CVT's maybe not a great idea.

[Shadow Catcher]

I was getting the transmission flushed and oil switched over to synthetic and a transmission oil cooler added yesterday and it basically took from 8AM to 3PM. The cooler I had from the 01 Outback would not fit so another had to be found. I had a good book on the Nook so just waited it out.
The over heard office, dealing with customers ... was interesting including a number of folks who wanted in their continuously variable transmission worked on. This is a company that has rebuilt transmissions for us a number of times over the last ten plus years and they are a big though local company.
The response in each case, there were seven was we can not work on them, we do not have the tools and the parts are not available. We can take them apart but can not put them back together, that in response to a local used car dealership that from one side of the phone conversation was quite instant.
The out come is that Moby the big white Subaru outback is now ready to climb mountains towing Compass Rose.

[DrCrash]

So what cars have this "CVT" in them ¿

[DrCrash]

Aixam 400, 500, 500.5 A751 petrol and diesel 1990 on. Belt and Variator CVT supplied by CVTech-IBC Canada.
Audi A4 2.0/1.8T/2.4/3.0/1.9 TDI/2.0 TDI/2.7 TDI
Audi A5 2.0 TDI
Audi A6 2.0/1.8T/2.4/3.0/2.5 TDI
Daihatsu Mira Custom 0.66 L 3 cyl
Chevrolet Spark 1.2 L
Chey tiggo FL 2.0 L
Chery tiggo 5 2.0 L
Nissan Micra 1.3 L
Dodge Caliber 2.0 L, 2.4 L
Fiat Punto 1.2 L
Ford Escape Hybrid 2.3 L 4 cyl
Ford Five Hundred 3.0 L 6 cyl
Ford Focus C-Max 1.6 L TDCi 110 PS
Ford Freestyle 3.0 L 6 cyl
Ford Fusion Hybrid 2.5 L 4 cyl
Honda Accord option on all 4 cylinder models 2013 on
Honda Civic HX 1.6 L 4 cyl
Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3 L 4 cyl
Honda City 1.5 L
Honda Airwave 1.5 L
Honda Activa Scooter 0.109 L
Honda HR-V 1.6 L
Honda Insight 1.3 L 4 cyl
Honda Jazz 1.2L/1.3L/1.4L/1.5L / Honda Fit 1.3 L/1.5 L
Honda Odyssey (JDM)
Honda Stream
Honda Stepwgn
Infiniti JX/QX60
Jeep Compass 2.0L,2.4 L
Jeep Patriot 2.0L,2.4 L
Lexus CT200h
Lexus ES 300h
Lexus GS450h 3.5 L 6 cyl
Lexus RX400h 3.3 L 6 cyl
Lexus LS600h 5.0 L 8 cyl
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Mercedes-Benz B-Class
Mercury Montego 3.0 L 6 cyl
Microcar MC1/MC2 505cc 2 cyl diesel or petrol
Microcar Virgo 505cc 2 cyl diesel or petrol
Mitsubishi Colt 1.5 L MIVEC 4 cyl with INVECS-III CVT (Asian-Oceanian version only, 72 kW)
Mitsubishi Lancer 1.6 L/1.8 L MIVEC 4 cyl with INVECS-III CVT (Asian version only) the 2008 version also
Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0 L/2.4 L MIVEC 4 cyl with INVECS-III CVT 2008 (North America)
Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4 L MIVEC 4 cyl with INVECS-III CVT (from 2007)
Mitsubishi RVR/ASX/Outlander Sport 1.6 L /1.8 L /2.0 L MIVEC 4 cyl with INVECS-III CVT 2011
MG F/MG TF 1.8L
Mini One and Cooper.
Nissan Altima (from 2007, Model S and SE)
Nissan Bluebird Sylphy 2.0 L
Nissan Cedric 300VIP-Z and 300LX-Z S [1]
Nissan Cube
Nissan Gloria 300 Ultima-Z and 300 Ultima-Z V [1]
Nissan Juke
Nissan Maxima (from 2007, Model SE)
Nissan Micra 1.0 L/1.3 L
Nissan Murano 3.5 L
Nissan Pathfinder (from 2013 and on)
Nissan Primera 2.0 L
Nissan Qashqai 2.0 L
Nissan Rogue 2.5 L, Model SL
Nissan Sentra (from 2007 and on)
Nissan Serena 2.0 L
Nissan Skyline 350GT-8
Nissan Teana 3.5 L
Nissan Tiida / Versa
Nissan X-Trail
Opel Vectra 1.8 L
Peugeot 4007 2.4 16V
Proton Exora Bold 1.6 L CFE (2011–present)
Proton Inspira 2.0 L 4 cyl
Proton Prevé 1.6 L (CFE Turbo / IAFM+ NA) (2012–present)
Proton Saga FLX 1.3 L 4 cyl (2011–present)
Renault Koleos
Rover 25
Rover 45
Rover Streetwise
Saturn Ion Quad Coupe (2003-2004)
Saturn Vue 2.2 L AWD (2002-2005), 2.2 FWD (2002-2004)
Scion iQ
SEAT Exeo
Subaru R1
Subaru R2
Subaru Impreza
Subaru Stella
Subaru Forester (Lineartronic)
Subaru Legacy (Lineartronic)
Subaru Outback (Lineartronic)
Subaru WRX
Suzuki SX4 (2010 onwards)
Tata Nano
Toyota Aurion Hybrid
Toyota Avalon Hybrid
Toyota Avensis
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Toyota Corolla Fielder
Toyota Ist
Toyota Highlander Hybrid 3.3 L 6 cyl
Toyota Prius 1.5 L 4 cyl (–2009)/1.8L 4 cyl (2010–)
Toyota Prius c 1.5 L 4 cyl (2012–)
Toyota Ractis
Toyota Verso 1.8 L
Toyota Yaris 1.33 VVT-i CVT
Toyota Yaris Hybrid 1.5 VVT-i CVT
Toyota Wish 2.0 L 4 cyl
Toyota Passo 1.0 L 3 cyl
Toyota Passo 1.3 L 4 cyl

