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How CVTs Work

by William Harris Print Cite This! Close Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article: Harris, William. "How CVTs Work" 27 April 2005. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cvt.htm> 25 August 2011. Cite Feedback

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Take the quiz Inside this Article 1. Introduction to How CVTs Work 2. Transmission Basics 3. Pulley-based CVTs 4. 5. 6. 7. Toroidal CVTs Hydrostatic CVTs A CVT Test Drive See more 7. Lots More Information 8. See all Transmissions & Drivetrain articles

Transmission Image Gallery

Photo courtesy Nissan Global

Nissan HR15DE engine with Xtronic CVT. See more transmission pictures.

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Equalizer Auto Glass Tools For The Professional Technician www.equalizer.com Any Kind AFM Cantilevers AFM Cantilevers For Any Application Fast Delivery. Free Samples! NanoAndMore.com/Cantilevers Zeroshift Ltd Seamless shift transmission. World's Most Advanced Transmissions www.zeroshift.com Some say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. But the continuously variable transmission (CVT), which Leonardo da Vinci conceptualized more than 500 years ago and is now replacing planetary automatic transmissions in some automobiles, is one old dog that has definitely learned a few new tricks. Indeed, ever since the first toroidal CVT patent was filed in 1886, the technology has been refined and improved. Today, several car manufacturers, including General Motors, Audi, Honda and Nissan, are designing their drivetrains around CVTs. In this article, we'll explore how a CVT works in a typical rear-wheel driven car, answering several questions on the way:

How does a CVT compare to a conventional, planetary automatic transmission?

What parts does it have and how do those parts work? What advantages do CVTs offer over conventional automatic transmissions? What about disadvantages? What's the driving experience like in a car with a CVT? What kind of makes and models incorporate CVTs? Are there any other applications for CVTs other than automobiles?

First, we'll look at how a CVT compares to a traditional automatic transmission.

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Inside this Article 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Introduction to How CVTs Work Transmission Basics Pulley-based CVTs Toroidal CVTs Hydrostatic CVTs A CVT Test Drive Lots More Information See all Transmissions & Drivetrain articles

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