Effect of extreme cold on trans?

[lone_wolf025]

Its really cold out (around 5 degrees (F) above zero or less) and the car has been sitting for several hours in this cold. I've noticed that the transmission is noticeably slipping in gear for the first mile of driving. As the distance and time continues the effect eventually fades away. I'd say within the first quarter mile the effect is very pronounced. If I had to guess I'd say maybe half the power of the engine is getting to the wheels for that first quarter.

Question is: Is this merely an affect of the extreme cold OR is it demonstrating that something is amiss?

I'm thinking its just the cold, but I've never experienced this on any other car. Under warmer temps (mid teens and above) I have never noticed any problems.

And forgive me if its a dumb question...

[digitalballz]

I would say not a dumb ? I would also say that you might have a problem that you might be catching early cuz the cold is enhancing (sp) it. I have had my cars in colder weather for longer with no probs.

[lone_wolf025]

Interesting...lets see if anyone else chimes in as well.

[Grreen99GT]

my car seems the same way, it runs a little harder when its cold, but as soon as it warms it up it runs like normal

[lone_wolf025]

Running a little harder I'd expect. But when pulling out of a space under low throttle conditions does it feel like the power just isn't being transfered? Its the same feeling like my bro's '96 GP was when it cold soaked. His trans would feel like it was slipping on that first movement. Cept his was worse whenever the average datytime temp got below 40 and the car sat for 6 or more hours. He never saw a problem in the summer.

[Rich]

today when i was driving my work jeep i noticed the trans slipped a bit. when it warmed up it seemed to go away and it didnt do it any other time over the night. it was about 5 degrees here as well so i attributed it to the cold. i dont have a "professional" opinion but yeah.

[H.O. Driver]

In the PCM file it will actually command a firmer shift when it see's cold operating temps, its made to help warm up the fluid in the trans faster and thats why you feel it shift different when its warmer. However if this setting is altered in the file (aka set too high for line pressure and shift speed set too fast) it will cause the trans to freak out and not shift right. When we were ****ing with my trans file, maxed line pressure and peeked out shift speed, the trans was not happy at all. Once toned down a bit, all was good.

[MMGT1]

Have had mine in minus 35*C weather(For you Americans thats really freakin cold!!). Fired up no prob, touch of the key, put it in gear and it didn't want to move. Warm it it and all good. I think it's just the cold fluid. Living in Canada we know to keep the RPM's below 2500 until that trans hits at least 100*F...

[ledfreak]

Had a similar issue with the Cavy a few years ago in -20 C weather, but like Paul said warm it up & all was good.
No issues with my GA so far. IMO, 5 F is a bit warm for the trans to be acting that way. You don't state mileage but a fluid & filter change couldn't hurt.

[Molson]

pffft 5F is NOT extreme cold. Its a typical winter day.

[lone_wolf025]

Mileage is around 31,000.

[Exodus]

My g-am does the same thing when its really cold out. Usually I dont warm the engine up, but when its really cold outside I let it run b/4 I drive away. It seems to run better imo. Although mechanics say that cars now-a-days dont need to be warmed up, just drive at a moderate speed until the car is warm.
But yeah, the b!tch seems to slip at really cold temps

[digitalballz]

Could be just cold fluid not circulating as well as it should. Try letting the car get to operating temp before you leave.

[Ajaxus]

Originally Posted by Molson

pffft 5F is NOT extreme cold. Its a typical winter day.

isn't that a summer temp for you?



and yeah, put me in this crowd too. now i just let my car warm itself up for about 5-10min while i wait inside, makes her drive better.

[Mike Jung]

Originally Posted by Ajaxus

isn't that a summer temp for you?



and yeah, put me in this crowd too. now i just let my car warm itself up for about 5-10min while i wait inside, makes her drive better.

^
Do you remember that discussion that we had on condensation (water) & gasoline in your engine oil ?

& you wonder why you had condensation in your engine oil & steam during your last oil change
(He also did alot of short driving distances before turning off engine & parking the car.)

Plus, you are wasting gasoline (to a extent).



PS: idling your car for x amount of time DOES NOT warm up your ATF (Auto Transmission Fluid) !!!
(Only driving will do that.)
It only brings up the engine coolant temps (& lesser extent to the engine oil temps).

& I hope you like the Pennzoil Platinum 5W-30 synthetic motor oil

[Mike Jung]

(This is just a guess by me...)

ATF is used as a hydraulic fluid in the transmission.

I got a feeling that it does not work efficiently/well when cold.
(It does not flow or transmit pressure properly, until it is up to normal operating temps.)

That could be one reason for the cold driving symptoms.


Offtopic:
Yesterday morning at -16°C / 3°F air temperature (with a wind chill factor of about -25°C / -13°F).
I idled for about 1-minute in the driveway.
It cold started & idled at about 1100-rpm's.
Went on the highway right-a-way (but trying to keep the rpm's down).
Got off of the highway in 10-minutes.
There was no traffic (because of a jack-knife tanker truck before my highway entrance); so I drove the whole way there with no stopping.
The transmission never locked the torque converter in OD during the highway drive.
At the end of the off-ramp: I thought it was alittle harder to brake to a stop.
Look at the rpm gauge: & it was still idling at 1100-rpm
Stopped at another couple of stop lights & my rpm's kicked down to normal idling at about 700-rpm.

So yeah, cold weather can do weird sh*t to your car; when it is not running at normal operating temps.

[lone_wolf025]

Anyone know the operating temp range of the trans fluid you'd expect to find in a stock car?

[rocketfast123]

Originally Posted by Mike Jung

PS: idling your car for x amount of time DOES NOT warm up your ATF (Auto Transmission Fluid) !!!
(Only driving will do that.)
It only brings up the engine coolant temps (& lesser extent to the engine oil temps).

Thank-you I was going to say that. Your car can be at 200 and still move slow. Just drive and easy till the tranny changes like it should.

[sound_xtreme]

remote start ftw

[andrewe77]

Mine feels like it doesn't transfer much power in 1st when it's very cold out and I just started it. It's done it since I can remember and I have 106k on the odometer now.

Sounds like it is normal.