Quote:
Originally Posted by Mitch
The planetary gearset in an automatic doesn't really slip. The place where you would get slip is the torque converter which uses the viscosity of the fluid in the converter to transfer power while allowing differences in speed between the input and output halves (no direct mechanical linkage) much the way slipping the clutch would allow you to do. The thing is, it can also lock the torque converter when slip isn't needed. Modern automatics do a great job of doing this early and seamlessly, which is why you see autos these days with just as good if not better fuel economy than their manual equivalents.
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i don't doubt what you say,however,there is still a certain amount of slippage
in the gear train too! has to be, as it is immersed in an oil bath. yes! indeed there has been wonderful advances in torque converter technology,allowing the
"slush" to beat the stick in gas mileage, (highway) still i'll bet the stick will beat an auto in (real world) gas mileage "in town",with a driver that knows when to shift,because it is "'direct drive"and slippage is kept to an absolute minimum.