A torque converter
Torque converter
In modern usage, a torque converter is generally a type of fluid coupling (but also being able to multiply torque) that is used to transfer rotating power from a prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine or electric motor, to a rotating driven load.
What problems can a torque converter give?
Torque Converter Problems
- Slipping. Have you ever gotten in your car, started it up, put it in gear only to feel it shudder? ...
- Shuddering. You usually notice your car shuddering because it feels like it's vibrating . ...
- Overheating. ...
- Your Transmission Fluid is Contaminated. ...
- Torque Seal Damage. ...
What happens when a torque converter goes bad?
Your torque converter can make a variety of noises when it goes bad. You may first notice a whine, similar to a power-steering pump that is low on fluid. The stator within the assembly uses an overrun mechanism with a series of clutches that, when bad, can cause a rattling noise.
Can I drive with a bad torque converter?
No. A lousy torque converter can cause significant speed fluctuations and sudden stoppage of your vehicle. Every time you decide to drive with a bad torque converter, you work on ruining the rest of your engine components. This can get particularly expensive with the car’s transmission.
How much does it cost for a torque converter?
Torque converter replacement cost is much lower than that of transmission. Typical torque converter replacement cost ranges between $600 to $1,200. However, if you think you are capable of doing the repairs yourself, the cost is reduced significantly. You will be looking at a figure between $150 to $500 (just for the parts).
What does a performance torque converter do?
A torque converter is a useful fluid coupling in automatic transmissions given the range of benefits it offers. From its ability to multiply torque, to preventing slippage that will bring about performance efficiency.
Can a torque converter increase speed?
Likewise, changing the torque converter to a higher stall speed increases torque multiplication and allows the engine to reach its powerband quicker.
Does a performance torque converter add horsepower?
You will not be gaining any horsepower, rather you will be recovering horsepower that would have been normally lost with your stock TC. In addition, a stronger TC will have a higher stall speed. This will allow better launches when you are brake torquing or flashing the TC.
Is a bigger or smaller torque converter better?
Larger-diameter converters are usually more efficient and deliver less slippage, while smaller-diameter converters offer more stall speed and more slippage. Vehicle weight is another major factor that should be considered when selecting a converter.
At what RPM does a torque converter engage?
Factory torque converters utilize around 2,000 to 2,200 rpm stall in most diesels, and they're that way for a reason, as most factory ¾-ton pickup-sized engines spin about 3,000 to 3,500 rpm and can create full boost by about 2,000 rpm.
How many RPM is a stock torque converter?
around 1,800-2,000 rpmStock torque converters generally have a stall speed around 1,800-2,000 rpm.
What does a 3500 stall converter do?
If the converter was a 3,500 RPM stall, then it would be at approximately 3,500 RPM in which it forces the tires to break loose.
What is the stock torque converter stall speed?
around 1,800-2,000 rpmStock torque converters generally have a stall speed around 1,800-2,000 rpm. Higher stall speeds become necessary when horsepower and torque happen at higher rpm ranges. You want stall speed and maximum engine torque to happen around the same rpm range.
Does torque converter affect gas mileage?
Mpg will be significantly reduced since engine torque is not being multiplied during acceleration. A vehicle with a slipping one-way torque converter clutch will experience a 20 to 30% decreased fuel economy. A one-way torque converter clutch that does not release is a second type of torque converter failure.
How do I know what torque converter to use?
12:1613:27How to Choose the Correct Torque Converter - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo in summary the general rules of thumb for selecting a torque converter for a street applicationMoreSo in summary the general rules of thumb for selecting a torque converter for a street application are select the converter that stalls roughly 500 rpm higher than the starting RPM of the camshaft.
How do you know what torque converter to use?
The range listed will tell you what you can expect from the converter. If a 2,500 to 3,500 stall speed is selected, you should be able to hold the brakes (footbrake), and the converter should allow the engine to rev to around 2,700 to 3,200 rpm. Of course, this is dependent on the vehicle's setup.
What does a high stall torque converter do?
A higher stall torque converter will let your car accelerate better because the car will be taking off at the rpm range where it is making the most power.
Does torque converter affect acceleration?
By redirecting fluid flow, the converter multiplies the torque produced by the engine enough to propel a vehicle down the road. Most converters multiply torque by a ratio of at least 2:1, improving vehicle acceleration substantially.
Does a torque converter increase torque?
One of the characteristics of a torque converter is that it multiplies torque, by a factor of as much as two to two-and-a-half times or even more, depending on the design. Maximum torque multiplication occurs at rest, as the vehicle just starts moving. As speed increases, the torque multiplication decreases.
