CVT
A continuously variable transmission (CVT).
It is a type of automatic transmission that can change seamlessly through a continuous range of effective gear ratios through the use of belts and pulleys. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios.
These transmissions can by much more efficient than a typical automatic transmission with gears, but no quite as efficient as a manual transmission.
Most of these transmission are used in smaller, low-torque applications such as mopeds, motorcycles, go karts, and recently small lightweight economy cars.
Some vehicles (e.g. Motorcycles) have a centrifugal clutch added to the CVT to facilitate a "neutral" stance, which is useful when idling or manually reversing into a parking space.
CVT Transmissions have recently been used on cars, which is one of those good on paper, not so good in real life kind of things. Cars with CVT transmissions have serious maintenance problems and will only last for a short amount of time before they need to be serviced by a mechanic. Don't be surprised when your repair bill is really expensive. It involves removing the entire transmission and sometimes the engine.
At any time, the belts that are used in the transmission can snap, leaving you and the car completely stranded. Nissan is the worst example. Sometimes in less than 60,000 miles, the transmission will fail and will have to be serviced. You'd might as well buy a new car at that point.
It is a type of automatic transmission that can change seamlessly through a continuous range of effective gear ratios through the use of belts and pulleys. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios.
These transmissions can by much more efficient than a typical automatic transmission with gears, but no quite as efficient as a manual transmission.
Most of these transmission are used in smaller, low-torque applications such as mopeds, motorcycles, go karts, and recently small lightweight economy cars.
Some vehicles (e.g. Motorcycles) have a centrifugal clutch added to the CVT to facilitate a "neutral" stance, which is useful when idling or manually reversing into a parking space.
CVT Transmissions have recently been used on cars, which is one of those good on paper, not so good in real life kind of things. Cars with CVT transmissions have serious maintenance problems and will only last for a short amount of time before they need to be serviced by a mechanic. Don't be surprised when your repair bill is really expensive. It involves removing the entire transmission and sometimes the engine.
At any time, the belts that are used in the transmission can snap, leaving you and the car completely stranded. Nissan is the worst example. Sometimes in less than 60,000 miles, the transmission will fail and will have to be serviced. You'd might as well buy a new car at that point.
Mechanic: "Why would you want a car with a CVT transmission?"
Car Guy: "I thought it looked cool. Why? What's so bad about them?"
Mechanic: "Lets just say I will be expecting a phone call from you saying your car broke down. They are also the worst on hills, and they ticking time bombs!"
Car Guy: "What makes you say that?"
Mechanic: "You'll find out when you least expect it. I'll get you and your broken down car with my tow truck. You know, something with a manual transmission!"
Car Guy: "I thought it looked cool. Why? What's so bad about them?"
Mechanic: "Lets just say I will be expecting a phone call from you saying your car broke down. They are also the worst on hills, and they ticking time bombs!"
Car Guy: "What makes you say that?"
Mechanic: "You'll find out when you least expect it. I'll get you and your broken down car with my tow truck. You know, something with a manual transmission!"
CVT by Omegadoomship64 November 28, 2018
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