Notices
C8 General Discussion The place to discuss the next generation of Corvette.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

DCT.... how much maintenance should we expect?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-09-2019, 05:16 PM
  #1  
Display333
Racer
Thread Starter
 
Display333's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2019
Location: Fairhaven, mi/Hutchinson Is, Fl
Posts: 306
Received 187 Likes on 91 Posts
Default DCT.... how much maintenance should we expect?

Lets assume that.... the automatic trans in today's cars are "maintenance free"... aside from every fluid change at 100,000... let's face it... they are...

what do we expect from the C8 DCT???

when standing still in gear... Ferrari's are "wearing out" the clutches, Likewise I am sure the Lambo. The Alfa 4 c owner are encouraged to not "let the car creep" in gear. some of these cars can wear out the clutch in 12,000 miles and replacing is expensive. Many owners slip the car out of gear when in traffic..

Owners of the cars above often are accepting of such nonsense.... what do we KNOW about the corvette transmission?... is clutch wear the "dirty little secret" no one is mentioning... or is clutch wear just more Ferrari, lambo, Alfa BS maintenance the fools accept.

Would GM stick us with a maintenance nightmare (and themselves a warranty nightmare rather than just putting an auto trans or manual in the car?) those couple hundred millisecond saved with a DCT... will pale when faced with a 4,000 _ clutch job!!!
The following 3 users liked this post by Display333:
ArmchairArchitect (08-09-2019), RCz51 (08-11-2019), Weasel (08-10-2019)
Old 08-09-2019, 05:18 PM
  #2  
ZeeOSix
Le Mans Master
 
ZeeOSix's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2002
Location: PNW
Posts: 5,956
Received 159 Likes on 93 Posts

Default

I recall reading somewhere that the clutch packs in this DCT are dry. Some DCT designs have wet clutch packs ... so maybe that's the difference with the Euro cars. If the clutches are not engaged I don't see how they could wear out just sitting in neutral.

Last edited by ZeeOSix; 08-09-2019 at 05:19 PM.
Old 08-09-2019, 05:20 PM
  #3  
HooosierDaddy
Melting Slicks
 
HooosierDaddy's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2018
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Posts: 2,758
Received 666 Likes on 275 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Display333
Lets assume that.... the automatic trans in today's cars are "maintenance free"... aside from every fluid change at 100,000... let's face it... they are...

what do we expect from the C8 DCT???

when standing still in gear... Ferrari's are "wearing out" the clutches, Likewise I am sure the Lambo. The Alfa 4 c owner are encouraged to not "let the car creep" in gear. some of these cars can wear out the clutch in 12,000 miles and replacing is expensive. Many owners slip the car out of gear when in traffic..

Owners of the cars above often are accepting of such nonsense.... what do we KNOW about the corvette transmission?... is clutch wear the "dirty little secret" no one is mentioning... or is clutch wear just more Ferrari, lambo, Alfa BS maintenance the fools accept.

Would GM stick us with a maintenance nightmare (and themselves a warranty nightmare rather than just putting an auto trans or manual in the car?) those couple hundred millisecond saved with a DCT... will pale when faced with a 4,000 _ clutch job!!!
valid question and I look forward to a legitimate real answer. I'm just not the guy with that answer!
Old 08-09-2019, 05:20 PM
  #4  
dmporter31
Burning Brakes
 
dmporter31's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: Ellicott City MD
Posts: 759
Received 38 Likes on 25 Posts

Default

VW/Audi - major service (fluid change, check clutch packs) @ 40K miles and then every 40K afterwards. Approx $500 for the service. Clutches are the thing that will probably burn out if anything. The hydraulics and TCU (mechatronics in VW speak) generally is solid. If it does go though? Very expensive replacement. Experience to date? I drive the hell out of my car (stock boost levels, not chipped) and auto-X it in addition to daily driver duties. 25K miles on the clock (2017) and no issues at all. It's a little clunky and less than graceful at slower speeds but that's because it's an old DCT design. Still puts a grin on my face though with perfectly matched downshifts everytime and how well it mates with a little 2.0L turbo.

Last edited by dmporter31; 08-09-2019 at 05:25 PM.
Old 08-09-2019, 05:31 PM
  #5  
4thC4at60
Le Mans Master

 
4thC4at60's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2002
Location: Commerce Texas
Posts: 5,976
Received 2,940 Likes on 1,310 Posts

Default

Every conjecture is just that - conjecture.
Old 08-09-2019, 05:32 PM
  #6  
vndkshn
Melting Slicks
 
vndkshn's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2018
Location: North Texas
Posts: 2,666
Received 1,776 Likes on 863 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
I recall reading somewhere that the clutch packs in this DCT are dry. Some DCT designs have wet clutch packs ... so maybe that's the difference with the Euro cars. If the clutches are not engaged I don't see how they could wear out just sitting in neutral.
I've not read anything official, just lots of statements on this forum that the DCT in the C8 is a wet clutch setup. If dry, that would be a red flag to me.
Old 08-09-2019, 05:32 PM
  #7  
BK Vette
Instructor
 
BK Vette's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2019
Posts: 214
Received 97 Likes on 56 Posts
Default

since its an automatic transmission with no clutch pedal I would think every component (including clutches) would be covered under warranty. unless I am mistaken.

