever read any advice to the contrary. the only time i might stick it in neutral is at night if i know the traffic light is gonna be a while on red so i can put on the handbrake so my brakelights aren't on as a courtesy to drivers behind me. (it strains on the handbrake in drive - something i've been meaning to get checked.)

in regards to your manual shifting, when you're really pressing on mine can be jerky as well. i'm gonna get a REVO DSG remap as apparently that helps. my car is a 2006/55 though, and they haven't developed software for the later 6sp yet (like you'll have in your 'Rocco R).

hope you're enjoying the car otherwise! can the car handle 265 bhp through the front wheels?

I'm only going on what I've read previously, the neutral was due to various sources stating that the clutches in D are constantly on the biting point, thus heating the oil significantly. The delay I'm about may also be due to the slower downshift times of the DSG.

The cars fantastic, not quite as savage as my mapped MK5 low down in the rev range, but when its spooled up its pretty frantic. I'm still a little sceptical of revving it due to only just covering over 3K. It's fine to be honest, the car handles fantastically and I know people may say the XDS is a load of crap, but you can feel it pulling the front in, in sharp corners. 

[sub39h]

my advice is when you pull up next time leave it in D and put the handbrake on. in my car, you can feel the car dip the clutch after a few seconds and it stops straining on the handbrake. that, to me, is an indication that the car knows it's stood still and doesn't hold it at the bite point. the reason i don't do this in the circumstance above is because it strains on the handbrake a touch too long and squats the back which makes me look like a chav.

thanks for the mini-review. the 'Rocco is a very good looking car, particularly in R guise. any plans for it?

[snapey]

my advice is when you pull up next time leave it in D and put the handbrake on. in my car, you can feel the car dip the clutch after a few seconds and it stops straining on the handbrake. that, to me, is an indication that the care knows it's stood still and doesn't hold it at the bite point.

thanks for the mini-review. the 'Rocco is a very good looking car, particularly in R guise. any plans for it?

I've already done the OE LED number plate lights, I may in the future take it for a trip to Revo, but other than that, I'd pretty much say its as I'd want out the box.

[ROH ECHT]

I almost always engage the launch control at lights. Same thing as putting it into neutral.

[sub39h]

interesting. i've only used it a couple of times. bit unneecssary no?

[paul896]

I always put it in neutral as well at traffic light, but only if im know they wont change straight away. If i leave it in D i can feel the clutch at biting point, and tho automatics should be driven in D all the time, i dont want to be using that as my excuse to VW when something goes wrong. Plus it uses slightly less fuel in N when idling. Every little helps

I have noticed tho if you change gear, usually down, and the box wasnt expecting it, it can be quite hesitant and jerky, but 95% of the time its smooth and seemless

[T J Hooker]

My mk5 GTi is always left in D at lights and 6yrs on the gearbox is still as it was on day 1. So from that I'd say the difference in wear and tear etc etc between D and N at the lights is virtually nil.

[Richn83]

OP as Rich said if you go from N to D and then get on the gas striaght away there is usually a hesitation followed by a clunk as the box dumps the clutch giving a jerky pull off, if you make sure you keep on the brake pedal fully unitl you have engaged D and then switch to the throttle you will pull away normally its almost a change to driving style as its normal with a manual to transition as you engage the gear.

You cant really treat a DSG like a torque converter as its not, in N as mentioned it will heat up the fluid rapidly if you have ever monitored the gearbox fluid with VCDS you will see one of the temp sensors double when held in D not moving and the fluid in the DSG is somewhat temp sensitive as you will see by googling the open front fog grill is VW spec for hot countries with DSG cars to help cool the fluid.

If you read TEFF's build thread you will see that the clutch packs on the DSG are soaked (impregnated with fluid) in-order for them to work properly so looking after your fluid will look after your DSG box.  Just my 2p but I will always engage N at lights or junctions where I can rather than hold the bite point as everything wears out and has a limited amount of energy transfer its designed to absorb over its life time (this was also in a thread recently as someone is designing a clutch pack system)