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After you have broken in the C8 for over 500 miles and you set it in launch control , will I be shifting the car with the paddles or will the car be in automatic shift mode ? Thanks.
You will do it in auto mode, everything happens so fast you can't really keep up. We tried it in manual mode at Spring Mountain and it was not good. The first time you get a good launch with no spin and do 3.0 or less to 60, it will become crystal clear WHY this car has a DCT and not a manual. It is geared SO low, you wouldn't get the clutch fully engaged before it was time to try and push it back in all the while you're bouncing off the rev limiter.
Last edited by Phil1098; Dec 23, 2020 at 11:25 PM.
Would appreciate the detailed steps to launch too. Mine is ready and I don't want to mess up. Thank you
Car in Track mode> Gear selector in Drive > Double tap traction control (ESC) button> PTM menu appears, any selection works (on cars without PTM, 2 orange lights for ABS and traction control illuminate) > really press the brake all the way to the floor> Press gas to floor> when RPMs settle to around 3500rpm, release brake. Boom, He Gone!
Last edited by ZeroDark30; Dec 24, 2020 at 10:11 AM.
You will do it in auto mode, everything happens so fast you can't really keep up. We tried it in manual mode at Spring Mountain and it was not good. The first time you get a good launch with no spin and do 3.0 or less to 60, it will become crystal clear WHY this car has a DCT and not a manual. It is geared SO low, you wouldn't get the clutch fully engaged before it was time to try and push it back in all the while you're bouncing off the rev limiter.
May also be necessary to be in auto to have "Boosted Shift" activate.
GM and Tremec said they found a way to have both clutches engaged (I assume for a fraction of a second) on fast acceleration (at least 1st and 2nd) They have not discussed the details but these are quotes:
1st by GM’s Chief Engineer, Piatek: “We found that during very aggressive launches we can drive torque through both shafts/clutches simultaneously which improves the 0 to 60 times.”
2nd from Road and Track: "With the C8's Performance Launch mode, the car will actually use the inertia of the engine coming down between revs to propel the car forward. Chevy calls these "Boosted Shifts," and they're only used with a Performance Launch."
Car in Track mode> Gear selector in Drive > Double tap traction control (ESC) button> PTM menu appears, any selection works (on cars without PTM, 2 orange lights for ABS and traction control illuminate) > really press the brake all the way to the floor> Press gas to floor> when RPMs settle to around 3500rpm, release brake. Boom, He Gone!
As common sense as it sounds, steering angle (or lack thereof) is also required. I know, only an idiot would try launching a car with the wheel turned at all, but the computer does look at that also.
As common sense as it sounds, steering angle (or lack thereof) is also required. I know, only an idiot Mustang owner would try launching a car with the wheel turned at all, but the computer does look at that also.
Only thing I think is odd about launch control is the low rpms you launch at.
It rolls out at 3500rpm using launch control. At that RPM the engine is producing ~80% of peak torque. Given the power is governed to roughly the same in the low gears during break-in, I doubt it’s a coincidence.
It rolls out at 3500rpm using launch control. At that RPM the engine is producing ~80% of peak torque. Given the power is governed to roughly the same in the low gears during break-in, I doubt it’s a coincidence.
I'm specify referring to when you step on the brake and gas. I'm used to 3500 rpms at launch...that's all I am saying here
Read the following from the owners manual. Using Launch Control depends on whether you think it is part of track related activities or not. My opinion is it is, as it was designed for the drag strip, which would be a track related activity, but that's just my opinion
Read the following from the owners manual. Using Launch Control depends on whether you think it is part of track related activities or not. My opinion is it is, as it was designed for the drag strip, which would be a track related activity, but that's just my opinion.
In my opinion, Launch Control is not specific to just track events. The 2023 manual references "competitive driving" when discussing Launch Control. Yes, that can be done on a track, but does not have to be limited to track. The important additional information that you gave is to break in the car to 1,500 miles before initiating the Launch Control.
Additionally, I would only conduct a Rapid Exit "Double Paddle Declutch" after the 1,500 mile break in period and only on a track as suggested in the manual for safety purposes. In my opinion, the Rapid Exit "Double Paddle Declutch" is more risky than launch control since you can reeve the engine to 6,500 RPMs before releasing the paddles, thus causing rear tires to spin on the rapid exit (acceleration). This can cause the car's rear end to drift side to side.
On the drag strip, the C8 cannot do a "line lock" burn out without a modification, the Rapid Exit Double Paddle Declutch can be used on a drag strip just after the car passes through the water box and prior to the start line to dry the tires. I see many C8's on the drag strip go through the water box and do not conduct this very important step to avoid excessive tire spin from wet tires at the start. Some tracks do not allow you to avoid the water box since it spans the width of the lane.
No question IMO don't use Launch Control until you have ~1500 miles. I waited. That is a heck of a load put on the DCT.
Quoting the little GM has said about what it does:
From GM’s Engineer Ed Piatek: “We found that during very aggressive launches we can drive torque through both shafts/clutches simultaneously which improves the 0 to 60 times.” Road and Track interpretation of that statement was: "With the C8's Performance Launch mode, the car will actually use the inertia of the engine coming down between revs to propel the car forward. Chevy calls these "Boosted Shifts," and they're only used with a Performance Launch."
Yep, a forum member who works with electronic car controls said some DCT's for their launch control slip both clutches up to 100 milliseconds to get power thru both inputs. That is a high load on parts.
Only used launch control after I had ~1500 miles. Prior best 0 to 60 Dash Test result I achieved was 2.4 seconds. For these street tests, no dragstrip surface prep, it takes getting the E-Ray battery to 100% (versus it's normal 80%,) getting the tires (both front and rear) hot and good weather conditions. After you "feel" that initial Launch with front fenders rising you'll understand not easy on DCT! But a heck of a lot of fun! (PS, GM no doubt subtracts dragstrip rollout from the displayed number like all car mags. We don't know what value they use!)
To the OP's question about whether to execute launch control in manual mode or auto, I highly recommend auto mode until you get used to it. I tried doing it in manual mode the first time I used launch control, and it rev'ed so fast and the car accelerated quicker than I was anticipating that I banged off the rev limiter before I could shift from 1st to 2nd! Felt like one of those old time videos of the pilot strapped to the rocket engine rail launched contraptions.......was awesome! Auto mode is your friend.
Launch control
May also be necessary to be in auto to have "Boosted Shift" activate.
