The dual clutch transmission from ZF enables lightning-fast gear changes under load without interrupting the torque. It is thus ideally suited for vehicles with dynamic/sporty designs. In them, the ZF transmission performs a balancing act between pure sportiness and the highest driving comfort. DCTs have since expanded to cars, where they function—in essence—as automatic transmissions, but with the ability to shift far quicker than an ordinary torque-converter automatic. Your typical DCT is a six- or seven-speed unit and is called a “dual-clutch” because it has two clutches, one to work the even gears and one to work the odd.
The company's first high-performance SUV will be available with an eight-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission, known as N DCT, providing high-performance features for driving enthusiasts. Motorcraft Dual Clutch Transmission Fluid is specifically formulated for use in the DPS6 Power Shift twin dry-clutch transmission. It was designed as dual functioning fluid to protect gear, synchronizers and bearings, while also used to operate the transmission's shift mechanisms. What other items do customers buy after viewing this item? DCT stands for Dual Clutch Transmission, but that alone doesn’t fully explain it. A DCT is a type of Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) that has two clutches instead of just one. They are gaining.
Photo: The News Wheel
Many drivers treat their car’s dual-clutch transmission in the same way that they would drive a car that had an automatic transmission. But, a dual-clutch transmission is more like a manual transmission than automatic. And if you don’t treat it properly, you could permanently damage it.
Some of your current driving habits could ruin a dual-clutch transmission. If you’re doing any of the following and your car has a DCT, cut it out!
Is Your Car Having Trouble Driving?Take action if any of these warning indicator lights are illuminated
Habits to avoid so you don’t ruin a dual-clutch transmission
Stop taking your foot off the brake
If you have a tendency to let your DCT sit without applying the brakes, such as waiting in traffic or at the foot of an incline, you could be wearing out the clutch pack. When the brakes aren’t applied, some DCTs will make the clutches continually slipping to keep you in place. This depends on how your transmission operates, but you could be putting extra heat and wear on the clutch pack.
Stop putting the car in neutral
Those who are used to driving stick shifts might have a habit of putting their car in neutral when they’re fully stopped at an intersection. You don’t need to do this with a dual-clutch transmission. The car will intuitively release the clutches when you’re braking, so there’s no point switching out of Drive.
If you do ever put the car in neutral, keep the brake depressed when shifting into and out of neutral to protect the clutch.
Are You Guilty of Any of These Common Car Maintenance Mistakes?Find out…
Stop launching improperly
In sportier cars with dual-clutch transmissions, drivers like to launch from a stand-still, but doing so incorrectly can severely damage the gearbox and clutch disks. Don’t hold the brake pedal while you’re revving the gas because the clutch will take damage trying to move the car while you’re fighting it with the brakes. In general, never accelerate the engine when the brakes are applied.
Stop keeping the car in place by accelerating
If you’re sitting on an incline, don’t repeatedly tap the acceleration pedal to keep your position. The same goes for putting the car in reverse and accelerating backward to stop from rolling down a hill. Both practices will quickly overheat the clutch. Use the brakes instead.
Clutch behavioral logic and functions vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so research your specific model to find out how to properly operate. Your car’s owner’s manual will have a lot of information on proper handing to not ruin a dual-clutch transmission.
Sources:Engineering Explained, 2014 Hyundai Veloster owner’s manual
Aaron is unashamed to be a native Clevelander and the proud driver of a Hyundai Veloster Turbo (which recently replaced his 1995 Saturn SC-2). He gleefully utilizes his background in theater, literature, and communication to dramatically recite his own articles to nearby youth. Mr. Widmar happily resides in Dayton, Ohio with his magnificent wife, Vicki, but is often on the road with her exploring new destinations. Aaron has high aspirations for his writing career but often gets distracted pondering the profound nature of the human condition and forgets what he was writing… See more articles by Aaron.
(Updated on December 31, 2019)
The dual clutch transmission (DCT) is referred to by several names including double-clutch transmission and twin-clutch transmission.
A regular manual transmission vehicle would use one clutch and a clutch pedal. The dual clutch transmission uses two separate clutches with no clutch pedal.
Since there is no clutch pedal, the clutches are controlled through hydraulics and advanced computer electronics. This is the same technology that you’d find in some of today’s newer automatic transmission vehicles.
