6spd Manual Gear oil Issues at drag strip

TSRxi · 05-07-2015, 07:24 PM

So I took my 2008 335xi to the drag strip last night. Its got JZW stage 1 tune set up for e40 with a 7" VRSF IC.

Previous time I took it 3 weeks ago ran best of 12.7.. Was able to drop to 12.62 on a run with a good start.

ITs tricky launching even the xdrive manual. I find 4k RPM and feather clutch on launch and got a 1.8 60" time on that run.

So my issue is missed 1st to 2nd shifts on last 2 runs. I changed my manual gear box oil to amsoil Synchro. It was a big improvement from the stock fluid. Much smoother shifting. I think its a little thicker than the stock fluid.

The first 2 runs of the night I had just driven the car 40 miles to the track and the gear oil was up to operating temp. Had no issues on my 1st to 2nd Shift. Then the next 2 runs after the car sat for good 30 mins between runs. I could not get it to shift into 2nd (no crunching just would not go in till RPMs came down) I know all BMW manuals are known for issues with 1st to 2nd shift. I even changed how I was physically moving the shifter.

When I left the track and was in a safe area for a hard start to do a high RPM 1st to 2nd shift. No issues again. So maybe my synchro is worn on 2nd but it seems like when the gear oil is not up to opp temp this issue happens.

Its a major bummer at the drag strip. I went up against the only other BMW a cira 2004 ish M5 that was running low 13's. I should have blown him away but he smoked me as I lost good .5 sec on the missed shift.

I talked to amsoil and basically they said that their oils are not really for racing. I think that Redline MTL is a lighter fluid. I will try to change to redline and see if it helps. I also may lower my shift RPM to 5500 from 6k to see if that helps. I dont think going to a short shifter will help but open to thoughts.

other issue is I dont want to mess up my gear box. I only plan to take the car to the drag stip 1-2 more times this summer.

Dhillon92 · 05-08-2015, 02:49 AM

Nice run! I hear you on the trickiness of the MT xdrive, I usually feather at around 3k, as I'm not really comfortable with the tolerances of the system yet. Still gotta hit the track this season but I do plan on changing fluids, I've heard good things of redline.

TSRxi · 05-08-2015, 11:59 AM

yes I used to use redline MTL in my Saab 9-3 that had 375hp, with no issues at all. I think it has to be partially related to the amsoil. I did 3 hard 5500 RPM 1st to 2nd shifts after I left the track and it did not do it again. So warmer gear oil seems to make it not happen.

I do also notice issue of a little harder going into gear when very cold outside.. so I think the amsoil is a little thick. Bummer as otherwise it makes it shift like butter much better than the stock oil.

Julian2485 · 05-10-2015, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSRxi

yes I used to use redline MTL in my Saab 9-3 that had 375hp, with no issues at all. I think it has to be partially related to the amsoil. I did 3 hard 5500 RPM 1st to 2nd shifts after I left the track and it did not do it again. So warmer gear oil seems to make it not happen.

I do also notice issue of a little harder going into gear when very cold outside.. so I think the amsoil is a little thick. Bummer as otherwise it makes it shift like butter much better than the stock oil.

Why not just use the mtf lt3 gear oil that comes in the car ?

Sidewinderpb · 05-10-2015, 10:08 AM

I've been having some issues with 2nd also. Would like to hear how you make out with this

TSRxi · 07-09-2015, 07:41 PM

So want some thoughts on this. I have yet to try and change out the Amsoil MTF. Have not been back to the drag strip yet. Wondering what is going to solve the issue more the Redline ATF D4 or D6... or Redline MTF.

To recap I have amsoil mtf and when the car has sat for hour or so after driving to the track I have problem going from 1st to 2nd.. no grinding.. just will not go into 2nd till I drop rpm below 4k. I did 4-5 1st 2nd shifts after leaving the track and never did it again. Its only doing it when Gear oil cools and gets thick.

Someone told me to go with the gear oil that has the most detergents in it.

so whats the thoughts? Seems to me the thinner oil will stop this from happening if its only doing it when cold???

