98sr20ve

This is normal. Every manual car I have ever had does this when cold. It's not a design flaw. Only thing you can do is let the car warm up some as mentioned. The other thing that helps is synthetic transmission fluid. That helps the most actually.

Barmats

iTrader: (1)

The synthetic trans fluid helped a little this morning. It wasn't very cold and I let it idle for only a few minutes. There was a small amount of "grind" in the 1-2 upshift. Will provide additional info in a few days when the freeze hits.

Ztalker

my 03 original trannie goes through all the gears like a hot knife through butter regardless of outside temperature.....original 03 nissan transmission oil.

Eddie@Performance

iTrader: (4)

You have to allow the new oil to work its way in, when i did a fluid flush i didnt feel any difference until later in the day when i put some miles on it.

Barmats

iTrader: (1)

I have to think that your temps don't go single digit or negative too often...

Since the synth trans fluid change I've driven about 125 miles with 50% city driving. Perhaps it needs a little more time and shifting to thoroughly lube the mechanism.

Eddie@Performance

iTrader: (4)

Haha no, it should of been fine after 50 miles of driving. What kind of oil did you use?

Barmats

iTrader: (1)

I'm not sure but I know the dealership uses Mobile 1 synth engine oil and would imagine they used Mobile 1 fluid for the transmission as well. It does feel a little smoother, but it could be my imagination because I just paid extra for it.

Eddie@Performance

iTrader: (4)

Mobil1 Engine oil is pretty good but not the best, the trans oil is whatever, i used it a few years ago with no improvement on my 300ZX. My recommendation is Redline MT90 for trans and Motul for engine oil. Kind of odd your dealer offers Mobil1 as not many do, we do offer Motul oil changes though.

Ztalker

wonder why my pool was frozen last week.

98sr20ve

Redline MT90 is good (just be sure it the right GL rating) I have used Motul Trany fluid. I loved it on my daily driver but did not like it at the track. It overheated my old track car. That transmission was very tough on oil. Most people used Redline heavy shockproof so to be fair the Motul did very well all things considered. Motul worked really well in the cold.

Eddie@Performance

iTrader: (4)

Quick question, judging from your name do you have a G20 with a VVL engine?

FALLEN1z

i was told by a performance shop that they recomend not using synth trans fluid because it is a better lubricant and the synchros rely on a friction principal. using non synth allows the synchros to create the proper friction better

98sr20ve

I had a 98 Sentra SE (this car comes with the sr20de from nissan) with a SR20VE swap. 190whp, Quiafe, Custom 4 piston fronts/Maxima Rears, Custom Koni suspension, etc. It kicked *** at the track and people with SS's Z06's (first gen) would get out of line to line up behind me to avoid getting passed by the little 4 Door Sentra with no turbo. I sold that car and bought a 92 240 since I needed a cage for the Sentra and that was just silly for a DD. I just sold the 240 as I just don't have the engergy to build another HPDE car from scratch. I bought the G35 instead. I am a moderator over at SR20forum and was the first person to hit 190whp on a VE. It was a pretty mild VE by most standards. Just a I/H/E and some Nissan cams from the sr16. But it reved to 8000rpm and pulled very well for what it was.

jdmz33hellafast

my grind from 1-2 gear too... i was thinking about doing a tranny flush and use motul gear oils

ITHYANDEL

Mine was perfectly fine before the 30K maintenance, they flushed the trany and the dif and 1 day after that the grinding issue start.
I lift the car and open the filling hole, 1/2 quart of fluid leak out from the trany.
they was sparkles inside the oil and a strong smell of rotten egg.
i think they screwed up and put the wrong fluid inside the trany, naming GL5 instead of GL4.
i just change the oil but i'm scared my syncros are screwed.

skaterbasist

iTrader: (3)

Its a very common problem for Nissan Transmission/Clutches.

I had to deal with it for a while. It either wen't away, or I just do not notice it anymore.

.

Kieran@DrivenDynamics

iTrader: (7)

Use to have this same issue with my RSX, the techs did a trans fluid flush and replaced with GM Syncromesh (cant remember exact name but I think thats it). Never had an issue since 7500 miles later .

Barmats

iTrader: (1)

Well, I have to report that after driving with synthetic trans fluid for the past few months in very cold temps, it didn't appear to make any difference whatsoever. Still substantial grinding in the 1-2 upshift when cold, and disappeared after 5-10 minutes of driving. And If I don't let it warm up when it's really cold out for at least a few minutes, it simply WILL NOT shift into 2nd at all.

Fortunately, it's been quite a bit warmer lately and this is no longer an issue. But it will return with the cold temps later on.