How “Smooth” is your Gear Change?

caravanner · Postby **caravanner** » Fri Nov 22, 2013 2:56 pm

Hello all,

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have just bought a 2005 NC. It is a great car and I do enjoy driving it.

One complaint that I do have is that the gear change from 1st to 2nd and back from 2nd to 1st is very hard (especially when cold). The other changes are acceptable.

I thought the problem may have been old oil in the gearbox. I changed the oil using Nulon SAE 75W 90. SAE 75W 90 is recommended in the Owner’s Manual.

Unfortunately I can notice no improvement since putting in the new oil.

Is my gear change problem normal? If so has anyone overcome the problem? Does anyone use a different oil in the gearbox to overcome this?

Any comments would be appreciated.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:37 pm

caravanner wrote:One complaint that I do have is that the gear change from 1st to 2nd and back from 2nd to 1st is very hard (especially when cold). The other changes are acceptable.

That's pretty normal for any 6 speed box but I must say that ours is generally very good. It just needs a slightly slower change when cold. All I can say is that it is far superior to the E46 BMW 6 speeder.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Sat Nov 23, 2013 12:20 am

JBT wrote:That's pretty normal for any 6 speed box

I've had both an NA and NB 5 speed and 2nd is a pain in both of these as well ...

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Guran · Postby **Guran** » Sat Nov 23, 2013 7:07 am

1st to 2nd works better at higher revs. Hence when the car is cold and you're using lower revs (until it warms up), the changes can be sticky. 2nd to 1st requires very precise rev matching. Also the 2nd to 3rd change can baulk if you're going for a very quick change (eg. on the track).

So your experience COULD be normal. It would require direct comparison to confirm. There are some excellent gearbox additives that help smooth out the shifts.

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Sat Nov 23, 2013 7:42 pm

yep, mine is not smooth at all when its cold.

fine when its warm though

I tend not to go from 2nd to 1st while rolling, not really much point

AntHarmer · Postby **AntHarmer** » Sat Nov 23, 2013 8:43 pm

Hi Guran, when you say additives do you mean just the gearbox oil or is there something else that can be added that you recommend?

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Guran · Postby **Guran** » Sat Nov 23, 2013 10:13 pm

I've been trying some stuff called A9, sourced from ACDC in Canberra. Added it to the gearbox in my NA6 when I replaced the gearbox oil with Redline Shockproof. The A9 is a nanoparticle friction modifier. The Redline is brilliant stuff, but gear changes when it's cold are notoriously "shocking". Not after adding this A9 stuff. I started out thinking it would be snake oil, but have been convinced otherwise.

http://www.technologie-a9.com/en/produc ... treatments

AntHarmer · Postby **AntHarmer** » Sat Nov 23, 2013 10:25 pm

Thanks for the reply. Just had a look at some details on then et, actually invented by the Biro family who invented the ballpoint pen and the dry-powder fire extinguisher. Definitely worth a try I reckon. Thanks again