Openbay, an award-winning online e-commerce marketplace for automotive repair and services and a provider of SaaS-based solutions for the automotive care industry, is transforming the experience for automotive repair and service for consumers and the way that automotive care businesses acquire and service customers. Email: [email protected]. Manual vs. Automatic: Reliability and Performance Test. Longevity In the all critical area of longevity, manual cars owners come out on top.
Road Reliability Manual cars have more gears than the average automatic, and are therefore capable of reaching speeds faster and handling uneven terrains better. Fuel Cost and Economy Since driving a stick shift car puts you in control of exactly how high and fast your engine burns, manual transmissions tend to get far greater fuel efficiency.
The transmission isn't an island and the bridges that connect it to the rest of the car are often a source of failure. And the transmission itself is made up of more than gears, brakes and planetary carriers.
It has pumps, complex hydraulic circuits, pressure switches and temperamental electronics. In fact, the daunting complexity of a transmission makes it a component that many seasoned mechanics are wary of tackling. Ken Chamberlin has seen his fair share of failed transmissions.
In his 15 years as a Chrysler auto technician, and several more before that as an independent mechanic, he has overhauled a wide variety of automatic and manual transmissions and delved into why they failed in the first place. But the elusive "why" has never had a consistent cause. Is it being maintained? What type of driving and what kind of fluid? I've seen one transmission last 10, miles, and an identical transmission last for , miles.
You just can't say. While the factory and fate play a role, Chamberlin said there was always a cause-and-effect relationship leading to failure, which is usually dependent upon a few factors. From a failure perspective, fluid is one of the key factors.
Modern transmissions, despite their status as mass manufactured items, are built to close tolerances and engineered for very specific functions. Part of that engineering includes working with a specific type of fluid that acts in concert with the other components.
Each type and grade of fluid -- and there are more than 50 on the market -- offers a different amount of slip. Within the automatic transmission world, clutches use the fluid slipperiness during clutch apply and release phases. A change in fluid means a change in shift feel and slip, and this often translates into more or less heat being generated, faster wear on parts or degradation of clutch material.
The reaction is much the same in manual transmissions, where the gears reside in an oil bath. The fluid transfers heat, allows for the smooth transition of gears and prevents wear. Change the fluid and the interaction between the fluid and the transmission components will change as well, leading to possible damage and failure. Fluid also plays a critical role in heat and pressure. Chamberlin said there was a direct correlation between heat and transmission longevity.
The hotter a transmission runs, the shorter its lifespan. For example, plow trucks used during New England winters are notorious for having short transmission lives. The transmission goes through thousands of hours of heavy use and generates significant heat during that time. As a result, the fluid breaks down, components fail and the car part longevity takes a nose dive. Automatic transmissions use pressure to apply and release clutches, or essentially shift gears.
This pressure is affected by a number of variables, but the baseline numbers are determined in large part by the fluid and its relative condition, which is affected by heat. Hot, older fluid can decrease or increase the pressures within the transmission beyond engineered tolerances. When this happens components begin to fail and soon the driver is left with an expensive repair bill.
While manual transmissions generally require less maintenance and attention than automatic ones do, they're both still subject to the same issues and physical laws. Both require the proper type and grade of lubricants -- some manual transmissions now use automatic transmission fluid for lubrication -- in the proper amounts. Both are subject to the physical stresses of abuse, and both can suffer mechanical failure, too. The primary differences between the two are in how the transmissions are shifted and how that shift is accomplished.
Automatic transmissions shift automatically, as the name implies, with the aid of a complex hydraulic circuit that uses fluid and pressure to apply and release clutches based on mechanical, hydraulic and electronic inputs.
Manual transmissions accomplish the same goal, but the gears are changed manually using shift forks and synchros to smooth out the transitions. The clutch, which is engaged and disengaged to move through the gears, is also a manual input.
Regardless of the type, maintenance plays a key role in transmission longevity. Maintenance schedules offered by car manufacturers always include the transmission. As stated earlier, transmission fluid plays a critical role in how a transmission functions and the car part longevity. Like engine oil, transmission fluid should be checked and changed on a regular basis; however, the interval is different for all vehicles and dependent on the transmission and fluid type as well as use.
Most experts feel severe use warrants a recommended 15,mile 24,kilometer fluid and filter change interval. Severe use is defined as more than 50 percent use in heavy city traffic with ambient temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit Experts also recommend changing the fluid whenever there is an indication of oxidization or contamination.
Some transmissions, including a few models used by General Motors GM , use an aluminum valve body. This soft metal is less tolerant of dirt and abrasives and GM recommends more frequent fluid changes to prolong the life of this auto part.
Changing transmission fluid is not as simple as changing engine oil and should be handled by a service technician or someone with a thorough understanding of transmissions. A mechanic can diagnose your car by reading the error code generated by your onboard computer.
Transmission fluid leaks should be a red flag. Look for dark brown stains under where you park regularly, and check the transmission fluid dipstick for fluid levels. If you notice the car skips gears or is sluggish to accelerate, your transmission may be slipping.
A clunking sound during shifting is another warning sign to be wary of that needs service right away. Pay attention to any unusual sounds such as squealing, rattling, or humming. Small issues such as a leak are worth paying to have repaired.
If most of the transmission is in good condition, but seals or bearings need to be replaced, you may find it more economical to have a mechanic repair the damage. A transmission with more extensive issues from situations such as prolonged heat exposure or low fluid levels may end up being more costly. If you find yourself repeatedly taking your car in for transmission repairs, a replacement may be more cost-effective.
You may opt to have your current model rebuilt, or replace it all together. You can save money and time in the long run by getting a replacement, rather than going through diagnosis and repair of multiple failing parts over and over again. The last thing you want to do is delay until your transmission fails.
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