No there is no way to fix this as it is normal. Fluid thickness increases as temps get lower.

 

okay so im not really hurting anything then, well other than cold being bad for a car anyways.

 

Dont worrie I noticed the same thing with my 05 with an MTX-75, hard to shift when its cold outside, gets better once the fluid warms up.

-Ryan

 

I've noticed that too. Tapping the accelerator seems to smooth the shifts out, but I'm not sure why. I'm not double-clutching it, just raising revs a little while the clutch is in.

Edit: Is there any better fluid for the MTX-75 that would work better at these temps?

 

probably not unless you want to change between winter and summer. tranny fluid is a pretty heavy weight. you could go lighter but would def need to change for the summer.

pitch i think the tapping the gas thing works because it should be helping the shafts in there speed up to the road speed. i think

 

Tapping the gas does help. The lubrication system in the mtx-75 relies on the gears to move the oil around. Since the oil would all be at the bottom, spinning the gears by tapping the gas helps get the oil moving around in there thus lubricating the transmission and smoothing out your shifts.

 

Didn't AXON mention that he had luck with GM Syncromesh fluid?

 

probably not unless you want to change between winter and summer. tranny fluid is a pretty heavy weight. you could go lighter but would def need to change for the summer.

pitch i think the tapping the gas thing works because it should be helping the shafts in there speed up to the road speed. i think

I think your confused? mtx-75 transaxle calls for automatic transmission fluid, which is not very thick, especially when compaired to conventional gear lube, that ****s like honey mixed with flour.

I switched to mobile one fully synthetic, and I did notice probably a 25-30% difference, still sluggish, but very manageable. I have a chrome shift knob, so i have other problems when it gets cold outside, like a cold right hand

 

Yea, I have had this trouble with all manual trannies i've had... I could hardly move the shifter this morning in th 0 degree weather.

 

The new spec oil for the MTX-75 is more of a gear oil, using ATF will help out some for the cold mornings. Reving the engine slightly does work as well. I have changed my tranny oil so many times just trying to get it to shift easier in winter... not fun, but it is easy at least.

Ford does have a TSB about this (though not related to cold but hard shifting), it is to adjust the shift cables.

 

This companies products rock.

http://specialtyformulations.com/

I live in Southern California and MTL-P is perfect for me. Very smooth with a firm/crisp feel. It does not even seem like the same tranny. No BS

SynchroGlide has a lower viscosity, so it shifts a tad easier in cooler weather. SynchroGlide shifts superbly...smooth as melted butter and a very positive/crisp feel. SynchroGlide is closest to new Ford fluid in feel (ease), but MUCH smoother and more crisp. Night and day IMO.

Again, I personally prefer the slightly more firm/positive/crisp feel of MTL-P. MTL-P is also super smoooooth...They sure use slick stuff

BTW Specialty Formulations makes a product, MTFGLIDE, with the viscosity close to Mercon V, the lowest viscosity of their MTL line. I haven't used it but I imagine it shifts veerrryyyy easily/smooth even in super cold weather..

I have also used Torco MTF and it IMO better than the stock Ford product.

Email Specialty Formulations for their recommendations..it maybe different then mine. NO reason to have balky cold weather shifting.\

BTW these guys stand behind their products 100%


Some info I have put together over time....

Mercon V
cSt @ 100ºC 7.5

Specialty Formulations MTFGlide
Viscosity @ 100C 7.5 cSt
Viscosity@40: 39

Specialty Formulations SynchroGlide
Viscosity @ 100 9.5 cSt
Viscosity@40C: 42

Specialty Formulations MTL-P
Viscosity @ 100 C 11.5 cSt
Viscosity@40C: 82

Specialty Formulations MTL-R
Viscosity @ 100 C 14.7 cSt
Viscosity@40 C: 93

Redline MTL
Viscosity @ 100 10.6
Viscosity@40 C:56.2

Redline MTL-90
Viscosity @ 100 15.6
Viscosity@40 C:90.0

Redline ATF
Viscosity @ 100 7.5
Viscosity@40 C:34.0

Redline ATF High Temp
Viscosity @ 100 10.0
Viscosity@40 C:53.9

Torco MTF
Viscosity @ 100 8.35
Viscosity@40 C 53

Torco RTF
Viscosity @ 100 14.3
Viscosity@40 C 82.5

GM/Chrysler Synchromesh
Viscosity @ 100 9.08
Viscosity@40 C 41.6

Royal Purple Synchromax®
Viscosity cSt @ 100°C 7.7
Viscosity@40 C 35.3

 

The 4 cylinder Contours had the stiff shifter on cold morning problem too. The cure, if memory serves me correctly, was Severe Friction Modifier. This is a little bottle of stuff that you can pick up at a Ford parts counter to add to your trans fluid.

