What does wet dual-clutch mean?
2 Answers
Wet dual-clutch refers to a dual-clutch transmission where the clutch plates are immersed in transmission oil. There are two types of dual-clutch transmissions: dry and wet. The clutch plates of a dry dual-clutch transmission are not immersed in transmission oil. Dual-clutch transmission is a relatively common type of automatic transmission, developed based on manual transmission. The structure of a dual-clutch transmission is similar to that of a manual transmission, with the main difference being an additional set of clutch plates and a gear-shift control mechanism. One set of clutch plates controls the odd-numbered gears, while the other set controls the even-numbered gears.
I'm a car enthusiast and have been fascinated by transmissions since childhood. The wet dual-clutch is actually a special design of dual-clutch transmission, which uses oil to immerse the clutch plates for cooling and lubrication. Compared to dry dual-clutch transmissions that operate in air, the wet type has the advantage of better handling high temperatures, especially in high-displacement or high-torque models like sports cars. Even during aggressive driving, it won't overheat, and gear shifts are smoother and more fluid. For example, certain models from Volkswagen and Ford use it, enhancing driving stability. However, the downsides are that it's not lightweight, the complex structure increases manufacturing costs, and fuel consumption may slightly rise. During maintenance, the oil change interval is longer, about every 60,000 kilometers. Overall, it makes daily driving more comfortable, especially in urban traffic jams, with less power loss and lower noise. If you're after high performance and reliability, the wet dual-clutch is a solid choice.