What Is an Automatic Transmission

Without a doubt, the engine is the most important component under the hood of your vehicle. However, the transmission that works closely with said engine has a very important role for your drives around Fort Worth, Dallas, and Arlington, Texas.

In this automatic transmission guide, we at Audi Fort Worth will break down the most common transmission on the market today. Let's get started with the basics!

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So, What Exactly Is a Transmission?

The engine produces power, so why do you need a transmission? Well, if the engine manufactured the power and didn't have a way to divert it where it needed to go efficiently and effectively, most of that power would go to waste.

The job of the transmission is to harness the power and torque created by the engine and use a series of gear ratios to properly divert it in the right amount at the right time to the right place. This process allows you the accelerate and decelerate at will.

In the early days of the automotive industry, it was up to the driver to switch between these gears in order to reach a desired speed. Then, the invention of the automatic transmission in 1921 transformed the way we drive.

How Does an Automatic Transmission Work?

The automatic transmission uses a series of gears to divert power to the wheels in order to reach a desired speed. Sounds simple, right? While this innovative system does simplify the process of shifting gears for the driver, there's a lot going on in this system to make it possible.

To understand how an automatic transmission works, we first need to address the main mechanical elements that make it possible:

• Torque Converter: This essential donut-shaped part uses transmission fluid to multiply and transfer torque from the engine to the wheels.
• Transmission Fluid: Not only does this component serve as an essential lubricant, but it also helps transfer the hydraulic power through the torque converter.
• Planetary Gears: The ring gear, sun gear, and planet pinions rotate and adjust automatically to deliver the right amount of torque.

These features, and the many more that go into the transmission, work hard so you don't have to behind the wheel.

What Are the Advantages of an Automatic Transmission?

As we've already highlighted throughout this guide, the main advantage of choosing a vehicle with an automatic transmission is convenience. Automatic transmissions take on the job of changing gears, which drastically improves your overall driving experience.

However, that's not the only benefit you get from operating an automatic vehicle. Since automatic transmissions can shift much faster than any human ever could, these systems provide significantly improved acceleration and power output, which means a more exciting ride for you.

Additionally, most modern automatic transmissions provide enhanced fuel economy compared to their modern manual counterparts.