According to Allison Transmission, a manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, this uptake could be attributed to fleets finding that automatic transmissions are easier and less costly to maintain, resulting in a lower lifetime cost as well as improved vehicle uptime.
Comparatively, a 2015 study by Frost & Sullivan found that automatic transmissions can improve fuel economy by 3 – 5 percent.
While there is an initial lower cost for manual transmissions meaning they can be a cost-effective option for fleets with experienced drivers, automatic or automated manual transmissions significantly reduce the impact of driver behaviour.
Each transmission fluid is formulated to optimize the performance of the friction plates or clutches and to be compatible with the transmission’s seal materials.
For this reason, it’s crucial that operators use the correct fluid in the correct transmission and for their specific application.
Automatic transmission fluids provide the required lubrication, cooling and viscosity at low and high temperatures, while maintaining optimum and stable clutch-friction performance through the life of the fluid.
The shift to automatic transmissions has resulted in innovation in the formulation and lubricant technology of transmission fluids.
Through reduced wear and unplanned maintenance, DuraDrive HD Synthetic 668 contributes to a smoother operation and enhanced performance which results in a lower total cost of ownership.
The shift to automation in transmission technology over the last 10 years has resulted in improved fuel economy and reduced maintenance costs for the heavy-duty fleet sector.