Transmission smoothing out over time - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Muskokan · 09-19-2013, 06:35 PM

You guys with low miles, not liking how the manual transmission feels... Have hope! Today I was running around town, and noticed... Nothing, no downshift resistance, no rattle in low rpm, no crunchy 3rd, even the clutch coming out of 2nd seemed smoother, it's like something finally snapped into where it's supposed to be. Went for a good drive on some back roads, by far the most fun I've had with my brz since I've owned it.

All stock fluids still, 4k km.

jeffchap · 09-19-2013, 06:39 PM

I've noticed this too, and the engine seems to have limbered up some as well. It feels a little quicker revving now. Almost 5k miles here.

R2 · 09-19-2013, 08:02 PM

11,000km on mine now and it does feel better and smoother than when new, but I still get the crunches and the extreme notchiness when the temperatures drop at night. I was hoping this would improve more with km's but it hasn't as much as I wanted. So, just this last week I've decided that it is new fluid time for me!

tonylop33 · 09-19-2013, 08:31 PM

I hope it is not like the old racing saying..."it was running better than ever, right before it blowed up".

torqdork · 09-19-2013, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muskokan

You guys with low miles, not liking how the manual transmission feels... Have hope! Today I was running around town, and noticed... Nothing, no downshift resistance, no rattle in low rpm, no crunchy 3rd, even the clutch coming out of 2nd seemed smoother, it's like something finally snapped into where it's supposed to be. Went for a good drive on some back roads, by far the most fun I've had with my brz since I've owned it.

All stock fluids still, 4k km.

I experienced the same after switching to Redline MT-90 75W90 GL-4 @ 500 miles.

humfrz · 09-20-2013, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonylop33

I happy it is not like the old racing saying..."it was running better than ever, right before it blowed up".

.......

.... my laugh for the day .... thanks ....

We're jest ah messen wich ya OP ....

humfrz

hmong337 · 09-20-2013, 02:19 AM

YES!

The transmission is in the break-in stages (mine's a 05/13) and will only get better in time. Of course that is with accurate use and routine maintenance. But I'm loving the gearbox everyday the more I drive the car.

With the mr2, the e153 transmission is silky and strong, but now feels like I'm shifting a schoolbus compared to the FRS

Muaddib · 09-20-2013, 02:24 AM

My MR2 and Supra were extremely smooth shifting. I remember i used to shift with one finger. I guess we need more km to break in the transmission.

Sonolin · 09-20-2013, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hmong337

YES!

The transmission is in the break-in stages (mine's a 05/13) and will only get better in time. Of course that is with accurate use and routine maintenance. But I'm loving the gearbox everyday the more I drive the car.

With the mr2, the e153 transmission is silky and strong, but now feels like I'm shifting a schoolbus compared to the FRS

I didn't even know you got an FR-S congrats! I loved the MR2 saw the thread a while back are you keeping that? Those cars are awesome.

I do agree with the OP at first my transmission did not give me a lot of assurance but lately its been feeling very good. Just past 6k miles. I also think getting "better" at shifting it helped a lot as this was my first manual car, but I definitely notice almost no shaking of the tranny in early revs like I did before.

Muskokan · 09-20-2013, 06:23 AM

last couple days my "high" for this car has been great, cant stop taking it for drives. tranny is consistent, it doesn't look like it was just a one time thing!

FRSFirestorm · 09-20-2013, 11:26 AM

I've stated in a couple threads that my trans has improved with mileage/use. I'm at 12k miles now. The 1-2 shift is much better but still grinds occasionally. I changed fluids early on.

Muskokan · 09-20-2013, 11:39 AM

Is it just a myth that the stock fluids have "additives" for break in? Anybody able to debunk/prove this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRSFirestorm

I've stated in a couple threads that my trans has improved with mileage/use. I'm at 12k miles now. The 1-2 shift is much better but still grinds occasionally. I changed fluids early on.

torqdork · 09-20-2013, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muskokan

Is it just a myth that the stock fluids have "additives" for break in? Anybody able to debunk/prove this?

