Many motorists do not know whether it is possible to slip on the machine, especially in winter. Often, young people consider winter drifting a cool activity. However, there are pitfalls here.
With the advent of the winter period, it is very often possible to observe situations when the car is in a snowdrift and the driver tries to get out of it, skidding. It's just that in this case, a person is too lazy to take a shovel and bake his car out of a snowdrift. In this case, drivers rely on the fact that winter tires, paired with the power of the power unit, will do the trick.
A similar method can only be used in cases where a "mechanics" is installed on the car. In this case, the buildup of the car is used by switching the first and reverse gears. The situation is different in the case when the machine is "Automatic". The principle of its operation is to increase the oil pressure when the crankshaft speed increases. Therefore, in the event of an increase in pressure, the friction discs are pressed, and the switching valves themselves operate fully automatically, which does not depend on the driver. Simply put, the automatic transmission itself shifts gears when certain values are reached.
On the "mechanics" the car can be shaken by switching the speeds with your own hands, but on the "automatic" this will not work also because it is a little late during the switch. In this case, the load, which in this case is on the box, will not correspond to the required values. Due to this, skidding on the “machine” will only work for a short period of time. However, this is only possible if the oil in the gearbox is given the right time to cool down.
Answering the question why it is impossible to slip on an “automatic”, it is worth saying that if only the clutch can fly in a manual gearbox in this case, then everything is much more complicated with an automatic transmission. The design of the "machine" is more complicated, and therefore more expensive. Therefore, even a small breakdown of it will lead to serious economic expenses for repairs.
In general, it is possible to slip on the "machine", however, in addition to a possible breakdown, this significantly increases oil and fuel consumption. Therefore, there is no point in sitting behind the wheel and corny pressing the gas pedal. Based on this, if you are trapped in snow, then you should ask other drivers to pull you out or dig your car out yourself.
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The slippage of the drive wheels in snow, mud can have a detrimental effect on the life of an automatic transmission. Let's see if it is possible to slip on the machine without harming the transmission. Be sure to consider the features of off-road driving in a car with an automatic transmission of a torque converter type, a CVT and a robotic gearbox (DSG, Power Shift).
Automatic transmission and off-road
Due to the greatest distribution, the question: is it possible to slip on the machine, most often arises among car owners with a torque converter type automatic transmission. What consequences can be expected if skidding in snow, mud and off-road driving without following the recommendations?
The operation of an automatic transmission at the time of slipping
In situations where the drive wheels are slipping in mud or snow, switching is the greatest danger to the gearbox. The electronic transmission control unit changes gear ratios based on speed and engine load. The ECU focuses exclusively on (TPDZ, DMRV, gas pedal position sensor, speed sensor). Therefore, when the wheels spin, the ECU “thinks” that the car is accelerating normally and shifts up. 
It is the gear change during slippage that leads to increased loads on the torque converter and clutch packs. A similar damage to the automatic transmission is caused by a sharp change in the coefficient of adhesion to the road at the moment of slipping of the drive axle. For example, when the car is slipping in the snow, and then the wheels hit the paved area with good grip.
No less dangerous for the automatic transmission is overheating. The difference in the angular velocities of the turbine and pump wheels of the torque converter leads to intense heating of the working fluid. If the car slips in mud or snow until the moment of forced blocking of the main engine, the volume of oil circulating through the torque converter increases, which leads to an increase in temperature. With excessive heating, the oil cokes in the channels of the valve body and loses its performance. Therefore, frequent off-road car operation requires reduction.
How to ride?
Cars with DSG and CVTs
As you understand, it is possible to slip on the machine without harm to the transmission. Perhaps this is due to the principle of operation of the hydrotransformer. While slipping, the main engine smooths out shock loads. If it assumes the presence of a torque converter, then the car will endure trips on light off-road much more calmly. But at the same time, it is possible to slip only until the main engine is blocked. In general, you need to work carefully with the gas pedal to minimize increased loads on the belt and variator cones.
The disadvantage is just the lack of a torque converter. Therefore, the clutch packs used in "wet" DSGs, as well as the clutch discs of "dry" robotic gearboxes on off-road, experience increased loads.