Top 5 Advantages of a Dual Clutch Transmission
Below are the top 5 advantages of using a vehicle with a dual clutch transmission.
1) Faster Acceleration
Many people who have driven double clutch transmission vehicles have said love how the car accelerates. This is due to the gears being able to change almost instantly and allowing you to accelerate in far less time than the same vehicle with a manual or automatic transmission instead.
You can upshift in just a few milliseconds, creating a dynamic and smooth acceleration experience.
2) No Shift Shock
Both manual transmission and regular automatic transmission vehicles will often generate a jolt each time a gear is changed, especially if accelerating heavily. This jolt is called shift shock and it can be quite annoying.
Picture the occupants of a tuner car as the driver accelerates quickly to get on the freeway. With each hard gear shift, each persons’ head slams forward and back.
Fortunately, double clutch vehicles do not have this shift shock when gears are changed. The shift changes are hardly noticeably.
3) Fuel Economy
There is no interruption when energy flows to the transmission from the engine. Because of this, the fuel economy of the vehicle becomes greatly improved. With the enhanced fuel economy, you will also have better fuel efficiency too.
4) No Clutch Pedal
Many people who prefer manual transmissions for their fuel economy and faster acceleration will love dual clutch automatic transmissions since you don’t have to worry about operating a clutch pedal. It’s a fact that a dual clutch will shift quicker than even the best short throw manual shifter.
You’ll have more room in the foot well without the third pedal making driving for long periods more comfortable. Of course, purists will still prefer a clutch pedal and there’s nothing wrong with that.
5) Driver Options
Drivers can even select whether they want the central computer to control the shifting or if they want to use manual paddle shifters or another semi-manual mode for a more involved driving experience.
Most dual clutch vehicles also offer different driving modes at the push of a button which affect the vehicle’s shift points. Set it to sport mode to hold gears longer resulting in better acceleration, economy mode to prioritize taller gears for better fuel economy, or other modes in between. The decision is yours.
Top 5 Disadvantages of a Dual Clutch Transmission
Dual clutch transmissions are definitely not perfect though. Below are the top 5 disadvantages of this technology
1) Higher Vehicle Cost
You can’t expect to find a dual clutch vehicle to be priced the same as an economy car. It costs manufacturers a lot more money to produce these vehicles on the assembly line. This makes the final vehicle a lot more expensive to consumers.
So, if you’re counting your dollars closely, then you might be turned off by this vehicle’s price. Many vehicle models offer more than one type of available transmission so you can easily see the price difference and whether it’s worth it.
2) Maintenance and Repair Cost
Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule is important for any car but it’s critical for those with a DCT. For instance, Audi recommends changing the gear oil in their DCT vehicles every 40,000 miles. This is not a cheap service and not something you’ll often with regular transmissions at that interval.
If something does go wrong with a dual clutch transmission, the repair or replacement cost can be ridiculously high and not all auto repair shops may be able to do the work. This is why proper maintenance is so important.
3) Low Selection
Due to the expense of integrating a dual clutch transmission system into a vehicle, many car manufacturers are electing not to use them. That is why most twin clutch transmission systems are found in high-performance cars and luxury cars.
Since most people are not in the market for a high-performance car, so their options are going to be limited here.
4) Not the Same Driving Experience as a Manual
Dual Clutch Cars
While DCT transmissions have surpassed the fuel efficiency and shifting speed of manual transmissions, they simply don’t provide the same fun driving experience as stick shifts. For some this doesn’t matter, but nothing beats the connectivity a driver has to the road by shifting their own gears.
Sure you may have some type of manual shift mode override (usually in the form of paddle shifters), but ask any driving purist and they’ll tell you it’s just not the same.
Dual Clutch Transmission Fluid
5) Slow to Motion
While some dual clutch transmissions are better than others, you may experience a slight lag when going from a static position to a moving position. Once you get moving though, the instantaneous shifting of a DCT takes over.
Dual Clutch Kit
Conclusion
Dual Clutches
The dual clutch transmission takes the best features of an automatic and manual and places them into one vehicle. If you don’t mind the higher cost, it is worth considering purchasing your next vehicle with one.