Welcome to my blog. My name is Ken. One day, I was driving home from work when the engine in my car failed. While I waited for the recovery truck to arrive, I realised I didn’t have a clue what went on underneath the bonnet of my car. I signed up for an auto service course at my local community college, so I could gain the skills I needed to properly maintain my car and repair it if something when wrong while I was on the road. I wanted to start a blog to pass on these skills to other people so that they can look after their automobiles.
When you drive a car fitted with an automatic transmission, you may thank the person who originally invented this device. While this is attributed to several different people depending on your source of information, there's no doubt that this invention revolutionised transport. Yet while such a transmission can be very efficient and reliable, you may also need to give it a helping hand if you are to avoid longer-term problems in the future. Why is this, and what should you do?
Inside the Nerve Centre
The most important device within the automatic transmission system is the torque converter. It's a fluid coupling and incorporates a pump, stator and turbine in a separate container within the transmission casing.
How the Torque Converter Works
The torque converter is bolted to the engine flywheel, but there are various clutches and other mechanisms inside that allow it to spin at a different rate from the crankshaft. Transmission fluid is pumped into the centre of the converter as it spins at high speed to create the necessary pressure. The fluid is then flung to the outside of the casing, creating a vacuum that helps to pull even more fluid into the device.
As the fluid moves back and forth, it changes the direction of the turbine, which activates the clutch mechanism and allows the system to change gears in accordance with the underlying road speed.
Identifying Problems
As previously mentioned, the torque converter sits inside a separate chamber, where problems can arise. It's more difficult to evacuate all the fluid from that chamber due to its inherent design. This means it is not easy to change all the fluid when you take your vehicle in for a conventional service. Some of the "old" lubricant will remain within the torque converter chamber, and this particular fluid will not be as effective when it comes to protecting the transmission.
Taking Additional Steps
To get around this problem, skilled mechanics have a separate piece of equipment that is able to suck all of the old fluid from the torque converter chamber. This device will also pump through a cleaning solution that will help eliminate any residue at the same time. This means that they can clean the entire transmission system without any compromise and ensure that the new oil is capable of performing its job.
Getting the Work Done
So, the next time you take your vehicle in for a transmission service, ask the mechanic to perform this additional work. It'll help protect the system, so you can avoid any unwanted problems in the future.
Contact an automatic transmission mechanic to learn more.
Share15 November 2022
