Automatic transmission oils not only have to meet stringent requirements from vehicle manufacturers, but must also cope with the challenging demands of hybrid vehicles.
Hybrid engines account for the largest share of alternative drive systems amongst new vehicles entering the market, and with numbers increasing all the time, are now roughly on par with petrol engines. And for good reason: they combine the advantages of an internal combustion engine with an electric drive system, and therefore help to reduce CO2 emissions. Customers who often have to travel longer distances tend to opt for hybrid versions as it increases their range and gives them reliable refuelling options in Europe and around the world.
Automatic transmission oils must also constantly adapt to these technical developments to ensure safe operation and prevent vehicle damage. Hybrid vehicles have more complex transmission systems than their conventional counterparts. Whereas in the past, a fuel-powered engine worked with a single gearbox, today there are two – the electric motor and the internal combustion engine. To utilise both power sources, gearboxes now need to be able to efficiently transfer the torque between the internal combustion engine, the electric motor and the wheels.
The magnetic field generated by the electric motor must also be taken into account. This field aligns the oil molecules, meaning that the oil has different characteristics compared to when it is used in a drive without an electric motor. A voltage-neutral oil must therefore be used in these vehicles.
High-performance, high-quality automatic transmission oils ensure perfect gear shifting behaviour as well as a long service life for the transmission. This requires good wear protection, as consistent a coefficient of friction that as possible and an optimum viscosity profile – and all at extreme operating temperatures as well. Operating temperatures are also higher due to the greater torque compared to conventional drive systems. Here, the automatic transmission oil must ensure that the oil film does not break, even under extreme conditions, in order to protect the transmission from damage.
“There’s no bad oil, just the wrong one”, says Pius Vogel, Technical Customer Advisor at MOTOREX. The most important thing is that the transmission oil is adapted to the respective requirements and operating conditions. Demands on a transmission oil are higher for a mining company vehicle that pulls heavy trailers through rough terrain than for a vehicle that drives at constant speeds, mainly on the motorway.
The most important criterion, however, is that transmission oils meet vehicle manufacturers' requirements. Although the exact specifications vary, the main aim is to reduce fuel consumption and maximise efficiency. Important factors in this regard are heat resistance, wear and corrosion protection and an optimum friction coefficient.
MOTOREX caters to these requirements and objectives using state-of-the-art additive technology. In addition to additives tailored to the vehicles and their specifications, cleaning with flushing fluids that dissolve the dirt and dispersants that bind it once released are amongst its top priorities. These important additives ensure surfaces remain clean with no residues, preventing transmission damage and maintaining shifting comfort.
When the transmission oil is changed, the best results are achieved if a transmission oil flush is performed at the same time. Depending on the technology, a one-off traditional oil change leaves around half of the used oil in the gearbox. The MOTOREX DYNCO replaces all of the used gear oil with fresh oil, and does so fully automatically. The flushing unit is suitable for automatic and dual-clutch transmissions from all vehicle brands. The DYNCO is pre-programmed for all current and future MOTOREX automatic transmission oils, and adapters are available for all common car brands.
MOTOREX produces the perfect automatic transmission oils for all conventional hybrid vehicles and guarantees that the corresponding requirements of the vehicle manufacturers are met or even exceeded. Since even the slightest deviations in the additives can lead to transmission damage, strict quality control is important. This can only be guaranteed by a manufacturer with decades of experience.
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