Automatic vs CVT vs Manual Transmissions
What Does Your Transmission Do?
Simply put, your transmission is how your car changes gear while driving. Your car’s gear is determined by how fast you are going, as well as how much power you require. For example, going up a hill a lower gear may help keep your momentum even if otherwise your speed would call for a higher gear. Some transmissions offer more control over this than others, but you can tell when any car will shift gears by watching your RPM, which will rise as you approach needing to shift up in gears.
Manual Transmissions Can Be More Fun
Traditionally, all cars were made with manual transmissions , which offer the driver control over when the car changes gears while driving. This can help when driving on steep inclines or in snowy conditions when you may want to stay in a lower gear to maintain adequate power.
Shifting Gears is Controlled by a Clutch Disc
The key difference mechanically for manual transmissions, is their clutch disc system situated between the transmission and engine. In order to change gears, the driver presses the clutch pedal, which releases the clutch disc so that the driver can then move it to the desired new gear, re-engaging the clutch when ready. Today, you’ll find manual cars with anywhere from five to seven gears.
Automatic Transmissions Make Driving Simpler
Many modern cars use an automatic transmission for a variety of reasons. A lot of people prefer them for their simplicity, ease of use, and relatively easy maintenance. They are driven using just two pedals instead of three, making them easier to drive, especially with city driving. These days, you may find a couple of different types of automatic transmissions , each of which offers somewhat different features and usability for drivers.
Traditional Automatic
With this type of transmission, the vehicle completely controls when to shift gears and the driver has no input or control over it. The car will monitor certain parameters to determine when to shift gears, such as speed, throttle pedal position, and engine revolutions.
Dual-Clutch Automatic
Some newer automatic transmission cars offer the ability to control when gears are changed in certain driving modes. Drivers will have the option to choose between fully automatic or change gears themselves with either a lever in the center of the car or paddles on the steering wheel. This offers the best of both worlds. Under certain driving conditions where you can control how much power you have, you can change modes to use the paddles or gear shift lever. When you simply want to get from point A to point B, you can let the car monitor and change gears for you.
Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVTs) Offer Infinite Gears
Generally speaking, the more available gears, the better optimized your car’s performance. Over time, more gears have gradually been added to both manual and automatic transmissions to improve performance and the cars with higher gear numbers tend to be more expensive. Cars with CVT transmissions take that to the next level by essentially having an infinite number of gears.
A Belt and Pulley System Changes Your Gears
There are no physical gears in a CVT transmission. Instead, a belt and pulley system is utilized where one pulley corresponds to the car engine and the other connects the transmission to the wheels. Imagine two cones those belts can easily slide up and down rather than abruptly changing gears. This allows the engine to continually be in a perfect position, offering a much smoother ride than other transmissions. If you’re looking into buying a hybrid car, you’ll likely wind up with this type of transmission because it offers better fuel economy.
Trust AAMCO Utah With All Your Transmission Services
No matter what type of transmission your car has, our mechanics at AAMCO Utah can help with any transmission repair you need. Our finest mechanics know the ins and outs of what it takes to properly maintain, service, repair, and rebuild your transmission. Likewise, each of our locations are well equipped with state-of-the-art tools to help reduce wait time and costs. Whenever it’s time for regular transmission maintenance, we’ll ensure your car is safe and ready to go.
The post Automatic vs CVT vs Manual Transmissions first appeared on AAMCO Utah Transmission Repair and General Car Repair.
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