Driving with automatic transmissions is very comfortable and enjoyable, especially in heavy traffic where you have to engage, disengage or change gear many times. It also makes starting easy and saves you from clutching.
Unlike manual transmissions, they also require very little maintenance. But, is the automatic transmission or the continuously variable transmission (a type of transmission that is changing at any moment and choosing the most optimal ratio of gears) (CVT) completely maintenance-free?
Understanding the performance of an automatic gearbox
The gearbox transfers the torque from the engine to the wheels to provide optimal power and speed for different driving conditions. In a manual transmission, this is done in such a way that the driver chooses the right gear depending on the different driving conditions. The automatic transmission selects the optimal gear ratio without any intervention from the driver. Both manual and automatic transmissions have a fixed number of gears. On the other hand, a continuously variable transmission theoretically consists of an infinite number of gears. The manual transmission requires maintenance and is checked periodically during technical inspection service. Also, this type of gearbox can be easily repaired. However, automatic transmissions and continuously variable transmissions are relatively maintenance-free, at least according to most manufacturers' claims.
Is the periodic gearbox service and examination of the automatic gearbox?
Ideally, an automatic transmission should have 300,000 to 450,000 km of useful life. Most manufacturers say that their automatic transmission cars do not need to change the transmission oil. Unless you have a leak somewhere in the transmission, in theory, there is no need to change this oil. But in practice, the main characteristics and quality of this oil deteriorate over time.
In many cars with automatic transmission, strange symptoms related to the transmission appear after traveling a distance of about 150,000 km. Experience shows that periodic service or inspection usually helps to prevent or fix these problems. Although according to most manufacturers, there is no need to change the gearbox oil, but in practice, the basic properties and characteristics of this fluid decrease with increasing use time.
Symptoms of a defective gearbox
You know there is a problem with your car's transmission when your car is behaving strangely. Shifting gears no longer has the same smoothness as it used to. Sometimes the engine revs up, but the car does not move. These symptoms may not cause a problem at first, but in most cases, if left untreated, they will eventually lead to more serious problems.
When the symptoms become very acute, it can almost be said that the life of the gearbox has come to an end. . Timely fixing minor transmission problems can help prevent such problems and save you from paying huge costs for automatic transmission repair. All you have to do is not let the transmission system work to the point of no return. A automatic gearbox service
Although it is easier to maintain the health of the automatic transmission in the early stages of its failure, changing the transmission oil is not so harmful even in the later stages. In many cases, changing the transmission oil can greatly improve transmission performance even when symptoms are severe. There is no guarantee that it will work for sure, but it works most of the time and is a good and cheap way to fix the symptoms and problems associated with the transmission.
Buying and installing a new transmission costs about 10 times as much as changing the transmission oil. . Therefore, it is reasonable to repair or fix these problems when you see the first symptoms and problems in the gearbox. This may not make the transmission work as it did on the first day, but some symptoms will disappear completely and others will be reduced to an acceptable level. In short, it should be said that repairing and maintaining the transmission system in the early stages of problems and symptoms is much less expensive and less troublesome than taking the risk of completely replacing the transmission.
Service of a Variable Gearbox
Unlike a manual transmission or an automatic transmission, a continuously variable transmission or CVT can theoretically engage an infinite number of gears. This leads to the right power transmission for a variety of driving conditions and fuel economy.
Most manufacturers do not expect to spend any time or money on CVT maintenance. For this reason, changing the transmission oil is usually not part of the vehicle's service and inspection schedules specified by the manufacturer. Changing the gearbox oil is also not recommended in such gearboxes, because the fluid used in them is selected in such a way that it does not need to be replaced during the useful life of the car. What they don't tell you is that the useful life of these types of gearboxes is only about 120,000 km without repair and service, and they are expensive to replace. The replacement cost is very high due to the inherent complexity of this type of transmission system. Buying a new gearbox can cost you about 3 to 6 thousand pounds (43 to 86 million tomans at the time of writing this article). But changing the oil of these gearboxes can significantly increase their useful life. The oil used in continuously variable transmissions is relatively cheap and you only need to spend around £200 for the whole job, which is definitely a better option.