Z51 manual trans
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Columbus Mississippi
Z51 manual trans
I'm new to Corvettes and recently purchased an 08 3lt z51 manual transmission. Clutch fluid was clean when I bought it and I keep an eye on it each fuel fillup. I drive it on a daily basis to work which is 17 miles one way. I've noticed that when I first get in and shifting the trans its almost like the clutch doesn't disengage quick enough. Or kind of like a very slight synchronizer problem when car is cold. But once car is warmed up completely and Id say driven about 15 miles it shifts smooth as butter. Or if car is still "cold" if I shift at 3000 rpm or above it shifts smooth as butter. Is this normal for these cars to shift poorly until all of drive train has got up to temp?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
Normal...nothing to worry about. When you do change the fluid, just suck out the old and replace it, then drive it. Don't sit in the garage pumping the clutch. You are lucky that you are far enough from work to fully warm up the car.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,999
Likes: 9,764
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
When the transmission is cold you will get a little nibbling on the 1-2 shift for the first mile or so. Just move the shifter slowly and you won't have a problem. Depending on how old you are you might be able to remember 40+ years ago when manual transmissions used regular gear oil and were really difficult to shift when they were cold.
Bill
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Also, during that time when the trans is warming up, you can use the other old school method known as double clutching (shifting into neutral, let out clutch, rev a bit, shift into second).
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Columbus Mississippi
When the transmission is cold you will get a little nibbling on the 1-2 shift for the first mile or so. Just move the shifter slowly and you won't have a problem. Depending on how old you are you might be able to remember 40+ years ago when manual transmissions used regular gear oil and were really difficult to shift when they were cold.
Bill
Bill
