What is the difference between a wet dual-clutch and a dual-clutch?
2 Answers
Here is a related introduction to the differences between a wet dual-clutch and a dual-clutch: 1. The transmission principles of dry and wet types are basically the same, both involving two clutches taking turns to work. However, the connection medium between the active and driven discs of the clutch differs—dry dual-clutches rely on air, while wet dual-clutches rely on oil. 2. When a dual-clutch transmission is operating, friction generates heat, especially in slow-moving traffic where the dual-clutch frequently shifts between first and second gears. The opening and closing of the clutch produce a significant amount of heat. Dry dual-clutches use air cooling for heat dissipation, which is less efficient than the oil cooling used in wet dual-clutches. 3. The poor heat dissipation of dry dual-clutches makes them more prone to failure. Therefore, vehicles with dual-clutch transmissions are more durable and less likely to break down when equipped with wet dual-clutches compared to dry ones.
The most fundamental difference between wet and dry dual-clutch transmissions lies in their cooling methods. Wet clutch plates are immersed in transmission fluid, which rapidly dissipates friction heat, making them exceptionally durable. That's why performance cars like the Golf GTI and Porsche use wet clutches—they can handle high torque and aggressive driving. However, the trade-off is a more complex structure, higher costs, and a slight increase in fuel consumption by a few tenths of a liter. Dry dual-clutch transmissions, on the other hand, have clutch plates exposed directly to air, relying on air cooling for heat dissipation. They are simpler, lighter, more cost-effective, and fuel-efficient. But their weakness is obvious—frequent semi-engagement in stop-and-go traffic makes them prone to overheating. So, if you often drive in urban areas, a dry clutch might trigger warnings after just 20,000–30,000 km, while a wet clutch remains much more stable. Some in the tuning community add external cooling to dry clutches, but I think it's better to just opt for a wet clutch for peace of mind.