Try it.

 

This companies products rock.

http://specialtyformulations.com/

I live in Southern California and MTL-P is perfect for me. Very smooth with a firm/crisp feel. It does not even seem like the same tranny. No BS

SynchroGlide has a lower viscosity, so it shifts a tad easier in cooler weather. SynchroGlide shifts superbly...smooth as melted butter and a very positive/crisp feel. SynchroGlide is closest to new Ford fluid in feel (ease), but MUCH smoother and more crisp. Night and day IMO.

Again, I personally prefer the slightly more firm/positive/crisp feel of MTL-P. MTL-P is also super smoooooth...They sure use slick stuff

BTW Specialty Formulations makes a product, MTFGLIDE, with the viscosity close to Mercon V, the lowest viscosity of their MTL line. I haven't used it but I imagine it shifts veerrryyyy easily/smooth even in super cold weather..

I have also used Torco MTF and it IMO better than the stock Ford product.

Email Specialty Formulations for their recommendations..it maybe different then mine. NO reason to have balky cold weather shifting.\

BTW these guys stand behind their products 100%


Some info I have put together over time....

Mercon V
cSt @ 100ºC 7.5

Specialty Formulations MTFGlide
Viscosity @ 100C 7.5 cSt
Viscosity@40: 39

Specialty Formulations SynchroGlide
Viscosity @ 100 9.5 cSt
Viscosity@40C: 42

Specialty Formulations MTL-P
Viscosity @ 100 C 11.5 cSt
Viscosity@40C: 82

Specialty Formulations MTL-R
Viscosity @ 100 C 14.7 cSt
Viscosity@40 C: 93

Redline MTL
Viscosity @ 100 10.6
Viscosity@40 C:56.2

Redline MTL-90
Viscosity @ 100 15.6
Viscosity@40 C:90.0

Redline ATF
Viscosity @ 100 7.5
Viscosity@40 C:34.0

Redline ATF High Temp
Viscosity @ 100 10.0
Viscosity@40 C:53.9

Torco MTF
Viscosity @ 100 8.35
Viscosity@40 C 53

Torco RTF
Viscosity @ 100 14.3
Viscosity@40 C 82.5

GM/Chrysler Synchromesh
Viscosity @ 100 9.08
Viscosity@40 C 41.6

Royal Purple Synchromax®
Viscosity cSt @ 100°C 7.7
Viscosity@40 C 35.3

If your not a salesman you should be!

 

Salesman? LOL! Not me. Just giving props for products that IMO work.

There are smaller companies that do make good products, but because of their size and marketing budget may not get noticed by many.

Also am a fan of Torco and Synergyn oils..agaiin, names not usually mentioned on this site.

 

This companies products rock.

http://specialtyformulations.com/

I live in Southern California and MTL-P is perfect for me. Very smooth with a firm/crisp feel. It does not even seem like the same tranny. No BS

SynchroGlide has a lower viscosity, so it shifts a tad easier in cooler weather. SynchroGlide shifts superbly...smooth as melted butter and a very positive/crisp feel. SynchroGlide is closest to new Ford fluid in feel (ease), but MUCH smoother and more crisp. Night and day IMO.

Again, I personally prefer the slightly more firm/positive/crisp feel of MTL-P. MTL-P is also super smoooooth...They sure use slick stuff

BTW Specialty Formulations makes a product, MTFGLIDE, with the viscosity close to Mercon V, the lowest viscosity of their MTL line. I haven't used it but I imagine it shifts veerrryyyy easily/smooth even in super cold weather..

I have also used Torco MTF and it IMO better than the stock Ford product.

Email Specialty Formulations for their recommendations..it maybe different then mine. NO reason to have balky cold weather shifting.\

BTW these guys stand behind their products 100%

The product is great for south cail, but how good is it in the cold ?

 

While it does not get serious cold where I live, in the nearby San Bernardino mountains during the winter skiing season, it gets in the teens and the "P" does really well. Compared to the stock Ford fluid..it is night and day. For colder climates, I suggested a different Specialty Formulations fluid, but stated I felt that one should contact the company for their recommendations, They are in Kansas, which does get serious cold..at least to me. LOL

Contact them and give them a try. You will not believe the difference