Matters to be mindful of when driving a car with a CVT transmission
Nowadays, many vehicles, including the Toyota Vios and Perodua Myvi, have CVT transmissions. The CVT transmission is unreliable yet feels like it uses less fuel.
Continuously Variable Transmission is the complete name, and Stepless Transmission is the name given to it in Chinese. Two gears, a steel belt, and the CVT gearbox make up the gearbox. It lacks the alleged shifting stumbling issue of AT gearboxes and DCT gearboxes due to its straightforward nature. By pressing the steel belt against two gears, the CVT can automatically shift into either gear.
There is “folklore” in the industry that CVTs are not robust because they run on steel belts, which are not as tough as gears. Do you know how to safeguard your CVT transmission?
1. When it’s cold, it needs to be properly warmed up
It is advised to wait until the car has warmed up before stepping behind the wheel so that the steel belt and gear can receive the full lubricating effect of the lubricating oil. It is also advised to start the automobile at a slow speed and maintain it there for a while if you don’t want to let it warm up before driving normally.
2. Prevent floor oil from accelerating quickly
When operating a CVT vehicle, you should gently press the accelerator at first, then gradually release the pedal after the vehicle begins to move forward a few metres. To begin with, avoid slamming the gas pedal forcefully because doing so can strain the steel belt drive. The steel belt, which the CVT primarily depends on to complete the transmission, may slip or break as a result of the abrupt acceleration. Steel straps require a tonne of upkeep, and breakage will make the wallet bleed profusely.
3. Periodic maintenance
For lubrication protection, the CVT gearbox requires routine oil changes. The lubricating oil should be changed when the recommended period has passed since the soft link between the CVT and the steel belt is more susceptible to damage.
