2018 cold shifting - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

konahic · 02-02-2020, 10:03 PM

Howdy y'all, I have a 2018 BRZ Ts with about 4K miles on it. I got it used with 3K on it. When its cold it really doesn't want to go into 2nd gear. It takes about 15 minutes & 5 miles of driving before it gets easier. I live in Hawaii where its 68 degrees at 6am in January. So, freezing temps aren't an issue. I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this.
Back in the mid 80's when I was a Mercedes technician, we would put Redline MTL Fluid in 300E's to make them shift when it was cold. Anyone try that?
Any help/thoughts are greatly appreciated, Kato

StraightOuttaCanadaEh · 02-02-2020, 10:31 PM

Yes.

Keep changing trans fluid til the problem goes away. For me 2-3 flushes did it. Tried Redline and Motul. For me personally Redline was better. Motul is best once the car is warmed up but not the best while it’s warming up.

Mr.ac · 02-03-2020, 12:05 AM

Well I woundn't won't that particular oil weight, but I would put the recommended oil weight from Redline.

It helps, but it's still a few 5-10 minutes from a cold start that the shift feel nocthy at lest 1&2nd are.

JIM THEO · 02-03-2020, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by konahic

Howdy y'all, I have a 2018 BRZ Ts with about 4K miles on it. I got it used with 3K on it. When its cold it really doesn't want to go into 2nd gear. It takes about 15 minutes & 5 miles of driving before it gets easier. I live in Hawaii where its 68 degrees at 6am in January. So, freezing temps aren't an issue. I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this.
Back in the mid 80's when I was a Mercedes technician, we would put Redline MTL Fluid in 300E's to make them shift when it was cold. Anyone try that?
Any help/thoughts are greatly appreciated, Kato

I live in Greece where ambient temps this period are about 10C and have experienced the same exactly problem, I changed once to Motul Gear 300 with no big difference and recently to Redline MT85 that improved 70-80% the gear changes at least with these temperatures.
Plus I ordered the Mtec neutral springs that helped a lot in my problem

wolffbite · 02-03-2020, 11:05 AM

Based on your climate and very low mileage I'd wait a bit to see if it works itself out. This is a common "issue" with the platform but I wouldn't rush to start flushing fluids just yet... let it break in for a while.

One trick I use regularly (even after changing fluids at 30k kms) is to just row through all the gears 1-6 once or twice before I leave in the morning while waiting for revs to drop. This seems to loosen everything up and then I have no issues.

Tcoat · 02-03-2020, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolffbite

Based on your climate and very low mileage I'd wait a bit to see if it works itself out. This is a common "issue" with the platform but I wouldn't rush to start flushing fluids just yet... let it break in for a while.

One trick I use regularly (even after changing fluids at 30k kms) is to just row through all the gears 1-6 once or twice before I leave in the morning while waiting for revs to drop. This seems to loosen everything up and then I have no issues.

This^
It get's better when you have some miles behind you.

Stomachbuzz · 02-03-2020, 11:31 AM

Same issue on my 2013 with 50k miles.
Didn't really notice it too much over the summer, but definitely a big issue when it was ~20F.
It was almost like uncomfortable how hard I had to pull to get it into 2nd gear. Obviously, I was pushing clutch pedal in all the way, shifting slowly and gently, but it was still odd.

Even when 50-60F, there is noticeable resistance going into 2nd gear when it's cold.

I swapped the fluid out for Redline MT85. I noticed zero difference in performance at any temp.

Westen86 · 02-03-2020, 12:04 PM

Pentosin MTF2 75w80. BMW oil, $25/qt, but worth it. 20 thousand miles and buttery. Even with a lightweight shift knob.

qqzj · 02-03-2020, 01:02 PM

How do you shift? I have the same problem. So the first one or two gear changes, I just double clutch it. It is inconvenient, but not a big deal.

I changed to motul at around 32k. Not much difference. Even slightly worse, like when the car was new. I think the hard to shift issue gets better when the mtf is a bit worn/used.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

StraightOuttaCanadaEh · 02-03-2020, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qqzj

How do you shift? I have the same problem. So the first one or two gear changes, I just double clutch it. It is inconvenient, but not a big deal.

I changed to motul at around 32k. Not much difference. Even slightly worse, like when the car was new. I think the hard to shift issue gets better when the mtf is a bit worn/used.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

Try the MTEC shifter springs. I have that, the Whiteline shifter support and Perrin trans insert and I never have issues shifting like I used to when that whole area was stock.

Lantanafrs2 · 02-03-2020, 03:57 PM

My car gets notchy too when it gets below 60 degrees but improves when it's up to temperature. Check your clutch fluid level

konahic · 02-04-2020, 08:15 PM

Many thanks to all for your responses. I usually double clutch when first starting out, but that doesn't always help. I like the idea of rowing through all of the gears while waiting for the revs to come down. I'll try that. If that doesn't do it, I'll try switching the springs. I'm going to have to wait to change to Redline as there's none to be had around here. At least I know I'm not the only one experiencing this.
Kato

konahic · 02-04-2020, 08:15 PM

Many thanks to all for your responses. I usually double clutch when first starting out, but that doesn't always help. I like the idea of rowing through all of the gears while waiting for the revs to come down. I'll try that. If that doesn't do it, I'll try switching the springs. I'm going to have to wait to change to Redline as there's none to be had around here. At least I know I'm not the only one experiencing this.
Kato

Spuds · 02-04-2020, 10:31 PM

I recommend just giving it a few thousand more miles to break in before swapping fluids around.

