How to drive CVT

[tshephard]

That is my question.
I've driven manuals, autos for 55 years, a CVT scooter for 20.
Now the wife has a 24 Prius AWD, and I don't know what to do, mostly for longevity!

Do I?:
Simply select an input (say 40% throttle) and HOLD that until I reach my terminal speed, or
Vary my input, like a real car? (Low RPM right after shift, and 'rev up' as/with speed increases.)

My gut says select an input rate and hold, so the controller and I are not reacting to each other (maybe a learned behavior from scooter?). But then, maybe the scoot had maybe a $50 transmission, and this $5K?

Long life is goal, economy takes care of itself, it's plenty quick at that single rate.

Anyone know what's best?

 

[K.Aoi]

Drive however you want, it doesn't matter. These don't even have a traditional CVT like you're thinking, these use a planetary style with an engine input and two separate electric motor/generators, and it varies the speed by spinning the two electric motors at different speeds to change the ratio.

 

[Nessism1]

Push the throttle pedal like any other car, and drive.

 

[supton]

I like to put it into gear and go.

Honestly, I just drive it. I might baby it a bit more, but... it really rewards with the mpg when I do.

Maybe drive it a bit less in WOT, out of FUD. That said, when WOT is demanded (passing), just do it. You don't list what it is, but as long as it's not a Nissan Jatco or maybe one of the Subaru's, it should be just fine.

 

[K.Aoi]

 

[trd1zz]

put on noise canceling headphones to drown out the CVT drone

 

[Hirev]

I think you're overthinking it. Just drive it. Toyota's ECVT is on a different level than a normal CVT for longevity.

 

[earlyre]

This Guy does fantastic videos of how these kind of things work...
This one isn't exactly the Model of trans in your Prius, but the broad strokes are pretty similar across the Toyota line ( and to a certain extent, Ford, and the Chrysler Pacifica)

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Just drive it like a regular car

 

[JavierH19]

It's a geared cvt not a belt/chain one. If it's a belt or chain one let it roll before touching the gas and once it starts to accelerate you can go down a bit and hold or gradually go down. If I take my foot of the brake on the outlander sport and quickly accelerate even lightly it jumps a little but doing that in a torque converter automatic doesn't do that. But since it's a fully geared ecvt with no torque converter or clutches drive it like anything else.

 

[The Critic]

The Toyota power split device is probably more reliable than any other trans on the market today. I would give it the beans and not think twice.

 

[ATex7239]

Drive it. Change the fluid. Keep driving it. Everything else will fall apart around it while it lives on.

 

[Patman]

The one thing with CVTs is that you should stay on top of the fluid changes. I don’t think that they can handle neglect like a conventional automatic transmission

 

[50yr Street Mech]

You drive a CVT straight to the bone yard where they all belong.. Melt them all down. Then design a real transmission , and use the molten metal to make transmission cases out of them.

 

[diyjake]

Just put in gear and drive. Prius / Toyota hybrid have the best transmissions ever made (reliability wise).

 

[HemiBenny]

Does anyone remember when driving a car was simple?

Don't overthink it.

It's a Toyota CVT, I wouldn't worry too much. Maintain it, and you'll be fine.

Just put it in D and drive, the car will figure it out, as will you.

Enjoy that Prius for many years to come! Cheers!

 

[50yr Street Mech]

03' Solara / 128k / tranny never serviced. That's maintenance free ! Keep you're CVT's

 

[The Critic]

03' Solara / 128k / tranny never serviced. That's maintenance free ! Keep you're CVT's

Not sure what you’re bragging about not servicing your transmission, but if there’s one transmission where you’ll get away with not servicing, it’ll be the Toyota Power Split transaxle.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

That's fantastic news ! 2 Toyo trannys that don't need service. Somebody tell Honda how to build a tranny

 

[supton]

That's fantastic news ! 2 Toyo trannys that don't need service. Somebody tell Honda how to build a tranny

An '03 Solara is a pretty conventional slushbox that could benefit greatly for a fluid change--unless if you are ok with the transmission dying with its "lifetime" fluid in it--thought differently, lots of engines have lifetime oil in them, they will run until they don't, and the oil will have made it to the end of the lifetime of the engine.