That's right, in this battle between wet and dry, is the dual-clutch transmission more delicate than the CVT transmission?
The rainy season is approaching, and the problem of wading has once again become the focus of attention of car owners. Historically, dry dual-clutch transmissions have been considered more prone to failure in wet environments due to their complex construction. But is this view fair? Let's find out.
Since the industrial age, the development of gearboxes has been unremittingly promoted. As an important part of the "heart" of the car, it directly determines the quality of the driving experience. Dry dual-clutch transmission and CVT transmission are the two mainstream technology routes.
Dry dual-clutch transmissions have long dominated the sporty car model due to their fast shifting and efficient transmission. But it is precisely because of its complex dual-clutch design that it is extremely sensitive to temperature and humidity. Once the water penetrates, the clutch is very prone to slippage, heating and other failures.
In contrast, the steel belt or chain drive structure of a CVT transmission is much simpler and more reliable. It offers continuously variable gearing for a smooth and natural driving experience. Although the tightness is slightly insufficient compared to the dual-clutch transmission, the impact is not too great in the case of water infiltration.
Between the two, who is the real "weak brigade"? The answer may depend on the situation. The data shows that in light wading, the dual-clutch transmission failure rate is 7.3%, compared to only 5.1% for the CVT transmission. However, in the extreme environment of prolonged immersion, the failure rate of dual-clutch transmissions is almost the same as that of CVT transmissions, at 68% and 63%, respectively.
It can be seen that the degree of severity is the key to distinguish between the two. For ordinary car owners, when encountering a small area of water, the dual-clutch transmission is indeed more prone to problems. But in the rare case of prolonged immersion, the two are equally fragile and indistinguishable.
Coincidentally, I saw many car owners complaining on the Internet that their newly bought "Sport Fan" dual-clutch car had a series of headaches such as stalling and oil leakage after wading through water. Some were even told that the entire gearbox assembly needed to be replaced, and the maintenance cost of tens of thousands of yuan was budgeted, which was really a heavy order for this "high-end equipment".
I still remember that after the rainstorm last summer, some car owners reported that after the new car waded in the water for a month, they felt that the gear shift was getting heavier and heavier, and the abnormal noise was constant. When I went to the 4S store to check, the inside of the dual-clutch gearbox had been flooded, and it needed to be disassembled and repaired, costing nearly 20,000 yuan. Owners with bad luck can only admit it.
Industry insiders explained that the sealing of the dual-clutch gearbox is poor, and once the water is ingress, the clutch will have slippage, abnormal noise and other faults, which will lead to the complete scrapping of the gearbox in serious cases. Therefore, car owners need to be extra careful to wade into the water, especially when the water depth exceeds 30 cm.
So can a CVT transmission sit back and relax when wading through water? Not really. Although the CVT structure is relatively simple, due to the design features of the steel ring or chain drive, there is a risk of rust once water is ingress. Especially if it is soaked in water for a long time, the corrosion of the steel belt will be aggravated, and in severe cases, it will lead to belt breakage and damage to the transmission system.
Last year, some netizens complained that their newly bought CVT model stalled in the rainstorm, and the trailer went to the repair shop for inspection, and the steel belt was rusty and had to replace the entire gearbox. This is a large order of more than 10,000 yuan, but fortunately, the owner has purchased annual inspection and insurance, which has reduced a lot of losses.
Faced with the wading dilemma, the dual-clutch and CVT transmissions do not seem to be so "water-based". But in the final analysis, the owner's usual attitude towards the maintenance of the vehicle is the key.
According to data, 80% of wading failures are due to the owner's negligence in prevention in advance and blind continued use afterwards. For example, if it is not cleaned and maintained in time after wading, the accumulated water and sediment will continue to corrode the main parts of the body; Or the vehicle does get into the water and still starts forcibly, which eventually leads to a catastrophe.
Industry experts call on the owner to tow the vehicle to the maintenance point for a thorough inspection, and if necessary, the transmission fluid needs to be replaced and a comprehensive dehumidification treatment is carried out. More importantly, prevention is better than cure, try to avoid wading routes in bad weather, and properly assess the risk when it is really impassable, and do not crash into the pond.