Otherwise, good luck.

02-02-2020, 10:03 PM	#1
konahic Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Drives: 2018 BRZ Location: USA Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	2018 cold shifting Howdy y'all, I have a 2018 BRZ Ts with about 4K miles on it. I got it used with 3K on it. When its cold it really doesn't want to go into 2nd gear. It takes about 15 minutes & 5 miles of driving before it gets easier. I live in Hawaii where its 68 degrees at 6am in January. So, freezing temps aren't an issue. I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this. Back in the mid 80's when I was a Mercedes technician, we would put Redline MTL Fluid in 300E's to make them shift when it was cold. Anyone try that? Any help/thoughts are greatly appreciated, Kato

02-02-2020, 10:31 PM	#2
StraightOuttaCanadaEh Wes Join Date: Feb 2017 Drives: Artisan Spirits '17 86 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,794 Thanks: 1,165 Thanked 1,674 Times in 994 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yes. Keep changing trans fluid til the problem goes away. For me 2-3 flushes did it. Tried Redline and Motul. For me personally Redline was better. Motul is best once the car is warmed up but not the best while it’s warming up. __________________ Instagram: @gt86ws

02-03-2020, 12:05 AM	#3
Mr.ac [insert cool phrase here] Join Date: Aug 2015 Drives: BRZ Premium Location: Central Coast CA Posts: 2,369 Thanks: 709 Thanked 1,558 Times in 930 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Well I woundn't won't that particular oil weight, but I would put the recommended oil weight from Redline. It helps, but it's still a few 5-10 minutes from a cold start that the shift feel nocthy at lest 1&2nd are. __________________ New daily driver - Subaru BRZ Premium Weekend fun/track car - '91 MR2 Turbo Gen3 Old daily driver - '88 MR2 Supercharged

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02-03-2020, 11:05 AM	#5
wolffbite Just the tip Join Date: Mar 2017 Drives: 2017 DGM BRZ Location: BC, CANADA Posts: 630 Thanks: 912 Thanked 875 Times in 376 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Based on your climate and very low mileage I'd wait a bit to see if it works itself out. This is a common "issue" with the platform but I wouldn't rush to start flushing fluids just yet... let it break in for a while. One trick I use regularly (even after changing fluids at 30k kms) is to just row through all the gears 1-6 once or twice before I leave in the morning while waiting for revs to drop. This seems to loosen everything up and then I have no issues.

02-03-2020, 11:31 AM	#7
Stomachbuzz Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Drives: 2013 FRS Location: Washington DC Posts: 177 Thanks: 93 Thanked 61 Times in 38 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Same issue on my 2013 with 50k miles. Didn't really notice it too much over the summer, but definitely a big issue when it was ~20F. It was almost like uncomfortable how hard I had to pull to get it into 2nd gear. Obviously, I was pushing clutch pedal in all the way, shifting slowly and gently, but it was still odd. Even when 50-60F, there is noticeable resistance going into 2nd gear when it's cold. I swapped the fluid out for Redline MT85. I noticed zero difference in performance at any temp.

02-03-2020, 01:02 PM	#9
qqzj Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: MDX, Camry Location: SF, CA Posts: 399 Thanks: 54 Thanked 69 Times in 44 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	How do you shift? I have the same problem. So the first one or two gear changes, I just double clutch it. It is inconvenient, but not a big deal. I changed to motul at around 32k. Not much difference. Even slightly worse, like when the car was new. I think the hard to shift issue gets better when the mtf is a bit worn/used. Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

02-03-2020, 03:57 PM	#11
Lantanafrs2 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Drives: 2013 frs red Location: South Florida Posts: 3,517 Thanks: 2,520 Thanked 3,088 Times in 1,654 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	My car gets notchy too when it gets below 60 degrees but improves when it's up to temperature. Check your clutch fluid level

02-04-2020, 08:15 PM	#12
konahic Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Drives: 2018 BRZ Location: USA Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Many thanks to all for your responses. I usually double clutch when first starting out, but that doesn't always help. I like the idea of rowing through all of the gears while waiting for the revs to come down. I'll try that. If that doesn't do it, I'll try switching the springs. I'm going to have to wait to change to Redline as there's none to be had around here. At least I know I'm not the only one experiencing this. Kato

02-04-2020, 10:31 PM	#14
Spuds The Dictater Join Date: Apr 2017 Drives: '13 Red Scion FRS Location: MD, USA Posts: 9,432 Thanks: 26,115 Thanked 12,433 Times in 6,148 Posts Mentioned: 85 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I recommend just giving it a few thousand more miles to break in before swapping fluids around. Otherwise, good luck.

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