Torque Converter — General Information (Opel Corsa C)

Opel cars are equipped with various torque converters. All of them have markings on the end, which indicate the compatibility of the transformer with a gearbox of the same marking.

The torque converter is located between the engine and the gearbox, and serves to transmit torque from the engine to the gearbox by means of the hydrodynamic movement of the working fluid flow. To do this, the engine activates the torque converter oil pump. The pump wheel, which is also the transformer casing, converts the engine energy into the kinetic energy of the working fluid, which acts on the turbine wheel.

The pump and turbine wheels rotate at different speeds. Therefore, for example, when starting off, the transformation ratio is very high, after which it decreases with an increase in the rotation speed of the turbine wheel. However, even at high speeds there is a certain "slip" of the liquid. Even at a high rotation speed of the engine crankshaft, only 85% of the torque is transmitted to the gearbox shaft. Therefore, engines equipped with an automatic transmission consume slightly more fuel than engines with a manual transmission. This drawback is eliminated by using a locking clutch.

(Source is on the website www.OpelBook.ru)