Can you modify a torque converter?
Even though a torque converter can deliver different levels of torque at different rpm ranges, you're still able to adjust it.
How can I improve the performance of my automatic transmission?
There are 6 ways to improve automatic transmission performance and reliability. These are servicing the transmission, changing driving habits, driving with lower gears when loaded, maintaining engine performance, having proper alignment of tires, and having the correct tire size.
How much does it cost to replace a torque converter?
If you plan on replacing a torque converter yourself, then you should expect a repair cost that ranges between $150 and $500. If you plan on visiti...
What causes a torque converter to fail?
Most of the time, torque converters fail due to excessive friction, which also means that the torque converter's needle bearings may be damaged. In...
What are the symptoms of a failing torque converter?
When your torque converter starts to fail, you may feel the vehicle vibrating or perhaps even slipping during an override. Your vehicle may also vi...
What does a bad torque converter sound like?
You could hear a variety of noises if your torque converter has gone bad, including whining and even when the car is in park.
What Is Torque Converter?
Torque converters are types of fluid coupling that transfer rotational power from a prime mover to a rotating driven load, like in an internal comb...
How Does a Torque Converter Work?
It is a bit difficult to understand how a fluid can provide the power to move an object such as a vehicle. A pump helps achieve torque control whic...
Parts of Torque Converter:
#1. Impeller or Pump #2. Stator: #3. Turbine
Working Principle of Torque Converter:
#1. Stall #2. Acceleration #3. Coupling
Types of Torque Converter:
#1. Single-Stage Torque Converters #2. Three Phase Torque Converters
Torque Converter Replacement Cost:
More of the above symptoms, your torque converter may not be working properly. Repairs can cost more than replacing them. Therefore it is necessary...
How does torque converter work?
Modern torque converters can multiply the torque of the engine by two to three times. This effect only happens when the engine is turning much faster than the transmission. At higher speeds, the transmission catches up to the engine, eventually moving at almost the same speed.
Why is a torque converter important?
Benefits and Weak Points. In addition to the very important job of allowing your car come to a complete stop without stalling the engine, the torque converter actually gives your car more torque when you accelerate out of a stop. Modern torque converters can multiply the torque of the engine by two to three times.
What happens when a torque converter spins?
As it spins, fluid is flung to the outside, much as the spin cycle of a washing machine flings water and clothes to the outside of the wash tub. As fluid is flung to the outside, a vacuum is created that draws more fluid in at the center. The pump section of the torque converteris attached to the housing.
How fast does a turbine pump spin?
There is a point, around 40 mph (64 kph), at which both the pump and the turbine are spinning at almost the same speed (the pump always spins slightly faster). At this point, the fluid returns from the turbine, entering the pump already moving in the same direction as the pump, so the stator is not needed.
What is the difference between manual transmission and automatic transmission?
Manual transmission cars use a clutch, which completely disconnects the engine from the transmission. Automatic transmission cars use a torque converter. A torque converter is a type of fluid coupling, which allows the engine to spin somewhat independently of the transmission.
Why do you have to press harder on the brakes when you step on the gas pedal?
This is because when you step on the gas, the engine speeds up and pumps more fluid into the torque converter, causing more torque to be transmitted to the wheels.
How much does it cost to replace a torque converter?
If you plan on replacing a torque converter yourself, then you should expect a repair cost that ranges between $150 and $500. If you plan on visiting a repair shop, you should expect to pay anywhere between $600 and $1,000 to replace this component.
How does a torque converter work?
Bring this example to a torque converter and you’ll understand how it works.The ‘impeller’ fan, which along with the front cover forms the chassis of the converter, is linked to an electrical engine. The ‘turbine’ fan is linked to the transmission input cylinder. Any movement of the turbine will cause the vehicle to move, unless the transmission has been put to park or neutral.
What is torque converter?
To sum it up, the torque converter is a mechanism that makes use of a fluid medium that enables the engine to independently spin without affecting the transmission. It achieves this by pressurizing the automatic transmission fluid, creating the necessary force to shift transmission gears.
How does an automatic vehicle work?
In order for the vehicle to operate it is important that the engine is linked to the rear wheels through such a mechanism that it can be connected so that the vehicle moves or disconnected so that it will stay motionless while the engine runs to provide other functions.Manual vehicles make use of the clutch to link and delink the transmission from the engine, and automatic vehicles use a fluid mechanism like the torque converter sitting in between the transmission and the engine.
