Shifting is hard when car is cold

[sirenx]

when the car is cold i have an extremely rought time shifting into gears .. after driving for a bit and warming up the clutch .. it shifts as normal..

any reason for this?

simple fluid change do the trick?

thanks

[TachyonS14]

It's your transmission fluid. I had the same result when I was using some type of valvoline gear oil. I did some research and found out Penzoil Syncromesh was supposed to be great stuff (I guess a lot of dsm guys use it).

And they were right! The differance is night and day between the valvoline and the penzoil. Now on cold mornings I can shift into second gear with no problems the very first try. Also I can get it into first gear a lot easier when going 5-10 mph. Before I had to come to almost a complete stop to get back into first gear. Your local Autozone should carry it, it's great stuff.

[sirenx]

awesome.. ill check it out..

i tried to find some redline mt90 but none of the autoparts stores around here sell it..

thanks

[HashiriyaS14]

I'll have to try that Pennzoil, my transmission is a PITA when it's cold out too.

[Scooby24]

I've used synchromesh on 3 cars now and it's great stuff...but I don't like going 100% synchromesh...it's too thin...and I've seen teeth shred due to that.

When I did my 5spd swap I used 1qt synchromesh and the rest was synthetic 75w90. Car shifts smooth as can be.

When I took it to the track I was hitting gears and popping the clutch so fast I was getting tire scratch even in 4th gear...

on a stock 240 :-)

[GhostDriver]

I've heard good things about Red line MT-90.

[574-240sx]

I have had 5 quarts of MT90 sitting in my garage. I was going to put it in my maxima but I sold the car. I have heard some good things about both but like said previous the synchromesh is really thin, I have alot of DSM and 3000gt friends and they run straight MT90 or blend some synchromesh with it. I have never used MT90 or any other synthetics, I just stick with the regular stuff. When was the last time the trans fluid was changed?

[n1sm0r]

Yeah I had the same problem but now im running Redline Shockproof Gear oil. Its basically 90w 250 gear oil but has the same viscosity of 90w90 oil so there is no power loss, but a lot of heat tolerance. As for cold shifting, its much better than valvoline, and it only gets better as the fluid heats up. I still have problems with the 1st gear thing.

[skydragoness]

Best stuff for old trannies like the S13 (especially) is Redline, however, I use the thick stuff. 75w140NS, its like honey. Turned my crotchety transmission around. I have no issues when its cold.

[slipnfall]

Mine is too when it is cold(ie it has sat overnight). I run MT90 too, and it certainly smoothed things out. However if I try to baby it in the mornings shifting slowly, I get grindage. So I just shift it as quick as I can, with a little uumph and it goes right in. <shrug> Go figure.

Can you give us some more details on what's happening? Are you grinding on shift, does it not attempt to go in gear at all, what? If you can't say for sure when the last time the M/T fluid was changed, that would be a wise starting point. Whatever you do, just don't use GL5 fluid, GL4 only. Also the clutch master/fluid could partially be to blame: makes sure the clutch clevice pin is adjusted on your pedal and the fluid is full/bleed. As the fluid is warmed(and expands), it could be allowing for further disengagement of the clutch disc.

Just some thoughts.

[babowc]

i just used mobil 1, oh no! GL5.it doesnt really matter... how hot does a transmission get? on daily driving?the gl5 fluids react when it gets hotter.. (250 degrees).. i've yet to drive a car hard enough to get the transmission oil to a boiling 250*C

just my though

[Scooby24]

i just used mobil 1, oh no! GL5.it doesnt really matter... how hot does a transmission get? on daily driving?the gl5 fluids react when it gets hotter.. (250 degrees).. i've yet to drive a car hard enough to get the transmission oil to a boiling 250*C

just my though

I'm not sure GL-5 would have any more a problem with heat than GL-4...in transmissions. The AWD transmissions such as STi's require a GL-5 due to the higher shock stability of the fluid...and having two sets of gears will create twice the friction and twice the heat...yet they do fine.

In differentials it's a different story...

[slipnfall]

But I didn't think it wasn't a working heat range issue... it's the higher concentration of the EP shock addatives that become caustic when in contact with the brass syncro's.

[Kenrik]

zerothread?id=95826 <--- how to change the transmission oil I know someone will ask...

[Thrwnsprkz]

ya, I use redline, but again when it cold out the transmission is a pita too untill it warms up

[babowc]

i dont remember where i heard the working heat temp range, but so far, i dont feel any grinding whatsoever with my mobil1 gl5

[rico05]

I have been using Royal Purple 85W for years now. On my FC, 2nd and 3rd would grind, and after switching to RP, it went away. It is like butter in my CAs transmission. But this time of year, it takes about 8-10 shifts and about 3-4 minutes of driving to get her good and warm to the point where it feels right. Welcome to the thermal effects on fluid viscosity.

Science is fun!

[babowc]

hmm i;ve yet to test my car in COLD morning, but i'll be up for it tomorrow morning for class, so ill post what happens.. btw.. our cars ahve bronze? or brass syncros? if so, are they same as ordinary metal?if not.. does anyone have a spare syncro? i'd like to test the actual "eating away" of the syncros by gl5 metals..

[Scooby24]

But I didn't think it wasn't a working heat range issue... it's the higher concentration of the EP shock addatives that become caustic when in contact with the brass syncro's.

synchros in my STi were brass...no problems with the factory GL-5 fluid.