standard or automatic (Fairbanks: oil, car, mechanic)

[Olivia Shanks]

I am no mechanic, but it seems possible that one type of transmission may perform better in mighty-cold Fairbanks winter temps. Does it matter, or are they about the same?

[Arcticthaw]

I have had both, and at -45 I prefer the automatics. You don't have to sit outside with the clutch held in trying to get the gear lube to spin up. some newer manuals use lighter gear oil or even auto trans fluid. Still we have these cool buttons called auto starts that work really well and easy on autos. Think sitting in the movie and its almost over. Press the button and come out to a warm car. They do make the buttons for manuals but the sequence to turn them on is a bit of a pain. Still worth the $.

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by Arcticthaw

I have had both, and at -45 I prefer the automatics. You don't have to sit outside with the clutch held in trying to get the gear lube to spin up. some newer manuals use lighter gear oil or even auto trans fluid. Still we have these cool buttons called auto starts that work really well and easy on autos. Think sitting in the movie and its almost over. Press the button and come out to a warm car. They do make the buttons for manuals but the sequence to turn them on is a bit of a pain. Still worth the $.

So the auto-start clicker is a good thing??? I loved it when had it in WY and MN - may have to do that here - but don't leave often so the car doesn't run a lot, is that good for it then?

[RayinAK]

I guess that all depends on what you are used to. I learned to drive manual, and that's what I like. But in reality either one works fine up here. In Fairbanks, where it gets quite cold sometimes, you can attach a 75-Watt oil pan heater to an auto transmission to help it stay a little warmer (when the engine is not running and the car is plugged to an electrical outlet). I drive a small car to work and back, and it uses 10W-40 oil in the manual transmission. The clutch may get a little stiff at -45 and colder, but this is not too bad.