How does a turbine work?
When this fluid reaches the turbine, which is linked with the transmission through the middle spline,the blades move causing the transmission to spin, and that in turn moves the vehicle. The turbine uses curved blades to change the direction of the fluid that enters so that it flows through the center of the turbine, and this change in direction enables the turbine to spin.
What are the components of a torque converter?
A torque converter comprises of three key components inside its shell, the Pump, the Turbine, and the Stator that coordinate power transmission from the engine to the transmission. The centrifugal pump inside the torque converter spins the fluid to the outside, very similar to what a spinning cycle of a washing machine would do.
Where is the stator located on a torque converter?
The stator sits right at the center of the torque converter, redirecting the fluid that returns from the turbine to stop it from hitting the pump again. This action adequately increases the torque converter’s efficiency.
What is the mechanism that substitutes air with a compression resisting oil based medium called?
Building on our example of the two fans, the mechanism substitutes air with a compression resisting oil based medium, called the transmission fluid.Cars with an automatic transmission make use of a torque converter; this article will explore why they need to and how it works.
How Does a Torque Converter Work?
It is a bit difficult to understand how a fluid can provide the power to move an object such as a vehicle. A pump helps achieve torque control which works by circulating fluid around the torques converters, which is determined by the rotation of the crankshafts.
What is torque converter?
Torque converters are types of fluid coupling that transfer rotational power from a prime mover to a rotating driven load, like in an internal combustion engine. In a vehicle with automatics transmissions, the torque converter connects the power source to the load.
What is the role of the impeller in a torque converter?
In that, the impeller or pumps acts as the first fan, which is connected to the engine, & the turbine acts as the second fan, which is connected to the transmission system. When the engine runs, it spins the impeller, and due to centrifugal force, the oil inside the torque converter assembly is directed towards the turbine.
What happens when a car is idling?
When vehicles are idling, the speed at which the transmission oil pumps into the turbine is slow, which means the engine is getting very little torque through the transmission. As the crankshaft spins faster and the flywheel spins at higher speeds, fluid moves faster from the pump to the turbines, forcing the turbine to spin faster, allowing more torques through the transmission.
What is the function of a stator in a turbine?
The stator is the barrier that forces the fluid back to the turbine instead of the pump, increasing the efficiency of the system.
How does changing the direction of the stator fluid help in torque multiplication?
So changing the direction of the stator fluid helps in torque multiplication and allows it to enter the direction of impeller rotation. Stators change the direction of the fluid by about 90 degrees. The stator is mounted with one-way clutches that allow it to rotate in one direction and stop its rotation in the other directions.
How many rings are in a three stage torque converter?
Three-stage torque converters employ three rings of turbines blades, as wells as two sets of reactors or stator blades. The effect of these designs is increased torque – up to five times the amount of engines output torque, in fact, when the engines are at a stall.
What to expect from a torque converter?
There are many things you expect to get from your converter, including fast acceleration speed, a nice mid-ranged power and efficient stall speeds (RPMs required for the converter to spin and overpower the load amount). The following tips will help during your research on torque converters as well. 1. Vehicle’s Weight:
Why is it important to know the torque numbers?
It is important to understand torque numbers, as you will be wanting the stall to lock-up when close to peak toque of the engine. This means that the engine locks the transmission input shaft, providing a 1 to 1 communication between the transmission and engine. Therefore, slippage is reduced and heat within the converter increases. This means having a full understanding of the peak torque of your engine provides the knowledge of which converter will be most efficient, allowing you to increase track speed.
Does peak horsepower tell you what core to use?
However, knowing the peak horsepower will assist in choosing proper internal parts.The horsepower is able to tell us the proper torque converter core to use. For example, 500 to 700 HP engines would not use the same core that a 1,000 to 1,500 HP engine would use.
Do higher stall speed converters need gear?
Simply put, higher stall speed converters need additional gear. It is important to understand the gear needed to allow your converter to properly lock-up and performoptimally.
Can a supercharged drag racing converter be used at higher RPMs?
However, a supercharged setup can create power at higher RPMs. There are many possible questions that can come up when choosing a drag racing converter, which would make a list longer than we can provide here. Although, these are the more common and easily overlooked areas to take into consideration.
Can you choose a torque converter for racing?
Although it may be an obvious aspect, by knowing the vehicle’ weight you can chose the correct racing torque converter for your needs. For example, if there is more resistance, you are going to want a higher stall converter.
What is torque converter?
