So over in this thread there's been some discussion about whether Nissan MTF or Redline MT-85 gives you smoother shifting. I started with MTF, then went to Redline, then went back to MTF, all in the course of about 2,000 miles. With each change, the shifting seemed to improve. Now I'm wondering whether the improvement had anything to do with the fluid at all--whether it's not just the result of the transmission slowly breaking in.

I've never owned a brand-new transmission before; my old transmission had 70K on it the first time I touched it, and it was always perfectly smooth until the synchros started to go. The new transmission (CD009) has been anything BUT smooth since I got it, and I'm wondering whether it will improve as time goes on. Thoughts?

 

I would think it would be the same as for a new car. No towing, no jackrabbit starts, no dumping the clutch at high RPMs, etc.

 

Yes. Same as the break-in period for a new vehicle.

 

When I switched to my cd009 the shifting was not that smooth the first couple of weeks. It was just a lot tighter, especially going back into first. After about 200 miles it started to shift great. I am running Redline MT-90.

I would say just go easy on it until it breaks in and it will get better.