Drivetrain loss manual vs automatic

 · Understanding drivetrain power loss, or how the clutch, gearbox, diff, shafts, et al leach away horsepower and whether the “15% rule” is indeed universal.  · On the manual side you have gears and no bands and such like you do in a automatic tranny, sure you have clutches on both but they act differently where is in a auto tranny its done by the tranny its self where a manual you have to engage the clutch, there is alot more going on inside a automatic then a manual, but with the solid gears of a manual you will get more power with few . Drivetrain losses (efficiency) The drivetrain (also called driveline) is the sum of components which are delivering the engine power to the wheels. For example, on a rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicle, the drivetrain consists of: clutch (or torque converter), gearbox (manual or automatic), propeller shaft, differential and drive shafts.

Recommended for you. My wild guess is that in a manual transmission at nominal RPM (max power) loss is about 5% and in an automatic loss is let say doubled, 10%. Let us hear the comments. I have not checked it. But in a manual transmission, you would have a higher pumping loss than a modern automatic. Honestly, (especially up w/ select shift) on up is the first time the automatic for the most part equals if not betters the manual cars. These auto's are not giving up power on the dyno's anymore compared to the manuals. I honestly walked away from buying a low mile GT to get into the auto coyote. In comparison the automatic system costs 18*$70 or $1, in valve costs which is a substantial savings. The elimination of the manual partner balancing valves on the mains, risers and branches in turn eliminates the head loss through them. Hence, the system head loss is reduced which lowers the pump head requirements.

Overall, with a normal sized motor, we figure about 20% drivetrain loss for an automatic tranny and 15% for a manual tranny. On the manual side you have gears and no bands and such like you do in a automatic tranny, sure you have clutches on both but they act differently where is in a auto tranny its done by the tranny its self where a manual you have to engage the clutch, there is alot more going on inside a automatic then a manual, but with the solid gears of a manual you will get more power with few moving parts. but if you was to go with say a powerglide transmission which is a auto you can beef it up enough. Drivetrain Power Loss - The Brutal Truth It is this relationship that eliminates the slippage of a torque converter and makes a manual trans more efficient than an automatic.