SS vs Gear Oil

[tnord]

during the cold winter months i have discovered that when it's cold outside, and the car isn't up to temperature, that on the 1-2 shift it has a high tendency to grind without proper double clutching and rev-matching (who double clutches an upshift anyway?? :confused:). dsc also has this problem. during an off-forum discussion we realized that both of us have OBX short shifters and Mobil 1 75W-90 gear oil.

so.......are the rumors true that SS's wear on your synchros, thus causing our problem? or is it that this particular gear oil is not fond of cold weather, and just isn't lubricating worth a poop????

[kandyflip445]

I guess you could just change your gear oil to another brand and see from there. I don't see how a SS could mess up a syncro unless it doesn't get the sleeve over the blocking ring and speed gear...

[Steeles]

Im running Redline heavy Duty shockproof in mine and it does the same thing. that first 1-2 shift sounds like a newb to a manual. even getting the car in reverse first thing to back out of the driveway can be a revmatching experience. And Im one to let the car warm in the mornings too (gotta luv autostart :) )

[AKADriver]

The short shifter itself doesn't put extra stress on the syncronizers, but if it actually makes your shifts faster, fast shifting will wear them more quickly.

[adey]

FWIW my 1-2 gear shifts are grindy as well, before the car has warmed up (i.e. for the first 2-3 minutes)... that happens every cold start. However, the coldest it ever gets here is probably only 40 or so. :)

[s13driver]

Originally posted by adey
the coldest it ever gets here is probably only 40 or so. :)

lucky you.. the coldest it ever gets in my place is 1.. god damn freeze my ass off.. but there is this weird thing tho i feel shift into first is way smooth than ever :confused: ? but then for second it is a bitch to put that damn thing in gear.. any ideas why ? btw i think i have bad syncros ... kinda weird !!:rolleyes:

[Natty]

http://www.dieselgeek.com/a_word_about_transmissions.htm
Basically, the short shifter gives your synchros less time to work. Think about it.
I'll pick up an SS after I get a new tranny.
Jeff

[240 2NR]

Even my stock shifter was unhappy with cold 1-2 shifts in the winter. I'm running 75W-90 amsoil synthetic gear oil. Just intsalled a B&M and it also makes the problem much worse while the tranny is very cold. I've given up on a quick shift and just let it take however much time it needs to shift (or double clutch). Ironically over about 3k or so it just slides right in, so at some point shifting faster is actually better than letting the revs drop and easing it into gear at 10mph. Could this have to do with the elevated engine/tranny speed allowing the syncros to line up quicker (or more often)?

In any case, once it's warm the B&M is hands down better than the stock shifter and if it means I have to deal with a touchy 1-2 shift in the cold, so be it (of course my car hasn't moved in the last 3 weeks so it's not really a daily annoyance;) )