I also believe it would be wet clutch. I think the only dry clutch is in the Alfa Romeo 4C, Dodge Darts and the crappy Focus transmissions. those suck (maybe the 4C isn't bad). BTW not counting the old F1 and E-Gear transmissions.

Last edited by BK Vette; 08-09-2019 at 05:34 PM.
Old 08-09-2019, 05:35 PM
  #8  
quick04Z06
Melting Slicks
Support Corvetteforum!
 
quick04Z06's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2004
Location: Springfield TN
Posts: 2,544
Received 600 Likes on 310 Posts

Default

I suspect GM’s team is well aware of our expectations on maintenance and have designed this DCT accordingly. Of course, I expect any high powered sports car to demand more maintenance than an econobox, but in my experience with six Corvettes I’ve never found the maintenance schedule at all unreasonable. I’m sure that will be the case with the C8. Of course, we know very little yet.

Last edited by quick04Z06; 08-09-2019 at 05:38 PM.
The following users liked this post:
ArmchairArchitect (08-09-2019)
Old 08-09-2019, 05:42 PM
  #9  
23/C8Z
Race Director
 
23/C8Z's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 12,512
Received 5,776 Likes on 3,185 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
I recall reading somewhere that the clutch packs in this DCT are dry. Some DCT designs have wet clutch packs ... so maybe that's the difference with the Euro cars. If the clutches are not engaged I don't see how they could wear out just sitting in neutral.
It's going to be a wet clutch setup I think. The motor trend article I read said that they are slipping the clutch packs up to 10% to quell inherent vibration with the v4 v8 mode and who knows what else.

Let's just hope they didn't try to reinvent the wheel with DCTs. Yes the clutch packs wear out and yes itll require a big dollar maintenance at 15 or 30k miles or however many years. If it doesn't? god only knows what we're in for.

As of the date of that article they were still trying to adjust the trans tune which was I think 2 weeks to reveal. I expect in the first couple of years for there to be several as in plenty of updates to the programming.

GM is like Microsoft.. just send it out and we'll fix it along the way... always has been probably always will be.
Old 08-09-2019, 06:04 PM
  #10  
ByByBMW
Le Mans Master

Support Corvetteforum!
 
ByByBMW's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2004
Location: AZ
Posts: 5,754
Received 536 Likes on 279 Posts
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10-'11-'12-'13 '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19


Default

All I can tell you is my PDK is wet clutch and the only maintenance called for is oil change at 12 years or 120,000 miles.
Since we know nothing about the Tremec DCT, all we can do is wait for the details.
The following users liked this post:
fasttoys (08-09-2019)
Old 08-09-2019, 06:11 PM
  #11  
TXshaggy
Drifting
 
TXshaggy's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2013
Location: Texas Hill Country Texas
Posts: 1,972
Received 1,093 Likes on 608 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by ByByBMW
All I can tell you is my PDK is wet clutch and the only maintenance called for is oil change at 12 years or 120,000 miles.
Since we know nothing about the Tremec DCT, all we can do is wait for the details.
My 2011 Spyder has a clutch oil service at 6/60 and trans oil (lower pan) at 12/120.
The following users liked this post:
ByByBMW (08-09-2019)
Old 08-09-2019, 06:12 PM
  #12  
AORoads
Team Owner
 
AORoads's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2005
Location: Northern, VA
Posts: 46,111
Received 2,485 Likes on 1,947 Posts
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"

Default

I don't know a lot about transmissions, but what I've been told for the "regular" automatics is, if you want to keep it for a long time, keep the fluid clean. And like one person on here who has hundreds of thousands of miles of experience, my experience has been to follow some good advice for TC trans from those who've serviced them. I have the fluids changed pretty regularly, about every 30K. Inexpensive, (not cheap) and 175K+ miles on many vehicles is fine with me. If a Chev-designed DCT exceeds, or matches those "suggestions for service" after a certain number of miles on the car, I'm ok with that, too.
Old 08-09-2019, 06:52 PM
  #13  
wstaab
Drifting
 
wstaab's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2006
Location: Canton Georgia
Posts: 1,534
Received 215 Likes on 130 Posts

Default

Graziano is an Italian company that supplies the dual-clutch transmissions for McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and other high end cars. The clutches are wet clutches housed in a separate section with a filter and oil to water cooler. The transmission gears are in its own housing with separate fluid, filter, and oil to water cooler. When you have the brake applied the clutches are disengaged. When you release the brake pedal the car will start to creep without any throttle application. Ferrari engages neutral by pulling both paddles simultaneously. McLaren has a neutral button on the console. There is no park function in the Graziano transmission. When you shut the engine off the electronic parking brake secondary caliper is automatically applied. There is a way to override the parking brake for maintenance reasons if you need to roll the car. Unclear if the C8 Tremec dual-clutch has an actual park function. Service on the Graziano dual clutch is oil and filter change at specified intervals.
If you are interested in the Graziano technology this is a good article: https://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/13/...mission-in-th/
Tremec may not use the same technology.

