How does constantly variable transmission work

As Car Engineer explains, the general public has been less accepting of the CVT due to the difference in noise perception from mechanical or step automatic transmission. CVTs can be expensive to repair or replace when compared to a conventional automatic transmission.

Some of the common problems that owners run into include overheating, slipping, and sudden loss of acceleration. Shuddering is also a common problem. Since CVTs depend on the belts to operate, if these suffer from excessive stretching or too much wear, the transmission can completely fail.

According to Mister Transmission , while there are some advantages to having a CVT, traditional automatic transmissions also offer some benefits. Like a CVT, an automatic transmission also has some downsides. Some of these include:. How Stuff Works explains that an automatic transmission uses gear sets, a hydraulic system, and a torque converter.

The hydraulic system regulates the bands and clutches that control the gear sets, and a pump pushes the transmission fluid through. The fluid pressure forces the shift valves to open and close, which opens different gear circuits.

Now you know the difference between a CVT transmission and an automatic transmission. Which one works for you? New Cars. Buyer's Guide. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Karl Tapales Getty Images. Advantages of CVT Depending on the vehicle and the driver, a CVT can provide a smoother driving experience when comparing it to a traditional automatic.

CVT feels awful. Did i omit a sometimes? I drove one to Wagga and back. The accelerator seemed to be a device fir making more engine noise whilst producing close to zero acceleration. Lazy drivers hold their torque converter cars on hills with a whisker of throttle. The trouble with DSG is that too many drivers pull the same lazy trick. Because DSG has a clutch instead of a torque converter, this bad habit forces the clutch to slip causing glazing and transmission shudder.

Any driver who needs your back to basics explanation of first gear vs overdrive ought to be banned from buying a car with a DSG. But CVT might be exactly what they need! Car Advice. Continuously Variable Transmissions CVT are praised for being able to deliver a smooth driving experience and improve fuel efficiency, but with no fixed gear ratios how do they work?

Newsletter Signup First Name: Email address:. Notify of. Oldest Newest Most Voted. Inline Feedbacks. Toyota have a heap of experience with CVT in their Prius hybrid models. Kevin Moss. Non Christian. Reply to yogendra singh. Ghazanfar A Shah. Reply to Ghazanfar A Shah. Robert Pepper. Reply to bobbysgirl. Thanks Bobbysgirl you are correct. Barb Hardy. Reply to Barb Hardy. Reply to PracticalMotoring. Subaru guy.

Reply to Marshray I have a Accord. One pulley is attached to the engine, while the other is joined to the wheels. When you press the accelerator, the engine revs and the cone moves according to the amount of power asked for. The other cone adjusts accordingly so that the drive belt maintains the same tension, and this is what determines how the car accelerates. As the two cones move independently, that means there are no set gear ratios as you would find in a conventional auto or manual, so a CVT is, in effect, a single-speed unit with infinite gear ratios available.

That also explains why CVT-equipped cars have a familiar high-revving character, because engine revs aren't related to wheel speed. Early CVT-equipped cars, such as those built by Dutch firm DAF, had a familiar whining noise as engine revs soared, but road speed built slowly.

Today the latest CVT-equipped cars have plenty of sound proofing to ensure refinement is improved. Another quirk of the DAF system was that the cars it was fitted to didn't have a reverse gear, instead the CVT box simply worked in reverse, so in theory these cars had a top speed that was achievable going both backwards and forwards.

Technology has progressed so that today the CVT gearbox is a better option than it used to be, both in terms of driving enjoyment and efficiency. With stepless shifting of gear ratios, the CVT can avoid the shift-shock and deliver smooth driving, making it an exceptional transmission solution.

This ratio spread is among the world's widest for a CVT designed for use with 1. With a wide ratio spread and highly precise control, the CVT delivers outstanding acceleration and fuel economy.