THIS Is the Most Underrated Car Invention in 2023 | The Torque Converter
The Torque Converter in automatic transmission is possibly the most underrated invention in cars today. Most people use it every single day without realizing how important it is and what it actually does.
In this video we will go back to basics with the torque converter. We'll explain what makes it, how it works and how it has evolved from a very basic principle to the latest and the greatest of today!
TCCN Automotive Inc.
Toyota and Lexus Specialist Repair
Visit www.tccnautomotive.com to schedule your appointment today.
Check out the second channel :
/ @thecarcarenutreviews
Recommended Tools:
Basic Scan Tool amzn.to/3Jm6aom
Very good DIY Scan Tool amzn.to/3zF7dvH
Advanced Scan tool amzn.to/3q3L3QQ
Spill Free Coolant Replacement Funnel amzn.to/3uJfKxm
Sun roof drain cleaning tool amzn.to/3GMDlQ9
Good DIY Torque Wrench 1/2" amzn.to/3gE9bnw
Wireless Apple CarPlay for Toyota\Lexus amzn.to/3uKElSo
Very Good Triple Camera Borescope amzn.to/3MrgFs0
*as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Follow the channel on Social Media :
/ thecarcarenut
/ thecarcarenut
Check out the channel Merch store
/ @thecarcarenut
Support the channel on Patreon:
/ thecarcarenut
Make a one time donation to the channel:
www.paypal.me/CCNdonate
Check out the amazon store:
www.amazon.com/shop/thecarcarenut
*as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
#thecarcarenut #tccnautomotive #toyota #lexus
0:00 Intro
0:50 Components and Basic Operation
5:21 1st Complication : It's Not Moving
9:02 2nd Complication : It's too hot for a road trip
13:03 3rd Complication : The MPG Wars
15:28 Torque Converter Common Problems
20:56 Things You Didn't Know
23:59 The More Complicated Things
27:26 How Does the Lock Actually Happen
29:02 Torque Converter Construction Confusion
You often mention that you still have to clean the engine bay/compartment of a vehicle before you turn it back over to the customer. I would like to see a video of what you do and what cleaners you use. That would be a great DIY video.
Seconded! I remember it was on the do list but AMD wanted a dirty enough engine bay to clean. 😅
@@k24wkevinyeah it was on his Camry Hybrid video a few months ago.
I use Oil Eater spray. Works well and doesn’t discolor or attack anything. Plastic or metal.
@@RoccoReviews The Camry Hybrid AMD bought for himself and did the one-year review on?
@@Cripleclarence_1948i've seen him say he was waiting for it to get dirtier before cleaning it but never one where he does it. maybe it's still in the works
As a mechanical engineer, your explanation of this much over-looked device was excellent. Well done!
You cant say nice things to a mechanic as an engineer in public, next thing people will think mechanics and engineers are friends 😁
I had a friend who was a mechanical engineer. And an alcoholic. I would not trust his opinion from authority.
yep same here and same opinion about this video, well done. And yes it is an engineering marble and completely underrated!
Except he is wrong. All of it is wrong about the stator.
@@tahcogunworks would you like to explain how it is? ive gotten good with every part of a vehicle except understanding how these magic doughnuts work.
I’ve never seen the inside of a torque converter and no one has ever explained how one works so well. Thanks for the video.
I've been in the auto industry for over 20 years. I think this might be the only time anyone has ever explained the inner workings of a torque converter. Well done, and I very much enjoyed it.
Except he is wrong about the stator.
Explain please!
??? @@tahcogunworks
@@tahcogunworks Please explain.
98% of people have no idea how these work and half of those who even grasp the entirety of its function still boil it down to fluid dynamics. It's like one of those things that were designed but only a small number of people can engineer and build them. Really great video. Torque converters are amazing devices!
I guess I’m part of the 2%😭🙏🏾
I’ve been an ASE certified technician and a Licensed A&P Aircraft Technician for 40 years……This video is possibly the best technical explanation I have ever seen!
Lots of torque converters on planes?
@@johnmadsen37 Perhaps you don’t realize ASE CERTIFIED means automotive tech?
