Manual transmission impressions at 220 miles

Another vote for the accumulator delete and magic synth fluid (Redline MT90). I just did it at 5k miles. It has made quite a difference, much better but it's still a truck.

 

Down shift to 1st to stop ??? Really ? It's a truck, not a Fiat Spyder... I realize I'm old and was driving manuals before 1st gear was fully synchronized but it's much easier to change brakes than a clutch if you know what I mean...

 

i have been driving for more than four decades and have driven all kinds of manual transmissions. from 4 cylinder front wheel drive cars, muscle cars, gas and diesel pickups, wreckers and tow trucks, and dump trucks.

the tacoma 6MT is by far the most inconsistent. i would not want to teach someone to drive with this truck.

 

My own post.

 

My neighbor had one when I was a teen, I coveted that car...
He had a hardtop to put on in the winter, it had a round quarter window that was purple.

 

220 miles?

 

354km?

 

I wouldn't touch a TRUCK with a manual made in the last 20-30 years. The old school truck engines, transmissions, and axle ratios were all compatible for good performance. I drove primarily manual transmissions for years but the last good one I had was a 1996 F150. All the newer vehicles are designed for an automatic. Jeep and Tacoma still stick a few manuals in them as an afterthought.

 

Get in it, step on the clutch, start it. Drive it and stop the whining...

 

@RustyGreen, That Fiat is a beauty and looks just like my first manual trans experience . Must have been around '67 or '68...

 

As long as you are the type of driver sensitive to the smoothness of your shifts, you will continue to get better. It takes time to get the feel of this one. I've driven manuals my entire life starting with an old MGA. Generally getting 200k miles out of a clutch (except for the pos MGA). At first I feared I was going to run through the Tacoma's clutch far sooner. But all is good now. At 3000 miles on my new '23, my shifts are smooth nearly all the time though I am still working on the 5 to 4 downshift. I did change out the gear oil with Amsoil trans oil at 1000 miles and it helped noticeably.

And yeah, if rolling to a stop I take it out of gear by 7 or 8 mph. If starting up in second at that speed I ease on the gas to avoid lugging. 1st is very low and second a little tall. The only gear that still annoys me is reverse.

 

Giver time, you'll get it. I find it very smooth MT in these trucks. Are all my shift "perfect" fuck no, I'm human or as I say meat bag.

 

Specifically for the lack of torque to get out of a corner in 2nd i'd recommend break it in and get a tune. Of course i'm bias but it honestly is a game changer

 

OP you need at least 7500 miles before the trans is broken in. I had a lot of issues that worked themselves out over time. Switching to a better fluid like Redline MT-90 helps a little. But, really just time and miles to break it in.

 

Perhaps the underlying issue is that it is a 4200+ lb. vehicle powered by a measly 278HP at best and many expect the performance vehicle with more HP and/or geared differently in the trans. and differential.

You're expecting too much...

 

So delicate lol! I'm gonna start shifting like that

 

I did the accumulator delete mod and that made a big difference for me. But the biggest improvement was after hitting roughly 27k miles.

 

Ever notice how all the negative MT posts always seem to come from guys that own autos?

 

The weird throttle response has a bit to do with it too. This is one of the weirdest trucks to rev match. Sometimes a small blip of the throttle sends the RPMs to the heavens, and sometimes a small blip of the throttle does literally nothing. Honestly though a tune would probably help with that.