An experimental approach to understand various Factors Influencing Low-Temperature Gear Shifting Performance.

Gear shifting performance in vehicles is critical for smooth operation, especially under cold environment conditions or sub-zero conditions. In this comprehensive study, we delve into the multifaceted aspects that influence gear shifting behaviour during cold conditions after overnight vehicle soaking to simulate real world scenarios at target temperature of -10°C. Notably, our efforts on this bench trials focuses on isolating the synchronization load from the maximum block release force—a phenomenon arising from the interaction between synchronizer rings and gear cones. Our experimental trials involved multiple bench level testing for lower gears especially 2nd to 1st gear and 1st to 2nd gear shifting, focusing on changing the Oil (Properties and temperature variation), different combination of synchronizer ring material, change of inertia etc. Our analysis considered various components of shift load, but we focus here specifically on separating synchronization load and maximum block release force during cold shifting. The latter arises from the synchronizer ring sticking to the gear cone. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing gear shifting performance in cold environments. By understanding these factors, manufacturers and engineers can enhance vehicle drivability and reliability, ensuring seamless gear changes even in challenging conditions.