The magic of engineering. What I find interesting is how much stuff comes out of an automatic transmission. Amazing how they get all the parts in an automatic tranny. A lot of skill goes into taking a transmission apart and putting it back together and make it work. Hats off to guys like you that have the interest to do these things.
Hi Jerry it’s amazing ,,, my learned everything about any kind of engine ,, electric all of in the navy ,,, it’s very interesting I still love learning bout ,, my dad taught me a lot ,, but not all ,, cause I’m a girl he said ,, he was good as the car nut guy.
As with most cars, I can take things apart within half an hour and take a whole week to put them back right lol
@@TaijiArban ,,,, that makes sense ,, making sure all that stuff is where it’s supposed to be ,, great mechanics are very hard to find !!!
When I was a motor mechanic apprentice over 50 years ago automatics were not as ubiquitous as now. We were not taught to service or repair them - they were left to specialists. We were just told they had a fluid coupler. I am learning so much from the Car Care Nut! And this video gives another reason to do regular ATF changes (as opposed to so-called lifetime fluid).
A top-notch video on how the torque converter works. You have the ability to break down parts and explain in a language that most people can understand on how it works.
A much appreciate this man for his clarity of mind in explaining complexity in a simple way…..Thanks The German inverter of the torque converter was Dr. H Fottinger. The first experimental converter was build in1908 and gave the maximum efficiency of 83% with a maximum torque ratio of 5:1. The Fottinger transmitter, as it was than called, used water as fluid medium as it was first used for marine purpose.
Im a big fan from the Philippines who works on cars. Your youtube channel has really helped me a lot. Thank you and may Godbless you always.
...and you Filipinos really know how to keep cars running & running!
Didnt realise how relatively complex a modern auto was and the need to respect your car when driving and servicing. Thanks.
Super expensive, for a reason. About 1/4 of the cost of the whole car, in just a few plates.
Don't forget the engineers who designed them overtime with trials and errors in order to come up with this. And what we often don't see is the fact that what we consider as modern technology such as this (TC) has often been around for a long time ago back when there was no AI or computer-assisted designing, it was all about brain cells, eyes, hands, pencils and drawing board. We take it for granted but often don't think about the brilliant minds that made our lives much easier.
Modern Autos and Airplanes are a huge argument against simplicity equating reliability. what creates reliability is designing and maintaining for reliability not the complexity of the system.
@@gwilli1754 How do you figure that a torque converter is 1/4 the price of a vehicle. A 2015 Chevy Silverado with a Duramax the torque is less than a thousand bucks.
For once my eyes did not glaze over and my mind did not wander. Such a good teacher.
I’ve been a heavy equipment mechanic for 5 years now and never really understood how exactly a torque converter works until now! Thank you!
Many thanks for taking the time to explain the torque converter and how it functions. I often wondered what the inside of one looked and all the components. We appreciate what you do for all of us.
Back in the early 50's Chrysler had a "Fluid coupler" attached to a standard transmission with a manual clutch. You could shift the gear selector as a regular gear box. The only thing different is that you could select a gear and then NOT depress the clutch and the engine would not stall. The coupler would take over and you could operate the car as an automatic. It never did catch on .
Hi Yes I worked on early Volkswagons who had a similar thing. Early VWs had a manual transmissions with both a clutch and a torque converter but the clutch had no clutch pedal. The clutch was activated from the gear stick and it simply was fully engaged or fully disengaged. The clutch was engaged by pushing the gear stick down (which disengaged the clutch) before pushing the gear stick into gear and letting the gear stick up (which engaged the clutch again) while the torque converter kept everything separate until accelerating. It was known as a stick shift. I also wondered why it wasn't more popular.
In the late 70s Honda CVCC (if I recall correctly) had a 4 speed Hondamatic transmission, 2 automatic gears, then shift, then 2 more.
Yeah! I was in my early teens, and I had one of these. It was a Plymouth with that old great inline L 6 engine.