The following 4 users liked this post by wstaab:
01REDSS (08-10-2019), Pzilly (08-09-2019), r00t61 (08-10-2019), raylo (08-10-2019)
Old 08-09-2019, 07:18 PM
  #14  
SBC_and_a_stick
Safety Car
 
SBC_and_a_stick's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2012
Location: North California
Posts: 4,737
Received 551 Likes on 311 Posts

Default

This will be huge money. Folks have no idea. The DCT in the C8 alternates between dry and wet modes. If you drive it hard be ready to pay big $$ in clutch changes. Every engine in the Corvette is a torque monster, the DCT won't last nearly as much as your DOHC 4 cylinder engine's.
Old 08-09-2019, 07:32 PM
  #15  
George_L
Burning Brakes
 
George_L's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2018
Location: Burnt Hills NY
Posts: 1,133
Received 762 Likes on 399 Posts
Default

I asked that exact question today at the C8 reveal near me. I was told that there wasn't any maintenance other than fluid changes, although he did say that was his opinion and that he hadn't seen anything in writing.
Old 08-09-2019, 07:33 PM
  #16  
SBC_and_a_stick
Safety Car
 
SBC_and_a_stick's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2012
Location: North California
Posts: 4,737
Received 551 Likes on 311 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by wstaab
Graziano is an Italian company that supplies the dual-clutch transmissions for McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and other high end cars. The clutches are wet clutches housed in a separate section with a filter and oil to water cooler. The transmission gears are in its own housing with separate fluid, filter, and oil to water cooler. When you have the brake applied the clutches are disengaged. When you release the brake pedal the car will start to creep without any throttle application. Ferrari engages neutral by pulling both paddles simultaneously. McLaren has a neutral button on the console. There is no park function in the Graziano transmission. When you shut the engine off the electronic parking brake secondary caliper is automatically applied. There is a way to override the parking brake for maintenance reasons if you need to roll the car. Unclear if the C8 Tremec dual-clutch has an actual park function. Service on the Graziano dual clutch is oil and filter change at specified intervals.
If you are interested in the Graziano technology this is a good article:
Tremec may not use the same technology.
So if you drive the car hard on track and then park it with the rotors hot, there is no way to have the brakes disengaged? That sounds like a recipe for warping rotors.
Old 08-09-2019, 08:00 PM
  #17  
ByByBMW
Le Mans Master

Support Corvetteforum!
 
ByByBMW's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2004
Location: AZ
Posts: 5,754
Received 536 Likes on 279 Posts
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10-'11-'12-'13 '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19


Default

Originally Posted by SBC_and_a_stick
This will be huge money. Folks have no idea. The DCT in the C8 alternates between dry and wet modes. If you drive it hard be ready to pay big $$ in clutch changes. Every engine in the Corvette is a torque monster, the DCT won't last nearly as much as your DOHC 4 cylinder engine's.
You must have access to info the rest of us haven't seen. Please post the reference material you got this info from.
The following users liked this post:
dmporter31 (08-09-2019)

Get notified of new replies

To DCT.... how much maintenance should we expect?

Old 08-09-2019, 08:07 PM
  #18  
TXshaggy
Drifting
 
TXshaggy's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2013
Location: Texas Hill Country Texas
Posts: 1,972
Received 1,093 Likes on 608 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by ByByBMW
You must have access to info the rest of us haven't seen. Please post the reference material you got this info from.
Won’t be a pretty picture since he pulled it from his butt!

The following users liked this post:
ByByBMW (08-09-2019)
Old 08-09-2019, 08:08 PM
  #19  
ByByBMW
Le Mans Master

Support Corvetteforum!
 
ByByBMW's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2004
Location: AZ
Posts: 5,754
Received 536 Likes on 279 Posts
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10-'11-'12-'13 '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19


Default

Originally Posted by TXshaggy
Won’t be a pretty picture since he pulled it from his butt!

Old 08-09-2019, 08:09 PM
  #20  
SBC_and_a_stick
Safety Car
 
SBC_and_a_stick's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2012
Location: North California
Posts: 4,737
Received 551 Likes on 311 Posts

Default

http://www.tremec.com/menu.php?m=155

Under clutch design. "The clutch design marries the benefits of wet and dry clutch technologies into a hybrid design. A highly efficient wet clutch system with optimized friction materials have the ability to cool the clutches with lubrication individually and only when needed. The end result is a controllable thermal load and much lower drag."
The following users liked this post:
23/C8Z (08-09-2019)


Quick Reply: DCT.... how much maintenance should we expect?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:22 PM.