Novice motorists are interested in the experts "is it possible to slip on the machine." Even before the automatic machine entered the life of modern car owners, there was a lot of controversy on this topic. Some experts were even inclined to believe that with two radiators on a frame SUV, it is possible to overcome mud and swamps.
But, after several dozen experiments, experienced car owners can accurately answer that it is possible to slip, start abruptly only on mechanics. The machine is designed for city roads and does not tolerate swamps.
The principle of operation of the machine
The principle of operation of the automatic transmission is:
- The impeller in the torque converter builds up pressure and moves the lubricating fluid to the turbine.
- The bagel transmits torque to the planetary gear when the drive clutch from the input shaft is activated.
- And the valve body sets the algorithm for oil circulation and gear movement in the planetary gear set by means of gear shifting.
Due to the fact that the automatic transmission is an independent system, almost independent of a person, it is forbidden to slip on the machine.
Attention! You can not take the vehicle out of the snowdrift by swinging back and forth, as drivers do on the mechanics. The constant switching of the selector lever will damage not only the switch itself, but also harm the machine.
What happens to the automatic transmission when slipping
The consequences of slipping the machine are fraught with a major overhaul of the automatic transmission. The temperature inside the machine rises, then the force of friction of metal parts against each other increases.
Despite the fact that an automatic transmission is no longer an innovation, drivers still often have little idea of what can and cannot be done on a car with such a gearbox. I have been driving an automatic for 5-6 years now and I can safely tell you that such cars are strictly for comfortable city driving. True, no exceptions. Even though you bought a huge car with a gun, the rule still applies.
Is it possible to slip on the automatic box
It should be understood that an automatic transmission is far from a toy. Not only because of its price, but also because of its complexity. From the engine, torque is transmitted due to fluid pressure. I will not go into science, because it is difficult to understand all the processes for an ordinary driver. The bottom line is that there are 2 discs in the torque converter. They look at each other. They send the moment from the engine to the transmission. The task of the first disk is to rotate, which creates fluid pressure. The second task is to make the second disk rotate as well.
Well, my curious ones, we begin to disassemble the machine in extreme situations, and “slipping” is precisely an abnormal situation in the operation of the automatic transmission. There are a lot of rumors and fables around this topic that it is impossible to slip at all, this is almost immediately the death of the transmission, that this can be done without fear. Where is the truth? After all, you can get stuck not only in winter, but also, let's say, in the mud when traveling to the country, and it's easy and simple! But what about all-wheel drive cars, because many of them also have automatic transmissions? Read on, sort through the shelves ...
I have already spoken many times about automatic transmission, and that there are several types of them:
- Classic torque converter
- Variable speed drive
- Robot
They are different in their structure and characteristics, a lot of useful information. But it just so happened that one of the most common now is the automatic, the classic torque converter. It occupies about half of the market (even a little more), the rest is shared by the variator and the robot. It is with him that the main questions are connected.
What you need to remember about automatic transmission
Guys, I have said many times and now I repeat, an automatic transmission is created only for one. FOR COMFORTABLE CITY DRIVING, on good cleared roads. It is not suitable for off-road, to deal with snow drifts and mud. Any of yours through dimensional "slipping" affects the resource of the machine negatively! It just needs to be remembered as a given!
If in winter we can’t do anything with you, well, such is our climate. That's to climb consciously into the mud and "fight off-road", for me it's beyond understanding. Of course, now there are luxury SUVs, and with machine guns, but you really don’t want to get into the mud on them, because they are very expensive. And also they are not designed for this, even if there are a lot of all kinds of blocking and "electronic assistants". If you got up in a very difficult "swamp" and have been skidding for several tens of minutes, you will definitely have an icon with automatic transmission overheating on your car's scoreboard. He can forcibly turn off your transmission, and you can't do anything about it. All this is done so that you don’t “ditch” it right here (although about all-wheel drive will be a little lower).
Remember the golden rule - if you like to drive through the mud, then this is definitely a mechanic. There you will burn the clutch at most, but this repair will be much cheaper than restoring the automatic transmission later.