@@Maybe-So I think Chevy had an automatic transmission you had to shift once manually. It did not catch on. They went back to the automatic. Also, Chevy had a special transmission that shifted gears through use of a special converter. Finally had all the bugs out of it and worked great only to be discontinued. And who could forget the Buick Dyna flow that just used a special torque converter all the time. They worked super smooth but was a gas hog.🙂 The famous Hydro matic transmission never used a torque converter at all just a fluid coupling. One model of Hydro matic had two fluid couplings. 😉
Still driving my 55 Buick with Twin Turbine Variable Pitch Dynaflow transmission. Someone once told me that that year Buick had the slowest acceleration from 0 to 40 and fastest from 40 to 80 mph.@@GaryH-pw9cm
AMD you look so passionate educating us about such an overlooked subject. Thank you for taking your time to do and share your wisdom
AMD, This lesson will be very handy if I ever give up my manual transmission. 😉
@@kimbuck2177 It won't be any time soon 😁
Please, please do more of these educational videos my man - you are a natural teacher and these are difficult concepts for most people to understand properly - diagrams on a whiteboard aren't as helpful as seeing an expert with the parts in hand! The genius of your teaching is starting with the idea and then dealing with the problems. Most tutorials would simply explain what each part does, but if you understand the problems that inventors had to overcome, then you really start to understand the interaction of all of the parts.
I love how TCCN is such a connoisseur.
Great video! I always wanted to see how the lockup clutch works. That is a very small amount of clutch material, it's amazing how durable it is, like a single plate motorcycle clutch. It's also amazing how complicated automatic transmissions are, they are a work of art, even though I prefer manuals, at least i can appreciate something while wishing I had a clutch... Haha
Well said!
There doesn’t need to be much clutch material because the fluid coupling transfers power until the input and output speeds are matched. The clutch doesn’t need to split like it does in a manual transmission.
Great video!! Thanks for helping me understand how a torque converter operates. You are an amazing teacher.
I've blown several transmissions racing and it's almost always been when I'm at high stall speed to launch off the line, then have to stop and wait, but not wait long enough for it to cool down from the massive heat buildup of pushing the stall speed to max.
I've always been in awe with what the Torque converter has to accomplish - let alone figuring out the engaging and disengaging of the clutch, it needs to convert all the torque the engine is laying down to spin a shaft that can propel thousands of pounds under immense loads - just blows my mind. Thank you for this thoughtful explainer of how it accomplishes all that.
Thank you for this. I knew what a torque converter does but I never had any idea how it worked.
Great torque converter tutorial. In our family we mostly have and have had manual transmission cars so I have not spent a lot of time figuring out how torque converters operate. I agree with your analysis, they are a marvelous piece of engineering.
Very smart engineers who designed this - and this man explains it better than anyone. Although I am still not an expert - at least I know a little more than I did.
I knew about all those parts that make up a TC but didn't know how they worked together till now. Many thanks for bringing it together.
This is the most comprehensive explanation of a modern torque converter I've seen. Thanks! Now I also know why my 2016 Tacoma has that annoying shudder. Sure wish I'd known about this before the drive train warranty expired.
Great explanation, making things easy to understand for the layman! Keep up the awesome videos
Most cars did not have torque converter clutches or "lockup" until the 1980s or so but the early Packard automatic did have a lockup converter,also city buses by GM with Detroit Diesel and automatic drive often had one speed automatic transmission with a lockup torque converter. Also some automatic transmissions only had fluid coupling that couldn't multiply torque.
Thanks for taking the time from your busy shop schedule to explain how the torque converter works.
I have understood the basic principle of how a torque converter works but I've never seen it in that much detail. Thank you for this video. You truly are a gem to us car enthusiasts and DIY home mechanics.
Thank You so much!!! No words to describe how much you help us, not only about mechanic, but also to listen and learn the cars language. God bless you 🙏
AWESOME WORK on this video! Thank you.
Wonderful job explaining the TC!
I added a Tru Cool tranny cooler to my Prado for the heat on abu dhabi. Was 120f in the desert last Saturday afternoon. 4lo, 4th gear, 8 psi in the tires, and the transmission fluid at the tq converter sensor never went above 175f. Amazing design.
This was great. All my life I have worked on engines and everything on cars except transmissions. Had a very basic understanding of transmissions but nothing more. Always wanted a more detailed explanation about them but never had a chance to get it. Thank you.
