I should say I've never changed the oil of a manual transmission before so, maybe this is normal for a first time change on a 20k mile transmission...

The magnetic plug was thick with dust, maybe almost 1/8" of an inch. The oil was not terribly dark or dirty, but it did glisten and glitter in the sun which made me think the oil was full of shavings as well. However, there was nothing big. No chunks or slivers.

Does that sound abotu right?

I replaced it with Valvoline dino 80w90. Things feel a bit smoother upon enternig a gear, but it might be psychosomatic. Shifting into first at low speed doesnt seem any better. Still need to see if getting into reverse is as problematic as it seems to be for many...

jason

 

pretty common sounding. usually that is the stuff from the initial break in process. when you change it out again it should be much cleaner. then again if not something is wrong with your rear diff. the stuff in your oil to glisten like you said is nothing harmful. like you said if there was any clucks you can visually see then that is bad.

 

Sounds normal and consistent with my experience changing the tranny fluid at ~12K miles. I changed the fluid again at ~ 27K miles and there was only trace amounts of material on the magnetic drain plug, much less than the first time. The fluid visibly looked just like the new stuff I poured in as replacement.

Did you change the rear differential fluid yet? I had the same situation - first time there was more stuff on the magnetic drain bolt of the differential than there was on the drain bolt for the transmission. The fluid was darker and appeared to have more sludge like qualities. Second time I changed it the fluid appeared brand new.

 

This is bronze from your synchros. Normal.

 

I have not had this verified, but I think factory fill for the diff has a moly (extreme pressure) additive. Moly is a silver- black powder hence the dark "sludge-like" quality.

 

Oh I should add (and I posted this on a NASIOC forum too )....

In the past few days since I have done this, I have noticed that after I have been at a stop light and it goes green, after sitting in neutreal I put the clutch pedal down and shift it into 1st and sometimes I get a powerful thumping. Its hard to explain. I'm pretty sure I've heard grinding, which is more of something that makes your cringe, higher pitched and grating, right? This thing, however, I can feel it really vibrate right back up to through my arm. Its made 10 or 20 small, quick thumps. This only happens from a dead stop, putting it into first. Doesn't happen when up or down shifting in other gears.

I've been wondering if I've been lazy when putting it in gear, not pushing the clutch in enough. Maybe the new oil has made that more appearant? So since yesteday afternoon I've been pretty careful to depress the clutch all the way at these times. It has only happened once since, and my mind was wondering about the road at the moment, so I'm not sure how well I had the clutch depressed. I have a notirious lazy left foot as it is

Any ideas?

thanx,
jason

 

I have EXACTLY the same experience with my car. It started about 10K miles after I put Redline 75W90NS in my gear box. I think it has to do with the fact that our syncros are crap. Occasionally, if a light turns green when I'm not ready for it, I'll push the clutch and quickly try to engage first and CRUNCH. I've found that if I push the clutch in and wait for "2 mississippi's" I do not grind first, but I will often get the thumping you describe. I believe we are feeling our syncros doing work. I've gotten in the habit of downshifting to first at ~2 mph as I'm coming to a stop and leaving it in gear while I'm at the light.

 

That makes perfect sense to me. I've read a number of reports which describe the first drain of the rear differential as "sludge-like".
My next question is "why"? Is it for break-in? Would it be beneficial to replace the fluid with something similar?

 

So what is it then? You have the clutch not out enough so you get a bit of spin on a neutral transmission, the drive shaft isn't moving yet (Car is still standing) and when you put the stick into first you meet this lightly spinning gears with a stationary shaft and thudududududududump. Is that what's happening?

If so, why didn't it happen before with the old oil? Is the factory oil just a better lubricant, so much so that these things can touch with out the slight engagement and noise?

jason

 

some people have had problems with redline and the synchros. it is alittle too slippery for the synchros. people have added in redline shockproof to aid with the problem.

 

So I have heard... but the Valvoline I put in was not only a heavier weight than most of the Redline people use, its not synthetics like the Redline.... *shrug*

By the way, I'm realizing the some creeping problems I had with downshifting into first, second and third seem to be GONE.

jason