Lock Up Torque Converter

[WhiteZoomZoom]

I was just reading some of the P5's specs......And under TRANSMISSION it says :

"5-Speed Manual With Overdrive
Optional: 4-Speed Electronically Controlled Automatic with Overdrive and Lock-up Torque Converter."

What does the Lock-up Torque Converter do ??

 

[Gyre]

A TC is more mechanically efficient when locked.

http://www.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter.htm

 

[WhiteZoomZoom]

that is some comlicated stuff........well....to me it is coz I am stupid....haha....
thanks Gyre for the site......

 

[Gyre]

This is the important part in regards to the locking aspect:

At higher speeds, the transmission catches up to the engine, eventually moving at almost the same speed. Ideally, though, the transmission would move at exactly the same speed as the engine, because this difference in speed wastes power. This is part of the reason why cars with automatic transmissions get worse gas mileage than cars with manual transmissions.

To counter this effect, some cars have a torque converter with a lockup clutch. When the two halves of the torque converter get up to speed, this clutch locks them together, eliminating the slippage and improving efficiency.

 

[pr5owner]

well an auto tranny uses a torque converter, this device is filled with a special fluid that hardens when it spins faster, but since its a fluid it can never transfer 100% of the power, that is why autos get a little bit less millage out of the same sized tank as a standard tranny. standard tranny's are always spinning on a 1:1 ratio with the engine. what a lock up TC does is when your car is up to speed it will lock the TC so it doesn't need to use the fluid to transfer the power and will make the drive train spin at a 1:1 ratio with the engine. you will still lose to a standard in MPG but its way better than not having one

 

[KamalaMP5]

That is the greatest website ever! Wow, I'll be reading stuff on there for hours!

 

[WhiteZoomZoom]

Your right Kamala.....this website is great.........
but you know whats even more great ? Its the nice people on this website sharing their information, expert advice, experience, and their life. Without those people this website is nothing.....

 

[KamalaMP5]

Yeah, I'm a freeloader, I don't know jack about jack when it comes to cars... people here are great though, make me feel comfortable working on my car, even if my proper place is in the law library at school.

 

[Don]

well an auto tranny uses a torque converter, this device is filled with a special fluid that hardens when it spins faster . . .

The "special fluid" you refer to is actually just about 1/2 of the total capacity of the automatic transmission fluid in your transmission, and it is constantly being circulated through the torque converter and the transmission both . . . . if it ever "hardens" you're in big trouble

Don

 

[Antoine]

people here are great though, make me feel comfortable working on my car

A little off topic note...I'm glad to see people posting such positive responses to the site...hope to see more...keep it up!