I really enjoyed the love you showed teaching us this. Thank you
Little did I think that I would spend 34 minutes listening to you talk about an automatic transmission but I'm glad I did and I found it very interesting and easy to understand, thank you
Hello AMD, thank you so much for making this video! I saw your earlier video about the torque converter shudder and didn’t understand well enough how this happened. As an owner of a 2012 Camry that was actually affected by this problem this bothered me. Now, I have a much better idea why Toyota ran into this problem. Thanks a lot for your explanations!
Absolutely GREAT review! I always wondered about the "electronic lockup" and now I know the principle. I thought the video title was misleading but knowing that the manufacturers keep improving such an old component it makes sense. In my younger years I was hell on components but now I am a really gentle driver. I don't recall you doing a FoMoCo comparison to Toyota. I would like to see that and how much they are similar. We have a 2016 Rav4 Limited Hybrid 130k miles and a 2015 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid 50k miles. For us they both work very well. Take care and God bless.
I knew something like this exists, now I understand it much better. Great explaining.
I learn so much from your channel. Excellent explanation of what this device does.
Great video. I had 1950 Dodge with 3 speed manual on the tree, AND a torque converter-they called it Fluid Drive. You couldn't kill the engine even if you popped the clutch at idle. It was fabulous for teaching people to drive stick shift. On trips, you never really needed to shift-just leave it in 3d and go slow pokey off the line. Also had a 1961 Bentley with a GM turbo hydramatic in it.
I really love this video and appreciate you taking a moment to do some general educating. I've always tried to learn more mechanically, had buddies who had dads that would tear everything apart and work together on it, they learned tons. I never had any of that, so everything I have learned has been by doing, or watching youtube etc. and that can be hard to find/figure out. You're a very good teacher and I hope you do more videos like this. Posi/limited slip rear ends is another good one, transfer cases etc. There is so much that we use everyday that we take for granted and have no clue how it works. I have watched every single video you have made since the beginning and I've enjoyed them all, even ones that I wouldnt normally watch or click on, I watch them all and learn and enjoy. Thanks, keep up the great work!
You can learn a ton by watching KZhead videos. My knowledge accumulated exponentially from KZhead in many areas.
Thought I knew a little bit about the internal combustion engines and modern cars but every time I watch your channel I learn so much more.. appreciate you.
Beautifully explained! Thank you!
A fantastic video AMD TY, I loved it as you explained it so very well. Like always I learn something new and something explained brilliantly. TY Sir Keep Safe Keep Strong 🦘🦘🦘🦘💖💖💖💖
Great Informative video! Could you make a video explaining the difference between the 6 speed and 8 speed transmission and the durability of the 6 speed. Or in other words, what have they done to update the operation of the 8 speed.
OUTSTANDING explanations ... WELL DONE !
you explained well...thank you!
Just by changing the angle of the fins, the stator, the number of the blades and the physical size, all changes the stall rpm and increase the multiplication of power. Its so cool/
Great explanation of a big mystery. I had the torque shudder at 25 mph on my 2012 Honda CRV. The dealer did a software update that seems to have fixed it.
If that’s a US version then was it a CVT transmission?
Very well explained, thank you !🎉😊
Excellent explanation! I learned a lot and appreciated the info.
I remember when locking torque converters started showing up in the early eighties, and when going up a grade, those early converters would lock, unlock, lock unlock, every few seconds. People would climb under their cars and disconnect a wiring harness on the side of the transmission to keep the converter from locking. This was a common issue on GM cars and trucks, which usually had large V8 engines, and the locking torque converter made little difference in the gas mileage anyway, so people didn't mind disabling the converter lockup.
I am thinking that in overdrive transmissions it won't shift into overdrive if it doesn't get a signal the torque converter locked up.
Good job explaining the converter, I didn't realize that some of them had dampening springs but I guess it makes sense. The easiest way I've been epxlained how a converter works is basically a fan blowing at another fan - then toss in the clutch lockup and you're nearly there.
Fan blowing at another fan is a hydraulic coupling, not the same thing at all.
OK, the stator to a fluid coupling is like the fulcrum to a stick... the stator makes the fluid coupling multiply torque as a 'torque converter' like a fulcrum turns a stick into a 'lever' that has more force...
