What are your worst habits can break your gear box?
How not to drive a car, examples for all types of transmissions
The desire of any car owner to extend the lifetime of your car is justified. But not always only timely service and quality components define this term. Of great importance is also the driving behaviour and habits that have a direct impact on the gear.
The modern variety of transmissions requires the knowledge of the basic rules of operation. Consider the most common types of transmissions as well as basic guidelines for operations.
Manual transmission
In any instruction manual for this classic mechanism stated that while driving you can’t keep a hand on its lever, as it renders it a well-balanced position and leads to premature wear. In addition, the implementation of the gear shift must be fully up to the stop to get the clutch pedal to prevent transmission of torque to the input shaft and thereby protect the gear teeth from chipping. An equally important recommendation is to switch to neutral at a long stop at traffic lights or in a traffic jam that will prevent bearing wear PPC when working on empty.
An important role, especially for inexperienced drivers, is the choice of a suitable mode of the drive transmission. So, when the monotonous driving without abrupt changes in speed mode, it is recommended to use a direct transfer, that is, which transmits the engine torque unchanged. In addition, the selected gear should match the speed of the vehicle and the road slope that will preserve not only the gear, but the engine itself. So, on a long climb or under heavy acceleration it is recommended to switch to downshift, and when driving at a speed higher than 95 miles per hour is to use a higher gear.
Do not forget that any mechanism can give a small failure, this relates primarily synchromesh manual transmission. Therefore, if the initial attempt to include the transfer was not successful, it is not necessary to exert excessive force. Should I just drop the clutch, crank it again and enable the selected gear. This will allow the primary shaft to make a few turns and stand in a position where it will not contact the teeth of the shafts to each other.
Automatic transmission
This type of transmission is every day becoming more popular, even domestic automakers began to offer it as an option. Incommensurable convenience and ease of use, however, have the opposite direction – imposing the cost of repairs. Therefore, for automatic transmission observance of operating rules is even more important.
The main requirement for the motorist who owns the car is not overheating the transmission. Overheating can occur due to overload, so in any case should not carry cargo, the weight of which significantly exceeds the recommended, especially when a large number of passengers. In addition, do not use the trailer if it is not approved by the vehicle manufacturer for weight and dimensional indicators. The greatest number of overheating caused by towing another vehicle, in this case, the use of a tow truck is much cheaper than the potential repairs.
In the same way as for a manual transmission, during prolonged idle in traffic or at traffic lights it is recommended to translate the selector lever in position “neutral” and does not keep brake pedal pressed.
As for the immediate towing a faulty car with an automatic transmission, in the absence of extreme need it is better to use a tow truck, or to resort to partial loading (in the case of the actuator on the same axle). For emergency situations there are special movable trolleys which easily fit in the trunk of even a compact car, and if necessary, install the drive axle of a faulty machine, depriving her of contact with the ground and thereby preventing rotation.
Thus, during towing of the machine even when the neutral comes its intense heat through the movement of internal elements. The length of the tow should not exceed 25-50 miles, and the maximum speed is 45-55 miles per hour. Then you need to implement stop and wait for complete cooling of the unit and oil in it. If the faulty vehicle is equipped with permanent all-wheel drive and automatic transmission, the tow is invalid.
Robotic gearbox
This kind of transmission represents an intermediate option between traditional mechanics and machine. Its main design feature is the presence of two actuators, the first of which is responsible for squeezing the clutch and changing gears. These mechanisms are controlled by a common electronic unit. The main drawback of such transmissions are delayed reaction to the actions of the driver.
A logical development of this design was a box with two clutches having two primary and two secondary shaft, which allows to increase the switching speed.
Since the unit has some lag, not recommended at the start immediately sharply to press on gas pedal, or resort to sudden braking without due cause, because it leads to clutch slip and premature wear.
With the measured drive unit is reliable and can be operated over the years. As for lovers of speed and dynamic acceleration, this car is not for you.
Also, in order to prevent overheating it is recommended to switch the box to “neutral” at prolonged idle.
CVT
A key feature of this powertrain is a smooth change of gear ratio, because it eliminates steps.
The most important caution when driving with this unit is the right to use the Parking only in the Parking lot at strong bias. This machine is braked by a conventional pedal, the selector is translated in neutral position, then you need to register the brake, release and again depress the brake pedal. And only after that switch to “Parking”. This is because the variator when Parking is blocked not the wheel and the shaft, which can cause the destruction of the lock when Parking at speed.
Towing a car with a variator is only possible with the engine running to provide lubrication of the mechanism. If this is not possible, it is necessary to use partial or full loading.
The CVT in ragged mode drive wears out at times intense, so fans of high speeds and dynamic acceleration, it is contraindicated. Moreover, this type of transmission is not recommended for use on the roads, so a lot of crossover with the CVT — snow trails and roads with poor coverage.
Paradoxically, but the total for all cars rule to avoid holes and bumps for such machines becomes even more important, since hitting the pothole leads to a transmission of impact shock on the belt or chain variator, as well as to premature wear of the bearings of the shafts, what will signal that appears hum.
Thus, following these simple recommendations, you will be able to fully enjoy the comfort of modern cars, and to ensure long-term operation of this important Assembly like transmission.
Author: S. Vasilenko