Cold Weather Shifting
 

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 ?

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

What are you running in the tranny for lube??
Paul in CT

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

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.

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

Fresh 600W. Just put in a new clutch disc.

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

The lube is stiff and will stop the spinning gears quickly, so shift quicker and at lower speeds.

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

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

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

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.

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

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---

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

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.

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

Oh no not another discussion on proper lube!!!

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

Tried the single clutch quick shift and it worked great. Ryan You Da Man !!

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

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.

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

Glad I could help! :cool:

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

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.

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

A friend recommended putting about 50% STP with 80/90 regular gear oil in the tranny to aid in shifting. Comments?

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

I agree. Even in SoCal on a cold morning I have to shift early to get in second and third. Downshift? Forget it when it is cold.

Re: Cold Weather Shifting
 

You can take a look to my first posting of this thread..... and if you have time you can read the rest.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=272671