This is absolute gold. Learned something new every second of this video.
Thanks for the beautiful explanations.
Thank you Ahmed! You explained this very well and very clearly. This is something I always wanted to learn about. You have increased my knowledge tremendously, and I really appreciate all your hard work to produce these videos to educate us.
Amazing video.
Great video sir. Explained in best way.
Thank you, fantastic video and very clearly explained 👍
Thank you for the very informative video. Do the Toyota's with a CVT transmission use the same style of torque converters or are they different? Specifically for the CVT with the 2ZRFE engine if you know.
Thank you for thorough research. Could you at some point in time create a video for the most common issues with Lexus trunk locks not working, both with the remotes and switch. I have a 2006 LS430 that I cannot figure out. Yes, I've checked everything... And that car has more fuse box areas than any car I've ever owned. After 230k miles, something got to give.❤
@sruntdouble5933 not 100% sure but i believe there is a cancel button in the glove box for the trunk lid. check and make sure its not activated.
@jluna1279 thanks, this model has it right next to the trunk open button left of the steering wheel...yes that has been looked at soon after we developed this issue a little over a year ago. thanks again
Nice! I've watched 5 other torque converter videos and this one made the most sense. Thank you
You are an excellent instructor.
AMD, unfortunately my 2017 RAV4 XLE recently had to have the torque converter replaced, and I baby my car. Also, tranny fluid had been changed a year before TC replacement at 60,000 miles.
I’m glad I bought the 19 RAV4. It’s been bulletproof, knock on wood. I now have almost 100k miles.
@@user-tb7rn1il3qkeep tranny serviced with trans fluid from dealer oem fluid and will last LONG time
Was it a drain and fill, flush or fluid exchange?
@@ruthnoya8424 I think a flush and fill.
Brother. I appreciate your videos. What is your opinion about 2010 toyota venza awd . Thanks
I appreciate that explanation. Well done.
Thoroughly enjoyed your excellent presentation. Thank you!
Oh how I remember my 85 El Camino with a torque converter lock-up problem. It locked up way too soon (around 27mph) causing the engine to lug. I had to go into arbitration with GM to get it fixed - at another dealership - who did finally fix it. On that El Camino, it shouldn't have locked up before about 38mph. But the first dealership tried to tell me it was normal - "they all do it" BS.
My '86 Monte Carlo LS locked up about 36 MPH...
Ha! Torque convertor shudder. A highly predictable occurence in Towncars, Grand Marquis, Fairlane 500's, etc. from 2010 and earlier. And usually at about 45,000 miles. Customers usually had difficulty describing the sensation, but this being Texas, I always asked one question. "Did it feel like you had just run across a cattle guard?" (Those steel tubes in a frame running laterally across a dirt road where it crosses through a fence) "EXACTLY like that," most would say. At that point I would explain that deteriorating fluid was to blame and sell a transmission flush. That took care of most all the cases but occasionally they were too far gone and a new convertor was the fix. No salesman would dream of mentioning that flush as preventative maintenence, but despite it not being listed as such in the owners' manuals, we recommended it at 30,000 and cars that received that operaton never developed the shudder.
what about brand new vehicles that have the shutter ?
@@zacinnc78 Do not know. My only experience with the malfunction was on Ford V8 cars. The ones that went away about a dozen years ago. Last produced in the 2010 model year.
what i meant was did u deal with ones that shuddered even when they were brand new...not so much todays models specifically(even though im looking for answeres for my 2022 tacoma that has the shutter since day 1)
@@zacinnc78 We never had a new one with the concern. It took some time for the fluid to deteriorate to where the clutch took several rapid applications (generating the noise) before it would hold. I've never had a look at a Toyota lock-up device so I can't speculate on a cause. When I use the term clutch, it's because the Ford unit really was a miniature pressure plate/disc thing, good to transmit only enough torque to pull the vehicle through the air at a steady speed. Ask any more from it and it unlocked. I think Toyota owes you a new one if you're still in warranty, and being a 2022, it should be. Doesn't powertrain wty go to 60k?
That's one of the best explanations of the torque converter I've seen to date. Well done! Thanks!
