How To Drive A Torque Converter Automatic Transmission Car

Different Kinds Of Automatic Transmissions

Right. They are mainly three kinds of automatic cars that people usually drive. They are CVT, dual clutch system (called by different names by different manufacturers), and then there is the torque converter.

All three kinds of automatics drive different. They behave differently to throttle inputs. Each one has its own peculiarities. However, they do have one thing in common. The harder you press the accelerator, the faster they go. But the way they do it is different and you have are very different experience driving and accelerating in each.

This post is about how to drive an automatic transmission car that is equipped with a torque converter kind of a transmission.

Recently many vehicles are moving away from this technology altogether, which is a pity because automatic torque converter transmissions are really workhorses  and arguably the most reliable amongst all kinds of automatic transmissions.

Honda and Nissan are using CVT in their cars in a big way. German automakers like Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz use dual clutch  technology for their automatic transmission. We will talk about the differences, advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of automatic transmissions in another.Recently many vehicles are moving away from this technology altogether, which is a pity because automatic torque converter transmissions are really workhorses  and arguably the most reliable amongst all kinds of automatic transmissions.

Honda and Nissan are using CVT in their cars in a big way. German automakers like Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz use dual clutch  technology for their automatic transmission. We will talk about the differences, advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of automatic transmissions in another.

However, remember that even CVT transmission can have a torque converter as well. But in such a case the torque converter is only used as a clutch mechanism.  All automatic transmission cars have to use some form of a clutch even if the driver himself does not have to deploy it himself. The  use of the torque converter is also helpful in providing with some much desired low end torque. But the primary transmission works with the CVT belt and mechanism.

The torque converter  changes gears pretty much the same way as a manual transmission. You will find 4 speed to 7 speed torque converters. But the 4 speed torque converter is pretty old and more gears can now be found on the modern cars. The Suzuki Ciaz I will be writing about has a 4 speed torque converter.

You primary control the gear changes by varying the pressure on the gas pedal. Some cars are also equipped with paddle shifters on the steering wheel that allows you to change the gears manually. However, changing with the throttle is what you will be doing most of the time. Here are a few scenarios to help you understand how the gears change in a torque converter.

Starting from Standstill

While starting from a standstill you put the car into the drive mode and release the brake. The car starts moving forward slowly on its own without having to press the accelerator. This is called idle coasting and is a feature of torque converter transmissions. Torque converters are good at producing more torque at the low end range of the engine rpm. When you press the  accelerator very gently the car will pick up speed gradually in the first gear and shift up  to the second gear at around 1500 rpm. If you are pressing slightly more on the gas pedal the transmission  will shift up to the second year at about 2000 rpm. The more gas you are giving the car the higher will be the RPM  for the gear changes.

One of my observations here is that shifting at the lowest possible RPM let's say around 1500 is not completely seamless. You feel a bit of lurch when the transmission shifts up.  Not too much but you can still feel it.  But if you are pressing the gas pedal a little more and the shifts are taking place at 2000 rpm and about its a different story. On those RPMs you can hardly tell when the gear changes.

 How to Shift up And Shift Down In an Automatic Transmission

The shifts down take place when you press the gas pedal while driving to gain more speed. How many Gears the transmission shifts down depends on how hard you press the accelerator. The transmission can shift from 4th gear to the 3rd with a gentle prod. Or it can shift down to the second  provided you press the gas pedal harder and your existing speed is within the maximum speed limit for that gear. Here is an example of how this works.

Let's say you are cruising at 50. When you press the accelerator slightly the  transmission will shift down to the third gear from the fourth gear instantly. In fact you can hardly expect to accelerate in the fourth gear at all because even the gentlest prod of the  accelerator will shift the car down to the third gear. If you press the accelerator a little harder you can go into the second because you are still within  the maximum speed limit of the second  gear which is usually around 80.

It will not go into the first because the engine red lines around 40 in the first and the speed limiter will not allow you to go beyond this RPM, nor is it advisable to do so.

The  Suzuki Ciaz has has a maximum RPM 7000 though the RPM meter shows the Red Line at 5000. I have not tried to rev the engine beyond the 5000 rpm limit so I don't know whether it will go beyond this mark or not.

It's best not to  floor the accelerator otherwise the transmission will shift down to the lowest possible year, the RPM will jump up and redline, the engine will get audible and noisy and you will feel a lurch with the change. That is if you are already cruising at a comfortable speed in high gear like the third or the fourth. Imagine going into the first from the third year or the fourth year in a manual at that particular speed. That's what  it is going to feel like.  You will not feel a lurch of the gear change if you floor the accelerator from a standstill.

You can also shift up by taking  your foot of the gas pedal. Whenever the RPMs are high enough taking  your foot off the gas will shift the transmission in to the next higher gear.

You will get a feel of just how much you need to press the gas pedal to shift to the desired gear. You can practice the following techniques to become better at this. Press the gas pedal partially. See if you are happy with the upshift, otherwise try pressing more. I have not felt the need to press the gas pedal more than halfway for rapid acceleration.

The most enjoyable part about this automatic transmission is when you start from on low speed or from a standstill and you rev the engine. The feeling of up ships taking place at 3000 or 4000 r•pm, seamlessly is gratifying. These kind of changes are even more quick in a dual clutch automatic transmission but then that transmission is another animal altogether with its own peculiar quibbles. Like we mentioned before we will talk about the different kinds of transmission and how they operate along with their advantages and disadvantages in another post.

One single grunt I have with my particular car is that it has no manual control for the gear changes. So that means that the gears downshift even when I don't require them to. For example I am crushing on an expressway in the highest year. I just need a bit of extra speed to or take somebody who is moving a little slower. I do not need for the gears to change but if I am even a little bit enthusiastic with the gas pedal, the transmission will shift down causing and unnecessary rise in rpm, bit of a lurch and engine noise.

This for me mars the smoothness of the drive. As I mentioned before it is very unlikely to try and accelerate in the highest year because even a little prod of the  accelerator causes the car to downshift. The only exception to this is if you are already travelling at quite high speeds. Then the transmission might be willing to let you accelerate in the highest year but that too if you prod it gently.

What You Will like / Advantages

• Hassle free driving in the city with smooth transmission shifting. Torque converters are good at absorbing the jolts of the gear changes.
• Good power and torque available at all speeds because the transmission immediately slots you in the right gear to get the required power and boost. Good torque also available at low rpm because that is the nature of this transmission.
• Torque converters are supposed to be proven work horses. They are considered to be the most reliable of automatic transmissions.
• A better response and power feedback response as compared to CVT transmissions.
• More engaging to drive than CVT transmissions.

What You Will Not like / Disadvantages

• Frequently gear shifting in crowded road conditions which causes the engine RPM to constantly jump up and down.
• Lack of control over the gears. Every time you release the gas pedal the transmission goes into the highest year possible or even into the neutral. It jumps back into a lowered gear  the instant you press the gas pedal again. This doesn't make for the smoothest of ride experiences.

Get An Automatic Transmission With Manual Controls For A Better Expressway Drive

My advice here is that if you are buying an automatic transmission car, specifically of torque converter or a dual clutch,  try and get a model that also gives you a manual control over the years. You would find it useful in certain driving conditions especially when you are cruising on an expressway. Your drive will be that much smoother.

I drive in the D mode most of the time. But you you are driving you in a little bit aggressively in traffic or in somewhat challenging road conditions, it's a good idea to switch off the over drive and even use the L modes. There will be less gear changes and you will have a smoother drive.