Will Synthetic gear lube help cold weather shifts?

[Dougster]

Hey guys,
Its getting too cold here in Indy and as most of you know these 944's seem to shift hard when cold until they warm up.

Is it advisable to replace that gear fluid with Synthetic gear lube?
If so what weight or brands to guys think work the best?
Thanks Much & how lonbg till spring?

[HondaDustR]

I think the manual calls for 80 weight oil. I've used Mobil1 75W90 with no obvious problems. Only potential problem with the Mobil1 is it's API GL-5 rated, of which the more agressive extreme pressure anti-wear additive mixture is slightly corrosive to brass syncros compared to GL-4, but also better for hypoid final drive gears like the ones in the 944 transaxle, so it's a compromise. A lot of people like redline and Swepco oil, and I think they are GL-4.

As far as shifting, sure it's never going to be as easy cold as warm, but I never had any noteworthy difficulties with mine, although it doesn't ever see much below about 20 degrees F around here in the winter.

[Dougster]

Thank you for the reply/Info...
Its one of my things on the "List of things to do"

[rickharrison]

yes...synthetics do not freeze like regular gear oils.

[Dougster]

That was my line of thinking as well Rick, its ether that or head down to Florida for the winter

[djnolan]

Work the synchros by double clutching and shifting to lower gear at a fairly high speed, only don't need to let the clutch out. each gear has a dfferent set of synchros, and by just putting the tranny into gear, it will spin the synchros. The synchros are probably the cause of your shift problem, if you work them a few times, it will get the gear oil circulated better and loosen things up.

[Dougster]

Interesting. I will have to try that sometime. It shifts fine after its warmed up...

[lovemy924S]

i've started having some serious problems shifting in my car when it's very cold...yesterday in fact i couldn't get into 1st gear at all stopped at a stop sign, luckily there was no one behind me, because it took a good 45 seconds for first gear to finally engage. I think one thing i need to do to help ease shifting is remove the short shifter and return to the stock throw as that eases into the gear more and is easier on the synchros.

I've read good things about redline mt-90 (I think that's the one) and have considered switching to that to try to smooth my second gear shifts...at 211,000 miles they don't like any weather much anymore...

Ethan

[oliver88]

MT-90 Redline is GL-4 rated and is what you should use. It has the proper coeffecient of friction for these transaxles. It will shift much better assuming the syncros are in proper order. Other lubes are too slippery and the syncros aren't "syncroing" properly.

[Dougster]

Thanks Brant, I think that is next on my list of things to do...
New CV/Axles done today...