Cold Weather Shifting

Mulletwagon

Mulletwagon

Well-known member
After a spell of wind chill in the 50s down here, I noticed no amount of double clutching or rpm modulation would prevent gears grinding until the trans warmed up. Is this typical for running As up north during serious cold ? If so, what is a good shifting technique until the trans limbers up and shifting returns to normal ?
 
Had this happen a couple of times up here in Tacoma. I found just letting the car warm up before heading out works. Like 20 minutes or so.
 
Mulletwagon said:
After a spell of wind chill in the 50s down here, I noticed no amount of double clutching or rpm modulation would prevent gears grinding until the trans warmed up. Is this typical for running As up north during serious cold ? If so, what is a good shifting technique until the trans limbers up and shifting returns to normal ?
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Shift quick, don't double clutch the upshifts until the oil warms up. Thats the way I did it when it was 10 outside and I only let the engine warm up for a few minutes.


Edit: Jack beat me to it
 
Drive in low gear at a slower than normal speed, the colder it is the long time is need to get the 600w oil to flow. When I was driving my A daily and the temperature was 0* I could not put the shifter in to gear because the oil was so stiff. I learned to put the shifter in to the gear I was going to leave in or it would take two hands to move the gear shift.
 
Below freezing it takes some effort to move the shifter, steady pressure instead of forcing, then I go a block or two in first, after that I drive normally---(shell Omaha 680 gear oil)--- in the owners instruction book there are suggestions of thinning the oil with kerosene for cold operations--- I don't, have found the short time in first loosening it up enough---
 
Mulletwagon said:
Fresh 600W. Just put in a new clutch disc.
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Who would use TAR in their transmission, that's what that junk is. try to drain it out, put in 80-90 same as a modern car or truck, that's what belongs in the thing, same thing in the rear end, 600 doesn't even have EP in it, you want to wreck your gears ... leave it in.


warrene in Minnesota where it can be 30 below shifting.
 
ryanheacox said:
Shift quick, don't double clutch the upshifts until the oil warms up. Thats the way I did it when it was 10 outside and I only let the engine warm up for a few minutes.


Edit: Jack beat me to it
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Tried the single clutch quick shift and it worked great. Ryan You Da Man !!
 
Up here in Washington State, it gets cold but admittedly not as cold as the midwest! I noticed right off in the winter that it takes a mile or two for the transmission to warm up. Yes, when cold definitely faster shifts at lower rpm, otherwise a need for double clutching or grinding.
 
Magicbox51 said:
Up here in Washington State, it gets cold but admittedly not as cold as the midwest! I noticed right off in the winter that it takes a mile or two for the transmission to warm up. Yes, when cold definitely faster shifts at lower rpm, otherwise a need for double clutching or grinding.
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And how cold was it in the Midwest, it was so cold we didn't exhale on the windshield or frost would form on it ! We would exhale on the side windows.
 
A friend recommended putting about 50% STP with 80/90 regular gear oil in the ****** to aid in shifting. Comments?
 
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