Porsche 996 shifting issue solved by going back to OEM gear oil!

After changing the transmission oil to Motul Gear 300 this past winter and replacing the shifter this summer, I started having issues where the car resisted shifts under load. The harder the acceleration, the worse the symptoms. Although I experienced this early on, it gradually got worse until I couldn't live it it. This video shows the steps I took to resolve my problem.

[@flat6fever680]

I had a Jeep JK Wrangler back in the late 80's early 90's and took it to an independant repair shop to have a transmission gear oil change done. They recommended a full synthetic gear oil. I forget what but maybe Redline or something with red in the name. It would barely shift after that. I took it back and they said it was fine and basically blew me off. I was young and just lived with it. It would shift ok once it was hot but took forever to get hot enough to shift smoothly. I know first hand what a profound difference a gear oil can make on a manual transmission. Thanks for posting this. Good reminder to stay OEM.

[@PIFDIY]

Thanks UserX! Yeah, honestly I wouldn't have expected these results. And not to say that Motul Gear 300 doesn't work well with others, but for me there was a clear difference. Could be a combination of things; I know my 996.2 transmission is different from the 996.1 transmissions. Also the 997 shifter may have changed the throw/engagement points enough where it brought about a higher sensitivity to the fluid. Who knows?

[@MowSow]

Read my post I made today .. I put redline as the shop recommended that !! Wouldn’t shift for the life of me.. came back to them and immediately went back to Porsche fluid .. problem solved instantly. The shop even decided to try the Porsche fluid in cars with problematic shifting properties

[@flat6fever680]

@@MowSow Thanks and I just re read my post on the jeep and of course it was a YJ not JK of that era. Now since all this time has gone by a shop has done the gear shifter oil in my 97 Miata and it is shifting horrible when cold. Takes it an hour to shift good which is right about when I usually get home. I may do this change myself as I have heard it isn't too difficult and at your suggestion may try the Porsche fluid. Do you know which specific fluid it was?

[@jackmitchell5187]

Glad to hear you've got that sorted! I like your video! Thanks for sharing 👍When I first brought home my 01 Boxster S 6-speed 70k miles. I had a hard time getting into reverse especially but shifts felt like they needed improvement. Make a long story short, I did replace the trans fluid with swepco 201 and then heard a tip- to clean and fresh lube the linkages that connect to the transmission. (My car had been through 3 owners and the last one must lived on a dirt road because it was everywhere in the engine bay) I also opened up the shift knob boot and lubed the little ball on the left side of shifter that moves inside of the square that pivots up and down... Overall feeling of playing around with shifter blew my mind🤯 and then driving it was easily 60% improvement. Just want to recommend to the people just getting started that you probably still should go with OEM trans fluid. Before buying any of the neat parts that are readily available(and still will be🗝️) a little bit of good ole cleaning lubing and troubleshooting goes a long way. Especially in a 20 year old car.

[@PIFDIY]

Great tip, thanks Jack!

[@onesecplz]

Yup I have exact same issue since switching to motul gear 300. The effect was immediately noticeable after making the change. There are times when I would have a hard time going into first from neutral at a stop. The persistent problem is going from second to third like it doesn’t want to go into third. Only way I gone around this is to allow the shifter to pop into neutral and then go to third. I also did the re alignment with the shifter cable that fixed the first gear issue but not the other. I will eventually switch back to OEM or may be the Mobil Delvac. Blows my mind a simple fluid change makes this difference. Oddly does not effect other gears from third to sixth.

[@MowSow]

I can confirm that my shop convinced me to put redline gear oil .. the car became VERY hard to shift. Went back and said, we have to put back the dealer’s liquid gold fluid 🤣 So we did and the car went back to shifting properly instantly !!! Do not mess with the gear oil !! The car is an 06 Cayman S

[@PIFDIY]

Yup!

[@986am]

Great video - thank you. Really clear content - about to do the manual gearbox fluid on a 2003 C2 - with OE oil from Porsche as per your video. See if it improves the 1 to 2 when cold…

[@PIFDIY]

Thanks 986am, let us know your results!

[@Shane1112]

What are the parts that you added to your motive bleeder to get it to fill your transmission. I want to do this too

[@michaelc4577]

What do you use to maintain your dash leather? Looks great.

[@PIFDIY]

Hi Michael, I haven't done anything to any of the leather in the car. Probably left over from previous owners and the dealer detailing before I bought it.

[@amanite5845]

Was the Motul oil black from the beginning? If not somethin looked wrong since it was all black when draining it after only one season.

[@PIFDIY]

The lighting made it look dark but the oil was very clean. It wasn't in the gearbox very long and looked fine when it came out.

[@amanite5845]

@@PIFDIY Ok thats what i thought. Optical illusion then. Btw what kind of exhaust system do you use? I have original PSE with baffles on mine and i find yours a bit louder :)

[@PIFDIY]

@@amanite5845 I Fister modded my OEM exhaust. Very happy with it!

[@Vet2241]

Do you have a link to the parts video? Thanks

[@patricksullivan6114]

can you let me know where you purchased the oil please?

[@PIFDIY]

You can google it to find other sources, but I got it at Suncoast.

[@stevebir1]

I think ! Please check yourself.

[@PIFDIY]

I removed your previous comment because it's wrong and may confuse people. PTX is the proper fluid for this transmission.

[@ol48spring]

Has every tool and toy on the planet. Trying to save money by skimping on fluid…

[@andygoodwin1526]

Motul gear 300 isnt cheap!

[@ol48spring]

@@andygoodwin1526 it’s all money. You save up your ass with diy