You would need an auxiliary electronic module to run the transmission electronic controls as a stand-alone unit. You would need to emulate the signals from the original engine control module, such as the throttle-body position (absent in a diesel engine), injector tips and the spark ignition system. An output from the alternator would work for the RPM detection. There are already some plug-and-play devices to perform this control for American heavy-duty automatic transmissions but for a Japanese vehicle with a transverse engine I've never seen it so easily available.
I agree with you about the CVT to increase the fuel-efficiency, and it also would be better to retain this transmission because of the improved comfort over a manual one.
2011-05-07
How can I make my NIssan XTrail's X-Tronic CVT automatic transmission operate properly behind a diesel engine? I'm considering to swap a surplus TD27 into my vehicle but since the CVT even increases its fuel-efficiency I would prefer to retain it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
Another complexity factor in this swap must be the electronically-controlled 4WD setup but the owner didn't specified the traction.
IMHO the CVT is not so dependable as a manual tranny and wouldn't worth the effort to add more undependable electronic stuff just to retain it.
I have a non-turbo Kubota V2203 laying on my tools storage shed and my father-in-law have considered to grab it and put into his X-Trail some months ago but we were afraid to damage the CVT.
I was willing to buy an early Nissan Murano some months ago but since there is no diesel version in the United States and it also spots a CVT my choice was the X-Terra because it's easier to deal with the gears issue.
Taking all the signals needed from the alternator, crankcase and a throttle body placed randomly just to be there to the signal get catched and processed by some auxiliary modules such as those used in CNG/LPG conversion kits, that emulate the signal from the injector tips and change the ignition timing on demand and sending these codes to the original ECM it could solve the problems.
Currently there is no brand-new gasoline-powered X-Trail here in Croatia, it's being offered only with a 2.0 turbodiesel. But a classic TD27 is still a good engine.
Thanks for the input, Marcio. We're more focused on diesel swaps, mainly intending the use of biodiesel, but this experience with the natural gas is potentially useful here where Nissan is currently not offering a diesel X-Trail.
Carolina, we're not going to ruin the X-Trail. Seems like you have never drove a diesel vehicle before. Drive one someday and you'll realize that all you think about'em is actually too wrong.
I also considered the CNG kits as a good source of electronic devices to fool the original ECM but the throttle-body is electronically-controlled too. It's even more complex than we were thinking...
Diesel is the best option to use in my hometown. Since there is no CNG pipeline the only option for those who wanna save money is diesel. Biodiesel is not so known, there are even people who think pure vegetable oil is the same thing..
Using waste vegetable oil you would maximize the savings, Natasha, and usually indirect injection engines like the TD27 are still a good option to do it. Sure, it would be better to filter the oil before throw it into the tank but it would be still cheaper than regular diesel. Some people also report biodiesel to get jellified easier than pure vegetable oil in severe cold weather.
Diesel for a X-Trail would be a great improvement, but the YD range would be a better choice. The 172HP out of a Frontier/Navara is a bad ass.
Post a Comment