Which fluids? I doubt the driveline fluids have additives and are straight conventional lubricants. The engine, maybe, but for the first time in any new car I'm staying with the Toyota branded 0W-20 synthetic oil during warranty. Toyota claims it has proprietary additives that ease my Subaru anxiety.

strat61caster · 09-20-2013, 01:01 PM

Agreed, at nearly 14k my crickets are gone as well.

:happy0180:

Edit: it isn't perfect, just better.

09-19-2013, 06:35 PM	#1
Muskokan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: white Sport-tech Location: Ontario Posts: 676 Thanks: 204 Thanked 320 Times in 149 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Transmission smoothing out over time You guys with low miles, not liking how the manual transmission feels... Have hope! Today I was running around town, and noticed... Nothing, no downshift resistance, no rattle in low rpm, no crunchy 3rd, even the clutch coming out of 2nd seemed smoother, it's like something finally snapped into where it's supposed to be. Went for a good drive on some back roads, by far the most fun I've had with my brz since I've owned it. All stock fluids still, 4k km.

09-19-2013, 08:31 PM	#4
tonylop33 Certified Car Nut Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: 2013 BRZ WRB Limited 6MT Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 479 Thanks: 130 Thanked 113 Times in 67 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I hope it is not like the old racing saying..."it was running better than ever, right before it blowed up". __________________ Prior cars: 2011 GT-R (still owned), 2007 Saleen Parnelli Jones Mustang, 2007 Mini Cooper S, 2004 MazdaSpeed Miata Turbo, 2003 G35 Sports Coupe, 2002 WRX, 2001 Z28 SS, 2000 300ZX, 1995 BMW M3, 1882 Nissan 280ZX, 1981 RX7, 1978 Camaro Z28, 1968 Shelby GT 350 Last edited by tonylop33; 09-20-2013 at 01:39 AM.

09-20-2013, 02:19 AM	#7
hmong337 Emperor JDM Join Date: Jun 2013 Drives: '91 MR2 Gen3 3SGTE, '13 FRS Location: Onterrible, Canada Posts: 1,750 Thanks: 3,498 Thanked 909 Times in 495 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	YES! The transmission is in the break-in stages (mine's a 05/13) and will only get better in time. Of course that is with accurate use and routine maintenance. But I'm loving the gearbox everyday the more I drive the car. With the mr2, the e153 transmission is silky and strong, but now feels like I'm shifting a schoolbus compared to the FRS __________________

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09-19-2013, 08:02 PM	#3
R2 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Drives: FR-S Location: Sask., Canada Posts: 250 Thanks: 84 Thanked 89 Times in 55 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	11,000km on mine now and it does feel better and smoother than when new, but I still get the crunches and the extreme notchiness when the temperatures drop at night. I was hoping this would improve more with km's but it hasn't as much as I wanted. So, just this last week I've decided that it is new fluid time for me!

09-20-2013, 02:24 AM	#8
Muaddib Mentat Join Date: Jun 2013 Drives: 2013 Scion FRS 6MT Location: Vancouver Posts: 542 Thanks: 666 Thanked 358 Times in 198 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My MR2 and Supra were extremely smooth shifting. I remember i used to shift with one finger. I guess we need more km to break in the transmission.

09-20-2013, 06:23 AM	#10
Muskokan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: white Sport-tech Location: Ontario Posts: 676 Thanks: 204 Thanked 320 Times in 149 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	last couple days my "high" for this car has been great, cant stop taking it for drives. tranny is consistent, it doesn't look like it was just a one time thing!

09-20-2013, 11:26 AM	#11
FRSFirestorm Red is Fastest Join Date: Dec 2012 Drives: 13 FRS 6MT Firestorm Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 439 Thanks: 85 Thanked 242 Times in 120 Posts Mentioned: 11 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I've stated in a couple threads that my trans has improved with mileage/use. I'm at 12k miles now. The 1-2 shift is much better but still grinds occasionally. I changed fluids early on.

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