Sidewinderpb · 07-10-2015, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sidewinderpb

I've been having some issues with 2nd also. Would like to hear how you make out with this

Going to have to retract this post. Immediately after writing this, synchro's ate themselves. Entire trans replaced under warranty

05-07-2015, 07:24 PM	#1
TSRxi Enlisted Member 8 Rep 44 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi Dinan 2 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	6spd Manual Gear oil Issues at drag strip So I took my 2008 335xi to the drag strip last night. Its got JZW stage 1 tune set up for e40 with a 7" VRSF IC. Previous time I took it 3 weeks ago ran best of 12.7.. Was able to drop to 12.62 on a run with a good start. ITs tricky launching even the xdrive manual. I find 4k RPM and feather clutch on launch and got a 1.8 60" time on that run. So my issue is missed 1st to 2nd shifts on last 2 runs. I changed my manual gear box oil to amsoil Synchro. It was a big improvement from the stock fluid. Much smoother shifting. I think its a little thicker than the stock fluid. The first 2 runs of the night I had just driven the car 40 miles to the track and the gear oil was up to operating temp. Had no issues on my 1st to 2nd Shift. Then the next 2 runs after the car sat for good 30 mins between runs. I could not get it to shift into 2nd (no crunching just would not go in till RPMs came down) I know all BMW manuals are known for issues with 1st to 2nd shift. I even changed how I was physically moving the shifter. When I left the track and was in a safe area for a hard start to do a high RPM 1st to 2nd shift. No issues again. So maybe my synchro is worn on 2nd but it seems like when the gear oil is not up to opp temp this issue happens. Its a major bummer at the drag strip. I went up against the only other BMW a cira 2004 ish M5 that was running low 13's. I should have blown him away but he smoked me as I lost good .5 sec on the missed shift. I talked to amsoil and basically they said that their oils are not really for racing. I think that Redline MTL is a lighter fluid. I will try to change to redline and see if it helps. I also may lower my shift RPM to 5500 from 6k to see if that helps. I dont think going to a short shifter will help but open to thoughts. other issue is I dont want to mess up my gear box. I only plan to take the car to the drag stip 1-2 more times this summer. Attached Images
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05-08-2015, 02:49 AM	#2
Dhillon92 Captain 87 Rep 605 Posts Drives: '11 335xi Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Nice run! I hear you on the trickiness of the MT xdrive, I usually feather at around 3k, as I'm not really comfortable with the tolerances of the system yet. Still gotta hit the track this season but I do plan on changing fluids, I've heard good things of redline.
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05-08-2015, 11:59 AM	#3
TSRxi Enlisted Member 8 Rep 44 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi Dinan 2 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	redline yes I used to use redline MTL in my Saab 9-3 that had 375hp, with no issues at all. I think it has to be partially related to the amsoil. I did 3 hard 5500 RPM 1st to 2nd shifts after I left the track and it did not do it again. So warmer gear oil seems to make it not happen. I do also notice issue of a little harder going into gear when very cold outside.. so I think the amsoil is a little thick. Bummer as otherwise it makes it shift like butter much better than the stock oil.
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05-10-2015, 10:08 AM	#5
Sidewinderpb Banned 329 Rep 1,739 Posts Drives: 2017 340i xDrive 6mt Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: CT iTrader: (7)	I've been having some issues with 2nd also. Would like to hear how you make out with this
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07-09-2015, 07:41 PM	#6
TSRxi Enlisted Member 8 Rep 44 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi Dinan 2 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Redline ATF or MTL So want some thoughts on this. I have yet to try and change out the Amsoil MTF. Have not been back to the drag strip yet. Wondering what is going to solve the issue more the Redline ATF D4 or D6... or Redline MTF. To recap I have amsoil mtf and when the car has sat for hour or so after driving to the track I have problem going from 1st to 2nd.. no grinding.. just will not go into 2nd till I drop rpm below 4k. I did 4-5 1st 2nd shifts after leaving the track and never did it again. Its only doing it when Gear oil cools and gets thick. Someone told me to go with the gear oil that has the most detergents in it. so whats the thoughts? Seems to me the thinner oil will stop this from happening if its only doing it when cold???
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