23/08/2021
EXPLAINED: CVT OVERHEAT ON NISSAN AND MITSUBISHI
Nissan and Mitsubishi CVTs are known to overheat under extreme conditions. This is because the two cars share something in Common; the gearbox was outsourced from the same manufacturer (JATCO). The only difference between the two is that Mitsubishi will warn a user before the car triggers in the fail-safe mode (Power loss) with a “SLOW DOWN” warning light.
Why do Nissan and Mitsubishi CVT overheat with time/use?
It is a manufacturers defect that the gearboxes were equipped with inefficient cooling system. Under normal conditions/newer gearbox, the cooler maybe able to manage the generated heat. However, over long use/extreme condition, the heat generated by the CVT overwhelms the cooling system and heat starts to build up.
What’s the normal temperature of a CVT, what’s is an overheating CVT When it triggers power loss, and so forth.
It is all about numbers. Nissan and Mitsubishi CVT are made to operate optimally at the car’s engine optimum point/range(95 to 100 degrees depending on the car). However, the CVTs will operate normally within 52 to 135 degrees. A CVT operating between 52 and 82 degrees is considered an overcooling CVT, and the one operating from 110 and above is considered overheating. The car would drive normally until it reaches 135 degrees but the moment 136 degrees is recorded, the ECM triggers fail-safe mode and users report reduced performance or power loss. This is a car’s “self-defense” mechanism to prevent more overheat, but allowing the user to drive to a safe position. If you continue pushing the car and the temperature keeps rising and hits 145 degrees, users experience a total loss of the accelerator/gas pedal response.
Why removing the thermostat seems to solve the problem, but not a solution?
By removing the thermostat, the engine will operate at a lower temperature (actually over cooling). By overcooling the engine, we also expose the gearbox cooler to a lower coolant temperature. This may lower the operating temperature of the (overheating) gearbox. Say a gear box may operate at 10 degrees lower (125). At this value, a user may no longer experience power loss or overheat warning as the car would still be operating normally, but the bottom point is that you are still having an overheating gearbox. Actually, you have introduced another problem, overcooling engine.
Our recommendations to people with CVT cars
The fact that your car doesn’t show the signs of an overheating gearbox doesn’t mean it doesn’t overheat. The best thing is to know the operating CVT temperature of your car. If it sits anywhere above 110 degrees, we recommend a CVT cooler kit. The kit will pull this value down to a healthier temp, say 96.
At Lucmar Autoserve, we offer CVT cooling computer analysis in determing an overheating CVT, the cause of overheat and we also install aftermarket CVT coolers and transmission coolers for all cars. www.facebook.com/lucmarauto
Contact: Martin-0700323123
