Transmission poor gear changes - oil?

TTDegs · 7th February 2007, 23:56

now that it's getting colder, a few people have joined TopCat in mentioning that their gearboxes are stiff, resulting in poor changes.

Whilst not sufferring from this particular fault myself, the 'cold' bit did start ringing bells...

On my previous car, the DSG (Audi's i-Shift) box was very, very sensative to the amount of oil in it. Especially when cold, and the oil was therefore slow to circulate round all the cogs.
To the point that a number of owners reported complete 'box failures (gear indicator lights flashing, refusing to select 1st etc), and Audi actually replaced quite a few.

In the end, Audi 'simply' released a fix - which was a slightly different filler neck - which then allowed the mechanics to get a little but more oil in!

Anyway - to cut to the chase - might be worth getting your friendly dealer to drain the box oil and re-fill with exactly the right amount.

As long as they admit the issue in the first place (hence 'friendly' dealer), I would have thought it would be warrenty work?

Charley Farley · 8th February 2007, 07:34

Hi TT Degs

I have been told that good quality gearboxes are always tight in cold weather. As soon as they warm up the selection should be better. My Mercedes A class used to be like when I first bought it. Now that its older it doesn't quite get as stiff in cold weather.

Topcat · 8th February 2007, 07:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charley Farley

Hi TT Degs

I have been told that good quality gearboxes are always tight in cold weather. As soon as they warm up the selection should be better. My Mercedes A class used to be like when I first bought it. Now that its older it doesn't quite get as stiff in cold weather.

Well if that is the case CF, some of us have a good quality gearbox, like myself and some of you dont!!

TTDegs · 8th February 2007, 08:57

Hi Charely

yep, would agree - in the cold any box is going to be tighter than when it's warm, and I guess the trick is designing it so that it's not too tight when cold, or too sloppy when warm

Given that (in theory, subject to design tolerances) all our boxes should be the same (per engine at least), the only variable I could think of that might change from one car to another is the amount / type of oil

pjelsworth · 8th February 2007, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by TTDegs

Hi Charely

yep, would agree - in the cold any box is going to be tighter than when it's warm, and I guess the trick is designing it so that it's not too tight when cold, or too sloppy when warm

Given that (in theory, subject to design tolerances) all our boxes should be the same (per engine at least), the only variable I could think of that might change from one car to another is the amount / type of oil

I could imagine that the DSG was sensitive to the amount of oil as I think it was a wet clutch system, but I would expect (unless it is very low) that it is more down to viscosity and parts shrinkage that it is stiffer in the cold (I am sure some of us can find many inuendos in there!!).

TTDegs · 8th February 2007, 12:11

LOL

in the DSG, pre fix, there was apparently not enough oil to circulate to everywhere it was needed - which was made worse in the cold when it had shrunk and gone more viscous.

Becuase the DSG was all computer controlled and very clever, it actually had the ability to say 'no' despite all manner of lever pulling and swearing of the owner LOL

However, becuase the Civ has a manual gearbox (expect i-Shift obviously), the owner is in control, and can force the box to change gear, all be it with some difficulty

Might be completly the wrong tree I'm barking up

But equally might be worth an ask for those owners experiencing problems

7th February 2007, 23:56	#1 (permalink)
TTDegs Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 4th August 2006 Location: Cardiff Posts: 5,638 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	poor gear changes - oil? now that it's getting colder, a few people have joined TopCat in mentioning that their gearboxes are stiff, resulting in poor changes. Whilst not sufferring from this particular fault myself, the 'cold' bit did start ringing bells... On my previous car, the DSG (Audi's i-Shift) box was very, very sensative to the amount of oil in it. Especially when cold, and the oil was therefore slow to circulate round all the cogs. To the point that a number of owners reported complete 'box failures (gear indicator lights flashing, refusing to select 1st etc), and Audi actually replaced quite a few. In the end, Audi 'simply' released a fix - which was a slightly different filler neck - which then allowed the mechanics to get a little but more oil in! Anyway - to cut to the chase - might be worth getting your friendly dealer to drain the box oil and re-fill with exactly the right amount. As long as they admit the issue in the first place (hence 'friendly' dealer), I would have thought it would be warrenty work?

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This thread is about: poor gear changes - oil?, it's in Engines and Transmission at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; now that it's getting colder, a few people have joined TopCat in mentioning that their gearboxes are stiff, resulting in poor changes. Whilst not sufferring ...

8th February 2007, 07:34	#2 (permalink)
Charley Farley Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 25th September 2006 Location: Greenford West London Posts: 486 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi TT Degs I have been told that good quality gearboxes are always tight in cold weather. As soon as they warm up the selection should be better. My Mercedes A class used to be like when I first bought it. Now that its older it doesn't quite get as stiff in cold weather.

8th February 2007, 08:57	#4 (permalink)
TTDegs Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 4th August 2006 Location: Cardiff Posts: 5,638 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Hi Charely yep, would agree - in the cold any box is going to be tighter than when it's warm, and I guess the trick is designing it so that it's not too tight when cold, or too sloppy when warm Given that (in theory, subject to design tolerances) all our boxes should be the same (per engine at least), the only variable I could think of that might change from one car to another is the amount / type of oil

8th February 2007, 12:11	#6 (permalink)
TTDegs Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 4th August 2006 Location: Cardiff Posts: 5,638 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	LOL in the DSG, pre fix, there was apparently not enough oil to circulate to everywhere it was needed - which was made worse in the cold when it had shrunk and gone more viscous. Becuase the DSG was all computer controlled and very clever, it actually had the ability to say 'no' despite all manner of lever pulling and swearing of the owner LOL However, becuase the Civ has a manual gearbox (expect i-Shift obviously), the owner is in control, and can force the box to change gear, all be it with some difficulty Might be completly the wrong tree I'm barking up But equally might be worth an ask for those owners experiencing problems