The torque converter uses a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) system, similar to the ones in scooters. But not exactly like the CVT from a scooter. It consists of 2 pulleys and a belt. A driver pulley (connected to the engine crankshaft), and a driven pulley along with a v-shaped belt.
How does a pulley work when the RPM increases?
As the RPM of the engine increases, the movable half of the driver pulley slides inwards (towards the engine), pushing the belt upward while simultaneously the driven pulley’s movable part moves outwards (away from the fixed part) and the belt slides down the driven pulley.
How it works?
Now with the basic understanding of what happens as the throttle opens and with all the parts described, let’s look into how it works.
What happens to the belt when the movable part is pushed outwards?
The belt too has an angle according to the angle of the movable part, so when the movable part is pushed outwards, the belt adjusts itself, and the diameter of the belt in contact with the driver increases.
What is the most important part of the driver pulley system?
The most important part of the whole driver pulley system is this weight-spring system.
What is the gear ratio on a comet 30?
The gear ratio between the 2 pulleys will change, in the Comet 30 Series, the ratio ranges from 2.7:1 to 0.9:1.
Is torque converter a good gear ratio?
Torque Converter/CVT really are well-engineered, the different gear ratios it provides give you great mechanical advantages, no wonder that so many people prefer it over the centrifugal clutch.
What is the stall speed of a torque converter?
In general, the desired stall speed should be 500-700 RPM below the engine RPM at peak torque. This ensures a margin for application for the torque converter to take off. You don’t want to have to floor your gas pedal and wait a few seconds for your vehicle to move. Think of it as a balancing act.
What is peak torque?
Peak Torque – The maximum torque your engine can exert at a certain RPM. Torque Curve – The place where the engine has the maximum amount of power at a certain RPM. Vehicle Weight – The weight of your vehicle has a big impact on the measurement, and don’t forget to factor in aftermarket modifications.
How to determine stall speed?
How To Choose the Right Stall Speed 1 Peak Torque – The maximum torque your engine can exert at a certain RPM. 2 Torque Curve – The place where the engine has the maximum amount of power at a certain RPM. 3 Vehicle Weight – The weight of your vehicle has a big impact on the measurement, and don’t forget to factor in aftermarket modifications.
Why is stall speed important in racing?
For racing, the proper stall speed will increase your launch and get you off the line quicker. In towing, the proper stall speed will help your engine pass more power to your transmission , causing your tow capacity to increase.
What is Stall Speed?
Stall speed is the speed at which the converter holds back or limits the engine speed if the transmission output is prohibited. When your torque converter prevents the power transfer from your engine to your transmission, it increases the engine’s RPM stalls. For example, when you press down on your gas pedal, the stall speed is the gap between where your vehicle ideals and begins to move. The more stall speed you have, the more pressure you have to put on the gas pedal before your car begins to move.
How Does a Torque Converter Work?
To understand how a torque converter works, start by picturing two fans sitting face-to-face. One fan, the impeller, is powered because it’s connected to the engine. The other fan, the turbine, is not plugged in because it’s connected to the transmission. When the plugged-in fan spins , the other fan rotates as well . The same effect is happening inside a torque converter, but it’s the hydraulic fluid that moves the fans instead of air . A simple step-by-step overview of this complex process is outlined below.
What is torque converter?
A torque converter takes the place of a clutch in cars with an automatic transmission. Unlike a manual clutch, it uses fluid to transmit mechanical power from the engine to the transmission. While a manual transmission has a flywheel and clutch discs, automatic transmissions have a flexplate and torque converter.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Torque Converter?
A torque converter can cost around $300-$600 to replace. The total amount will be closer to $1,000 if labor is included.
How does a stator work?
The stator receives fluid from the turbine and flings it back towards the impeller, multiplying the amount of torque produced. The torque multiplication is especially powerful when the impeller and turbine are spinning at very different speeds. Fluid - The torque converter housing is filled with transmission fluid.
What are the components of a torque converter?
The major components of a torque converter are the impeller, the turbine, and the stator. There’s also the fluid itself, and often a lock-up clutch. All are contained within the housing of the torque converter, which connects to the engine’s flexplate (sometimes called the flywheel).
Why is torque converter needed?
This is required to have enough power for acceleration. While a car is in operation, the engine must always be running. However, when the vehicle stops, the wheels, axles, and driveshaft are no longer spinning.
What happens when a vehicle stops?
However, when the vehicle stops, the wheels, axles, and driveshaft are no longer spinning. The engine’s crankshaft must be allowed to continue to spin while the driveshaft is stationary. A torque converter allows the engine and transmission to rotate independently of one another.
