Testing a Turbo UTV Dual-Clutch Transmission

When the team at AMSOIL wants to collect data, we take machines into the field and use them the way they are designed to be used. We recently tested AMSOIL Synthetic ATV/UTV Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) Fluid in a performance-oriented 2024 Can-Am Maverick R* dual-clutch transmission. We measured clutch operation, shift speed and operating temperatures during normal trail riding, and then pushed it even harder and stressed it for an entire transmission service interval on our dyno. Then we pulled the engine and disassembled the transmission to review the results.

Dual-clutch transmissions

DCTs have two sets of gears that alternate between two input shafts to create different gear ratios. The clutch plates are small and thin, with minimal surface area, so it’s relatively easy to damage or burn them. There are also a lot of constantly meshing gears, which is hard on the mechanical structure of oil. A scavenge pump maintains the oil pressure, allowing the clutches to engage and disengage to shift gears.

Gear protection

As power is transmitted through the gears, specific wear patterns form on the gear teeth. Any chipping, marring or galling indicates excess wear, which is often caused by viscosity loss or incorrect additive combinations in the oil. DCT fluid must be specifically engineered to provide smooth shifting in extreme conditions; protect the transmission components from marring, scarring, excess wear and chatter; and ensure that multiple clutch plates grip without slipping, burning or wearing under high temperatures and pressure.

DCT wear analysis

When we examined each individual DCT component after the teardown, the gears and shafts still looked brand new, with no signs of marring, warping, corrosion, chipping or wear on the pressure plates, drums or hubs. There were also no signs of excess heat, indicating the transmission maintained correct pressure.

Consistent viscosity

Viscosity measures oil film strength and is a great way to determine the protective ability of an oil. We sampled AMSOIL Synthetic ATV/UTV DCT Fluid at roughly 300-mile intervals throughout the test to analyze how it held up over time. AMSOIL Synthetic ATV/UTV DCT Fluid showed only a single-digit percentage change in viscosity over 2,000 miles, indicating the high-quality base oils and additives held up throughout the test. The wear metals naturally created by gears meshing were also well below tolerance levels.

Watch the video below for a deeper dive into the test results.

AMSOIL Synthetic ATV/UTV DCT Fluid held up flawlessly against more than 2,000 miles of torture on the trail and the dyno. It did an excellent job protecting a high-performance dual-clutch transmission in exactly the type of tough environments owners typically enjoy.

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