What does 6MT transmission mean?
1 Answers
It refers to a 6-speed manual transmission. The term MT stands for Manual Transmission, with its full English name being manual-transmission. The number 6 indicates that it has 6 manual forward gears. Manual transmissions are widely used, with 5MT and 6MT being more prevalent. Manual transmission is a gear-shifting device used to alter the speed and torque transmitted from the engine to the driving wheels. It enables the vehicle to achieve different traction forces and speeds under various conditions such as starting from a standstill, climbing hills, turning corners, and accelerating, while also allowing the engine to operate within a more favorable range. Introduction to Manual Transmission: Modern vehicle engines have limited ranges of speed and torque variation, but driving conditions vary greatly, requiring a wide range of changes in traction force and speed. For instance, when starting, a vehicle doesn't need high speed but requires greater traction force, whereas on highways, less traction force is needed but higher speed is desired. This demand characteristic of vehicles conflicts with the engine's speed-torque characteristics, and the transmission precisely resolves this contradiction. The functions of a manual transmission are: To change the gear ratio, expanding the range of torque and speed variations of the driving wheels to adapt to frequently changing driving conditions. To enable reverse driving by using the reverse gear while maintaining the engine's rotation direction. To interrupt power transmission with the neutral gear without turning off the engine, facilitating engine start-up, warm-up, idling, gear shifting, coasting, or temporary stops. To transmit the engine's power output to drive other mechanisms, such as winches in some vehicles or oil pumps in dump trucks. Compared to hydraulic automatic transmissions (AT), manual transmissions have both advantages and disadvantages. Advantages: Compared to automatic transmissions, they offer more control pleasure for driving enthusiasts. Higher transmission efficiency than automatic transmissions, resulting in better fuel economy under the same engine displacement. Simpler construction, cheaper maintenance, and greater durability than automatic transmissions. Relatively mature technology and lower manufacturing costs. Higher reliability. Disadvantages: Gear shifting requires simultaneous control of the clutch, gear lever, and throttle, increasing the driver's operational burden, especially for beginners, potentially causing nervousness and affecting driving safety. Inexperienced clutch control can lead to stalling on the road, and improper uphill operation may damage the engine and transmission. Manual transmissions are purely mechanical, so adding gears increases size and weight, limiting the number of gears (currently up to seven speeds, with six speeds being optimal). In contrast, automatic transmissions using planetary gear sets (AT) or steel belts (CVT) can compress size with technological advancements, allowing more gears without increasing volume. Classification and Structure: Manual transmissions consist of gear transmission mechanisms, transmission housing, and control mechanisms. The gear transmission mechanisms can be classified by the number of forward gears or the form of shafts. Based on the number of forward gears, they can be three-speed, four-speed, five-speed, or multi-speed transmissions. Based on shaft forms, they can be fixed-axis (where gear rotation axes are stationary) or rotating-axis (where gear rotation axes also rotate, such as planetary gear transmissions). Fixed-axis manual transmissions can be further divided into two-shaft, intermediate-shaft, double intermediate-shaft, and multi-intermediate-shaft types based on the number of shafts.