Transmission Oil Comparison - Notes, Data, and Results

[raisingAnarchy]

Originally Posted by Desertnate

For those of us who use the car for both Autocross AND daily drive it in sub-freezing winter conditions, is the heavier transmission fluid even practical? I'd rather not have to wait several minutes for the car to warm up before it's drivable.

I remember as a kid my Dad's car in the 80's was impossible to shift until it warmed up. I'd rather not have to deal with that.

If you have a manual transmission, I'm pretty sure idling in your driveway for even a half an hour wouldn't warm up the transmission. The best way to warm up your car, even in freezing conditions, is to just drive it and take it easy for a time.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by raisingAnarchy

If you have a manual transmission, I'm pretty sure idling in your driveway for even a half an hour wouldn't warm up the transmission. The best way to warm up your car, even in freezing conditions, is to just drive it and take it easy for a time.

Not to mention, that's also a terrible way to warm up the engine as well.

Once it gets out of cold start, just take it easy until it warms up.

[Desertnate]

Originally Posted by raisingAnarchy

If you have a manual transmission, I'm pretty sure idling in your driveway for even a half an hour wouldn't warm up the transmission. The best way to warm up your car, even in freezing conditions, is to just drive it and take it easy for a time.

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Not to mention, that's also a terrible way to warm up the engine as well.

Once it gets out of cold start, just take it easy until it warms up.

Completely agree with you both, and I haven't done it on any modern car I've ever owned.

I only asked because I clearly remember trying to drive my dad's car to school on many sub-freezing days and the oil was so stiff in the transmission, I couldn't get it in first gear at all. After letting it sit and idle for a few minutes, I was able to strong-arm it into gear and after time I was able to shift normally.

I like the idea of running a heavier oil, but don't want to re-live those days of hard shifts in the cold. I simply asked for educational purposes.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by Desertnate

Completely agree with you both, and I haven't done it on any modern car I've ever owned.

I only asked because I clearly remember trying to drive my dad's car to school on many sub-freezing days and the oil was so stiff in the transmission, I couldn't get it in first gear at all. After letting it sit and idle for a few minutes, I was able to strong-arm it into gear and after time I was able to shift normally.

I like the idea of running a heavier oil, but don't want to re-live those days of hard shifts in the cold. I simply asked for educational purposes.

I've found that double-clutching and adding some revs while in neutral helps on cold days. And this for fancy perfomance oil in manual transmissions from E30s, to my 350Z, Speed 3, Mustang GT, and '15 BRZ.