I often get the advice to get a manual, they will last longer. What is it about manuals that make them last longer than their counterparts?
less moving parts
Nice. Lol.
just like my answer :shutmouth:
Because automatic transmissions are WAY more sophisticated compared to your typical manual transmission. There are torque converters, valve bodies, mechatronics, clutch-packs, and planetary gear sets involved in an automatic transmission where the ATF plays the BIGGEST role for all those to function properly. Basically, an automatic transmission uses fluid pressure to operate properly, and if one of those components goes bad (including the fluid itself), the entire transmission potentially becomes inoperable. Manual transmissions basically use a clutch and a gearbox to operate (with some solenoids here and there on the modern ones), that's it! A manual doesn't rely on the fluid to operate; it's strictly for lubrication. A manual transmission goes out when the gears themselves go out, which is a very rare case! You can still operate a manual if, for example, 3rd gear goes out. You just simply skip that gear. The gears in an automatic transmission very rarely go out, but if one of them goes the entire thing will go out. You can't necessarily skip gears in an automatic because of the planetary gear set design. Each transmission speed (or gear) depends on how the planetary gear set spins. The planet gears spinning inside the ring gear is one speed, the ring gear and planet gears spinning together is another speed, etc. It's very complex, and you'll see what I'm talking about by comparing the gear set of a manual and automatic. Basically, complexity is the key answer.
As for CVTs, they are a complicated and problematic mess...worse than a typical automatic. I don't know much about those, but they use two pulleys connected with a belt. The drive pulley changes diameter as its way to adjust gear ratios...it's complicated.
Thanks for the description.
Easy
In an automatic, electronically and computer controlled parts control a transmission to shift gears
In a CVT, they are more complicated than a traditional automatic. This also goes with DCT's
In a manuel transmission, your HAND shifts the gears, which is under your control. There is a clutch which is controlled by YOU.
Plus, modern auto's are so complicated I mean Nissan can make decent transmissions they have a 4 speed automatic they have been making those for 20 30 years and they are pretty reliable in little Versa's and Sentra's. The CVT's are more complicated.
Mountainmanjoe summed it up perfectly. The less complicated something is, the less it will break. I owned one vehicle in my life with a auto trans and it was a nightmare. Never again. If it doesn't have a manual, I am not buying it. Manuals also save you money on brakes. With an auto trans, you constantly use the brakes. With a manual trans, you use engine compression for a lot of braking. About the only advantage an automatic has over a manual is in stop and go city or freeway driving. Other than that, automatics suck.
I disagree. The less complicated something is doesn't necessarily mean it will break less. Sometimes more complicated things can last longer. I'll give you a big example that will contradict this statement...the ROTARY ENGINE. The rotary only has 3 moving parts, whereas the typical four stroke piston engine has tons of moving parts. Which one lasts longer?...the typical four stroke engine of course. It's not necessarily about complexity, it's about how it's designed. If maybe there was some way to design better apex seals for the rotary engine, then it would probably last waaaaay longer than a four stroke (because the apex seals are the main component that cause problems; they act like the valves and piston rings for the rotary). A manual transmission just so happens to be a very solid and simple design compared to an automatic transmission which tends to be "delicate".
You are particually correct, but the thing is some transmissions are made better than others. For example, a Toyota automatic will far outlast a newer Mustang even if it has a manuel transmission. A conventional 4 speed 6 speed automatic is a lot easier to design than let's say a Dual Clutch or CVT. That is why for example, Nissan RWD 5 speed autos or FWD 4 speeds are prefectly good, but the CVT's, not so much. If you are living in a city like LA or Houston, or even the suburbs of a metro area, an automatic is what you will go for especially in the US. Plus, some manufacturer's make garbage manuels. Like VW.
Actually, they do and they don’t. Properly designed and manufactured, … and subsequently used and serviced transmission - manual or automatic, last a very long time. The difference, however, is that automatics, when they fail, … they fail! Manuals, on the other hand, … they eventually grind, crunch, wail, jump out of a gear from time to time, … may even end up with a gear or two that is no longer usable, … but still allow you to use it a bit further for a bit longer. Fwiw, …
F.S.
I'm guessing that the reason Automatic Manual Transmissions don't inherit the reliability of the pure manual is due to the torque converter and shifting hardware.
A manual has a clutch (no torque converter) and a set of (not sure the term) conventional gears. A regular auto has a torque converter and planetary gears. An AMT has a torque converter and conventional gears. If the longevity were in the gears the AMT should rival the MT, so I'm guessing the wearing out is not in the gears, but in the torque converter and shifting. Like previously mentioned, this requires electrics, hydraulics, etc to work.
AMTs have a few advantages but are a tiny fraction of the market, so there are obviously disadvantages that aren't mentioned in what I've read so far.
While a manual transmission itself will outlast an automatic transmission the clutch won't and will have to be replaced.
