Popular science revealed: the double clutch that was praised to the sky, do you know these fatal flaws? Why did the Japanese avoid it?
In the wave of automotive technology, the dual-clutch transmission (DCT) is undoubtedly one of the most touted stars in recent years. With its unique dual-clutch design, it achieves a significant improvement in shift speed and fuel economy, bringing the driver an unprecedented driving experience. However, just like any technology has two sides, dual-clutch transmissions hide some hidden fatal flaws. Today, let's unveil the mystery of the dual-clutch and see what its unknown shortcomings are, and why Japanese car companies avoid it.
At an automotive forum, two car friends, Xiao Li and Xiao Zhang, were discussing the advantages and disadvantages of dual-clutch transmissions. Xiao Li said excitedly: "The new car I bought is a dual-clutch transmission, which shifts gears as fast as lightning and accelerates very quickly!" Xiao Zhang shook his head disappreciatively: "Although the gear change is fast, have you noticed some problems with it?" For example, the failure rate is high, the maintenance cost is expensive, and so on. ”
Xiao Li was stunned, obviously he didn't have an in-depth understanding of the shortcomings of dual-clutch transmissions. So Xiao Zhang began to explain in detail: "First of all, the structure of dual-clutch transmission is relatively complex, requiring a higher manufacturing process and more parts. This means it's more expensive to manufacture and, if it fails, it's more expensive to repair. In addition, dual-clutch transmissions are prone to problems when subjected to high torques, especially when driving aggressively or running under high loads for long periods of time, where the failure rate increases significantly. ”
Xiao Li couldn't help but gasp after hearing this: "So serious? Didn't I buy a 'time bomb'? Xiao Zhang nodded: "That's right, and the dual-clutch transmission has a fatal drawback, that is, it is easy to overheat in congested road conditions." Because the dual-clutch transmission cushions the impact through the sliding friction of the multi-plate clutch, in low-speed congested road conditions, the clutch plates will repeatedly combine and disengage, and even be in a 'semi-linked' state for a long time, which will cause the friction plates to generate a lot of heat. If the heat cannot be dissipated in time, it will cause the transmission to overheat and even lead to the failure of electronic components. ”
After hearing this, Xiao Li suddenly realized: "I see! It's no wonder that Japanese car companies don't use dual-clutch transmissions much. "Yes, Japanese automakers pay more attention to the reliability and durability of their vehicles, and they prefer to use traditional automatic transmissions or CVT transmissions. While these transmissions may not be as fast shifting and fuel economy as dual-clutch transmissions, they are more stable and reliable, have lower failure rates, and lower repair costs. ”
In fact, the disadvantages of dual-clutch transmissions are not limited to the above-mentioned points. For example, due to the fast shift speed of the dual-clutch transmission, the driver may feel that the gear changes too frequently, affecting the comfort and smoothness of the drive. In addition, dual-clutch transmissions are also prone to problems in low temperature environments, because low temperatures can affect the normal operation of the clutch, resulting in unsmooth shifting or strong frustration.
So, in the face of these defects of dual-clutch transmission, how should we choose? First of all, we need to be clear about our car needs. If you're looking for the ultimate driving experience and acceleration performance, and you're willing to take on higher repair costs and the risk of breakdowns, then a dual-clutch transmission can be a good choice. But if you're more concerned about the reliability and durability of your vehicle, or if you're often exposed to congested traffic or low temperatures, then a traditional automatic transmission or CVT transmission may be more suitable for you.
In conclusion, although dual-clutch transmissions have unique advantages, there are also some disadvantages that cannot be ignored. When choosing a transmission, we need to consider our own car needs and actual conditions to make a wise choice. At the same time, we also expect the continuous progress and innovation of automotive technology, which can bring us a more perfect and reliable driving experience.