Cold Weather is Freezing my Gearbox, NEED ADVICE
John Warfn
Two nights in a row the temperature here in CT was about ten degrees F.
The engine started fine, but the gear box was FROZEN!!!
I had left the car in gear, started with the clutch down, but couldn't get
it into neutral or any other gear. After a minute of warming up, I was
able to drive away but the shifter felt like I was pushing a stick through
a swamp.
Once the car warmed up it was fine, but my question is, is this normal,
and should I switch to a fluid with a lower viscosity or what?
Jan Andersson
It's normal.
You might try to change the tranny oil to NEW oil, that's all.
Your (Propably original) oil is just old and tired (dirty), same thing
happens to motor oil. They get old.
Don't put any other viscosity oil in there, only the stuff that VW
suggests.
Jan
John Henry
John Warfn wrote:
>
> Two nights in a row the temperature here in CT was about ten degrees F.
> The engine started fine, but the gear box was FROZEN!!!
>
> I had left the car in gear, started with the clutch down, but couldn't get
> it into neutral or any other gear. After a minute of warming up, I was
> able to drive away but the shifter felt like I was pushing a stick through
> a swamp.
>
> Once the car warmed up it was fine, but my question is, is this normal,
> and should I switch to a fluid with a lower viscosity or what?
Here's a cold weather starting trick. Before starting, depress the
clutch, even with the tranny in neutral. This reduces the load on the
starter as it only has to spin the engine, not the gooey tranny oil (I
know this wasn't you problem) After a minute or so, slowly release the
clutch, you'll hear the tranny start to howl a little. Make sure the
parking brake is on, in really cold weather I have had my bugs "drive
away" in neutral because the oil is so thick. (really, try it next
time, on level ground). Once the engine is spinning the tranny in
neutral, the trans oil will eventually warm up. I used to drive my '68
to NH/VT and start it up in -5 weather. The whole car "feels" different
when it is that cold. Just baby it, until it warms up. Keep either 80
or 90wt gear oil in the tranny, maybe replace it when it gets warmer.
--
John Henry
Favorite bumper sticker of all time:
---------------------------------------------------------
| Forget world peace- VISUALIZE using your turn signals |
---------------------------------------------------------
Markus Wandel
In article <19970120051...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
John Warfn <john...@aol.com> wrote:
>Two nights in a row the temperature here in CT was about ten degrees F.
>The engine started fine, but the gear box was FROZEN!!!
Heh heh, you should try an older car at -30F. The whole thing feels
frozen! The seats turn into rocks, the heater fan and windshield wiper
hardly want to turn, the car won't roll on a sloping driveway even
after you push the clutch in (heaven forbid you used the parking
brake), the doors creak, door handles don't want to return by
themselves, seatbelts hardly roll back when you take them off... and as
for the gearshift, if you have a Wabbit like me (I know, wrong
newsgroup!) be careful trying to pull it into neutral because it takes
so much force you could easily mangle the bazillion little metal and
plastic bits in the linkage.
On my last car I would routinely rev the engine quite high before
letting the clutch in for the first time (in neutral!) otherwise the
resistance of the cold gearbox would stall the engine.
10W30 engine oil at that sort of temperature has the viscosity of honey.
It amazes me that cars can take this sort of abuse at all.
--
Markus Wandel Ottawa Ont. Canada (613) 592-1225
mar...@pinetree.org <-- NOT 'mwa...@bnr.ca' (that's for work only)
*** DISCLAIMER *** Not speaking for or representing my employer in any way.
GCoffey974
try changin' the gear lube, worked for me
myvws...@aol.com
In article <19970125105...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
gcoff...@aol.com (GCoffey974) writes:
>try changin' the gear lube, worked for me
VW's factory manuals recommend 80W if it's going to be
below about 15 F, and ATF for non-highway driving
in Arctic conditions (-20 F or worse).
Any condition where the tranny will see extended
service or any operation at "normal" temps, the thicker
grades of oil are recommended.
Rob
Andrew Stokes
How about trying Amsoil synthetic 75W-90 gear lube? It has a pour point of -54
degrees C (-65 degrees F). Look under 'lubricants' in your yellow pages to
find your local Amsoil dealer to obtain more information or you can call Amsoil
direct at 1-800-777-8491.
Andrew Stokes
In article <19970131070...@ladder01.news.aol.com>, myvws...@aol.com
says...