240 General: Clutch judder when cold

[PTJS]

For several years I have had clutch judder on cold starts so winter has been a bit of a pain until the clutch seems to warm up. In recent years I have used Castrol High Mileage 15/40 mineral oil but, as this is no longer available, I changed to GTX 10/40 semi synthetic GTX last summer. Since then the clutch judder has disappeared! Anyone any offers as to why this should be?

Cheers

Phil

[stephend]

Obviously semi-synth is better at lubricating your clutch.

Seriously, though, the only way I can think of that engine oil could affect clutch judder is if there's a bit of a leak at the rear main oil seal, and oil's getting in and contaminating the clutch.

[dodger]

I've had this on Volvos and other cars and it usually is contaminated lining. The clue to the temporary answer is to warm it up - put into top gear with the handbrake on and 'slip' the clutch for 2 or 3 seconds then you'll find the judder is gone. Obviously a temporary 'cure' but makes life more pleasant until you get round to dropping the 'box and fitting a new clutch (probably in about 3 years time including caravan holidays if my experience is anything to go by) - and then it's when you find you're glad you have an 'easy' gearbox removal unlike most of the transverse engined cars.

[Clifford Pope]

Could it just be soft engine and gearbox mountings? The engine can be quite juddery when cold, which wouldn't improve clutch control if the unit is jumping about.

[PTJS]

Thanks all. When I had the clutch last replaced about 5 years ago the mechanic who did it said there was a very slight leak from the crank seal. I wasn't happy because he had put it all back together before he told me this otherwise I would have told him to just put a new seal in while it was apart. Misting from this seal seems to be the favourite and other than start ups it wasn't a particular problem. Now the problem seems to have gone I will put it to the back of my mind.

I take Cliffords point about soft engine & gearbox mountings and will watch whether the engine jumps about on a cold start. The mountings are the originals and at 25 years old and with the car at 200k they are well worth a look at....eventually. As you all know, mechanically these cars just run and run with the minimum of maintenance.

When it reaches 200k in the next couple of weeks I'm tempted to give it a blow and see what top speed I can get out of it. Often wondered what it would do.

Cheers

Phil

[Clifford Pope]

If they are the original mountings I would certainly replace them, or at least have a critical look. One give-away is that the one under the oil filter is soft from oil contamination, and has sagged sideways so that there is hardly any space to get a grip on the oil filter.

Some years ago pulling a caravan up a steep tight turn my engine made alarming jumping movements and the gearbox was banging on the lever turret.
Inspection showed that both engine mounts had completely unbonded from the rubber. The engine was just resting under gravity, with no restraint at all.

[john h]

Another cause of 'clutch judder' can be worn torque rod bushes on the rear axle, but if that was the cause I don't think it would be linked to engine temperature

John