Best video on torque converters I’ve ever watched. Thank you!
My 1990 Subaru Justy was the very first modern production vehicle to use a CVT. Subaru called it the ECVT. The transfer of power from the engine to the ECVT was via an electromagnetic clutch that was activated by a switch on the accelerator. Very cool. I prefer it over a toque converter.
Nope Daf was the first.
@@jgn593 I said "modern". The Daf was 1954 using a leather belt.
@@rodh2168than it was the Volvo 300 series.
@@jgn593 Same vehicle different name. Volvo bought Daf, short for daffodil. Still not "modern". My Justy had two computers. One running the clutch and ECVT, the other running the rest of the vehicle. And it was 2-door 4WD. Only 8 of this configuration sold in Canada. Manual for clutch / ECVT was 5 inches thick. Ask me how I know.
All my cars have manual gearboxes. An automatic transmission turns hopes and dreams into extreme disappointment.
And speed if you're working with some horsepower. Faster than manuals but not as fun
Gives a man something to do with his hands.
@@TheScrubmuffin69 Flooring an auto is underwheming, not involved, wasteful, and boring, and a manual is more than just changing gear, you can better balance the car through corners and bends, through hazards, in poor weather, and also change your driving to short shift for economy. There is a reason why racing cars are manual, there's a reason why advanced car control is best achieved in a manual, there's a reason why emergency vehicles here in the UK are manual and driver training is so long, strict, and advanced. Automatics are for beginners and the lazy, people who think they can drive and discover they can't, and that is why we have two separate tests for manual or automatic, pass an automatic driving test and you're only allowed to drive automatic cars, pass a manual test and you can drive any car, because you're better trained, and a better driver. Countries that think there's no difference between the two, and think automatics are better, have worse per capita, per mile, death rates on their roads, because people aren't trained properly to drive.
@@2148aa I would argue I could steer better with my knees than anyone that drives an automatic using their hands, and so can my wife, because we're more aware of the weather and road conditions, and more aware of hazard perception, and skid control. Theory and training, starts with learner plates and a qualified driving instructor; just that and I would argue any UK Driver is 'advanced' compared to any US Driver, even your US Police. In terms of advanced training in Roadcraft, skid pan, off-road, and emergency driving using commentary in front of an advanced instructor, then we're incomparable. It's not just giving 'a man something to do with his hands', our women are better than you as well.
@@Judge_Dredd sticks and stones.........
Very great tutorial. Now I know how a Torque converter works!
Fabulous video. Fascinating piece of engineering. Thank You !
Brilliantly explained, thank you so much. Cheers, Stuart 🇦🇺
Fantastic explanation of a beautiful piece of engineering. Thank you!
brilliant explanation. everything is explained very well.
Great video, great explanation. I've just learned something new abaut transmission
Great description of the operation and construction of a torque converter. Thanks!
Brilliant explanation of the working of a torque converter.Thankyou!
This is a great video…thanks for creating it…subscribed!
Good explanations tysm. The fluid dynamics of the ATF inside this would really blow your mind.
Thank you, first explanation I have heard.
Thank-you for a simple, very clear, explanation of an auto transmission.
Great video, I randomly started watching it and was compelled to watch the whole thing (Might have learned a thing or two) - Nice work!
The Lock up Clutch was absolute Witchcraft back in the 80's, A 4 speed Auto with Lock up still seems pretty much like it covers most people's requirements.
Excellent and comprehensive coverage of torque converter operation. Thanks very much for the video.
I'm a technical educator, and I really like the way you explained the construction as the last point. I think the fluid flow and mechanical operation are much easier to understand as you presented them, and then the "backwards" construction really fills in how it works as a unit. This is the best explainer I have seen of the torque converter. Many thanks!
Fantastic video. I've wondered about torque converters before, and you answered all the questions that came up while watching. Thanks!
Great class...you explained it very well...thanks so much for putting this video together
Brilliant explanation ! I now understand ! Thank you.
Amazing explanation, without any animation needed. U got a new subscriber
Wow, excellent job of explaining how it works. You are the type of teacher I would want to listen too.
This is one of the best videos i have ever seen , Thank you !!!!