C6 Cold Weather Shifting
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 14
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C6 Cold Weather Shifting
1. I live in southern AZ...would think this would be a problem here, but wind chill in Tucson is 7 degrees.
2. In recent cold spells my manual 6 speed has a tough time shifting and getting into reverse is nearly impossible some times.
What causes this? Can't the Corvette only operate properly above 40 degrees.
I'm using the dot 4 (I think) clutch fluid and just had the system serviced about 3 months ago.
2. In recent cold spells my manual 6 speed has a tough time shifting and getting into reverse is nearly impossible some times.
What causes this? Can't the Corvette only operate properly above 40 degrees.
I'm using the dot 4 (I think) clutch fluid and just had the system serviced about 3 months ago.
Last edited by TimSweet; Feb 3, 2011 at 02:07 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,404
From: Bethesda MD
Welcome to my world. 
The fluid in the tranny is cold and doesn't flow well below 40* so the synchros need a little longer to match-up. After a few miles, the fluid should warm up enough. Until then I double clutch and don't slam the gears.
To me, the TR6060 seems more sensitive to this than the t56. There are several threads on here about notchiness of the TR6060 in the winter.
The fluid in the tranny is cold and doesn't flow well below 40* so the synchros need a little longer to match-up. After a few miles, the fluid should warm up enough. Until then I double clutch and don't slam the gears.
To me, the TR6060 seems more sensitive to this than the t56. There are several threads on here about notchiness of the TR6060 in the winter.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,897
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From: Lewisville TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
My 2006 Z51 M6 car didn't like R or 2nd gear until it was warmed up if it was below 50 degree's outside.
I changed the fluid to RedLine D4 ATF and it was better..but still not happy.
My current 2008 Z06 does about the same thing and I short shift the car into 3rd until it warms up and just completely skip 2nd gear.
I am not sure if it is a tolerance on the syncro assembly that causes them to be so tight when they are cold or what the issue is. I have talked to the guys at RPM and they have all said it was a syncro issue.
I changed the fluid to RedLine D4 ATF and it was better..but still not happy.
My current 2008 Z06 does about the same thing and I short shift the car into 3rd until it warms up and just completely skip 2nd gear.
I am not sure if it is a tolerance on the syncro assembly that causes them to be so tight when they are cold or what the issue is. I have talked to the guys at RPM and they have all said it was a syncro issue.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,404
From: Bethesda MD
My current 2008 Z06 does about the same thing and I short shift the car into 3rd until it warms up and just completely skip 2nd gear.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,897
Likes: 412
From: Lewisville TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Anthony
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,360
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From: San Jose California
My car did that here in Cali in 70 degree weather until I got about 7K on the clock, now it is much better. I couldn't shift at 2K without it being very notchy, if I briought it up to an area where I didn't need the clutch to shift it was fine. It was irritating as hell! But I have no idea what mine would do in those temps. I would say synchro tolerancing is probably a big factor.
DJ
DJ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,360
Likes: 59
From: San Jose California
I forgot to add that if I shifted around 1300rpm's fast it was actually pretty good when cold. I tried the slow shifting and skipping gears, but the fast shifting at very low rpm's worked pretty good.
DJ
DJ
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Verdad Gallardo
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Mine will nibble a little when the temps are low. If you shift slowly you can get the car into second. Just can't do it fast. The lube warms up within a mile of my house so after that it is like driving the car any other day. My two C5s did the same thing. Nothing to worry about.
Bill
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,360
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From: San Jose California
Mine will nibble a little when the temps are low. If you shift slowly you can get the car into second. Just can't do it fast. The lube warms up within a mile of my house so after that it is like driving the car any other day. My two C5s did the same thing. Nothing to worry about.
Bill
Bill
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Bethesda MD
10 or 15 minutes of driving (i.e. movement) cures it. 
If you were suggesting sitting and idling, that will help an A6, but it isn't going do anything very useful for a M6. I wouldn't suggest idling an A6 for more than a minute unless it was super cold out.
If you were suggesting sitting and idling, that will help an A6, but it isn't going do anything very useful for a M6. I wouldn't suggest idling an A6 for more than a minute unless it was super cold out.
