MisterSkiz

iTrader: (2)

Just noticed this today during the FRIGID temps in Chicago.

The car was (which was in D and SPORT, and had been sitting outside all day at work) would keep the car in second gear at stops and never go down to first until it was warmed up...never knew it did that.

kdm

Interesting. I wouldn't be surprised if the car acted up in any way, considering that you guys over there got Arctic weather. A way to keep idle at higher rpms to warm the car quicker?

bradhop15

iTrader: (1)

Wow what a weird coincidence. After work today I started my car and put it in manual mode immediately and it started in 2nd and wouldn't go to 1st in manual mode for about a minute. It's never done that before and it wasn't that cold out. Thought it was strange but as soon as it got a little warm it went right in to 1st. I think it's designed that way because it gave me the notorious beep when it doesn't want you to down shift.

zapa

Wouldn't keeping the car in first gear have a higher idle. Seems to me like the car was trying to keep its rpm lower to avoid damaging itself until it was warmer…

This is just me trying to figure out what could have possibly going on… When it gets that cold out the oil in the trans has to have a higher viscosity and have a smaller volume than it does at normal operating temp so maybe this could cause low oil pressure in the trans and because of this low oil pressure the car tries to keep the gears in the trans from spinning too fast. Acting as a safety measure to prevent the trans from running with not enough oil pumping through it… Just my thinking. I am probably way off

lobuxracer

iTrader: (2)

Other end of the telescope here. Pressure is high, very high, and stresses the seals. The bypass in the oil pump is only so big and when it is cold it won't control (lower) the flow sufficiently to keep the pressure in the normal range. When it's very cold the software controlling the transmission is doing everything it can to minimize undue stress on the gearbox. This behavior is much more pronounced on the IS350 - mine limited gears in both directions when cold.

rmillsISF

I noticed mine when shifting manually was taking a while before the trans temp got up. once I drove for 20 minutes it was fine.

zapa

Interesting you mind explaining why the extreme cold causes an increase in pressure. I was just thinking about what happens to the fluids when they get cold, but I don't really know how those effects would behave inside a trans.

VtotheJ

iTrader: (2)

I took the F out on Tuesday when the temps were LOW, I'm talking like -15°F windchill. I actually didn't notice the car starting in 2nd gear, will look out for it next time. It was so cold that only 45 min into my commute I noticed the oil temp go to 3 bars. Commute is mostly highway.

ISF001

Sounds like an "PV" mode--polar vortex.

Seriously, the "F" is not engineered to run in subzero temps. Nothing would surprise me.

NYKnick101

it also doesnt let you shift into 6th until fully warm but I think all Lexus cars do that

daedalus

iTrader: (2)

am I the only one that thought we weren't supposed to go into manual mode until 2 bars?

ULTSISF

iTrader: (2)

Yea the F definitely doesn't Act normal when is cold. I notice that all the time but after it gets warmed up back to normal.

VtotheJ

iTrader: (2)

^This is not true, plus the F has 8 gears. When the oil temp gauge has 1 bar, shifting up in manual mode while driving hard is not possible but you're still able to hit any gear.

^Correct, i usually just leave it in D until it hits 2 or 3 bars.

Just F Me

I don't put the car in M mode or Sport mode till I hit 2 bars. Everyone knows this….(insert Geico commercial joke)

imp0rted1

great observation skis

for all those not fortunate to live here in the chi we were seeing temps around -17 without windchill