So automatics (in a large application), this is a city transmission, I emphasize once again created for the city, well, the maximum for defeating a snow-covered yard, but no more.
An automatic transmission is a very complex unit, here it is transmitted from the engine using pressure (or scientifically, using friction) of the fluid. Read in it about the automatic transmission clutch. In short, two discs directed at each other, enclosed in a torque converter, transmit torque from the engine to the transmission - one begins to rotate and create fluid pressure, with which the second one begins to rotate, as if everything is elementary.
But such a structure is a direct source of heat, I would even say excess heat, which is why it must be of very high quality and not burn. The second link that heats the oil inside is the friction discs, they can also overheat during rotation.
That is why on modern automatic transmissions, they now put a liquid cooling radiator, this is a must! It takes the heat that is generated inside and dissipates it outside by blowing incoming air, as well as from the fan of the main engine cooling radiator (usually mounted next to it). After all, even traffic jams, without much slippage, can heat up the machine quite strongly, and you stand still, so the airflow turns on to save the machine from excess heat.
Now let's imagine slipping in snow or mud, what's going on?
You are standing still - the car is slipping, the pressure and friction of the fluid inside the torque converter is CRAZY, and the friction discs are also throwing temperatures. This causes the liquid inside to boil! There is no airflow, the car stands still, the engine fan turns on, but it is not able to dissipate such an amount of heat generated. That is, the usual boiling occurs inside. True, I want to make a reservation - this is when you skid for a really long time, say more than 15 minutes, constantly without rest.
Why is it detrimental to automatic transmission:
- The torque converter suffers very much, from high temperatures, it can simply be jarred, because it not only warms up, pressure also acts on it. I personally saw that the blades broke.
- friction discs. As we are already with you, they are divided into two types - metal and soft, usually made from pressed and impregnated paper (in other words, cardboard). For them, high temperatures (boiling) are very destructive, they begin to decay corny. Sometimes they even stick to metal discs. And this is a 100% repair.
- ATF fluid, it also has a limit. After it boils, if the temperature continues to rise, it begins to “burn”, like all oils (even engine oils) actually. And after this has happened, it loses its properties for lubrication and begins to thicken, and in the most difficult cases to precipitate. Thus, not only is the box not effectively lubricated, but the liquid also begins to clog all channels, such as a cooling radiator, valve body, oil pump.
Here are the answers to all your questions. That is why many manufacturers install signaling systems on the instrument panel that can forcibly turn off your transmission when you skid too much! I think this is very correct! The car retains its node itself.
So why shouldn't you skid at all?
Guys you can, but without fanaticism! If you feel that you specifically sat down, then you need to ask to be pushed out, that is, you need to help your “machine”, he alone may not be able to cope.
The slipping should take place as follows:
- We do not skid in D - DRIVE mode, it is practically forbidden. A box from increased speeds can jump through gears, which is fatal for it.
- If there is a reduced mode, usually it is “L”, or “manual mode” - we set the first or second gear. It is on them that you need to skid.
- Remember that after 3 minutes of constant slipping, the temperature in the automatic transmission rises by 30%! After 5 minutes at all 40%, this is already the limit. So after 2 - 3 minutes of slippage, let the machine rest. I would even turn off the car and leave it for 10-15 minutes, in winter it will cool down very quickly.
- If you feel that you sat down specifically, then it is better to call someone to help, either push or pull out! Don't ruin your transmission.
Follow these simple rules, and it will work for a long time, it will only please you.
Is it possible to skid on an automatic with all-wheel drive?
Guys often have automatic transmissions, on SUVs they are not much different - I mean the design. There is also a cooling radiator, the same - a torque converter and friction discs. Doesn't that tell you anything? True, in order to carry such a “carcass”, such transmissions can “digest” more torque than an ordinary passenger car, it would be super blasphemy - for the boxes to be the same on an “A” class car and a heavy frame SUV. Nevertheless, the designs are slightly different, for SUVs it is stronger, if you want reinforced or something.
But after all, his weight is different, often approaching 3 tons, but an ordinary private (classes “B” - “C”) foreign car weighs about 1 ton. Therefore, it will be stronger at the SUV.