[warnmar10]

So what cars have this "CVT" in them ¿

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_automobiles_with_continuously_variable_transmissions

I remember when garages turned away cars because their mechanics didn't own metric tools and parts weren't readily available.

[jstrubberg]

I think it's more that CVT technology just isn't quite there yet. A CVT is really nothing more than a centrifugal clutch like we've been running in light duty equipment for years. I don't think they have the bugs worked out yet, but it's a good idea.

[KennethW]

Ford Freestyle, 10,000 mile all over the country. Towing TD no problems.
Great on the mountion grades. No up and down shifting. Down grade shift to low at what ever speed you want to go and it will engine brake to hold that speed. Almost no brake used

[wagondude]

Isn't the Subaru CVT fluid already synthetic from the factory? Also, It should already have both air to liquid and liquid to liquid coolers. Too much cooler can be as bad as not enough. Have you had any torque converter issues (stalling on quicker stops)?

Edit: I just re-read and realized that the oil is what was being changed to synthetic, so disregard that question.

[mikesova]

My caliber has a 5 speed! No CVT for me.

[Shadow Catcher]

Ours is a H6 3.6L outback which has a 5 speed automatic. Once Nancy retires at the end of the school year and after grand child number 5 comes we will head west and there will be some serious mountain climbing.

[wagondude]

I forgot that you had the six. Now the six comes with the CVT too, but it is beefed up and they redesigned the torque converter to eliminate the stalling problem that some have been having.

[TheOtherSean]

The latest Consumer Reports road test on the 2016 Subaru Outback claims they've gotten the CVT on those working as smoothly as a traditional automatic, but with slightly less acceleration.

[Trickytrip]

So what cars have this "CVT" in them ¿

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_automobiles_with_continuously_variable_transmissions

I remember when garages turned away cars because their mechanics didn't own metric tools and parts weren't readily available.

And the transverse engine, for just front wheel drive. Everything was just crammed into any little spot.

[Esteban]

I drive a 2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i with a CVT. I'm planning to (probably) install a transmission cooler. It should help protect the CVT when I tow my teardrop, especially while towing up longer and/or steeper grades. I want to keep my Forester in good running condition for many many years. Adding a transmission cooler seems like a small price to pay (about $80) to help protect the CVT from premature failure.

I don't yet know which transmission cooler to use. One I'm considering is the B&M 70268 SuperCooler Automatic Transmission Cooler

Product Description
Adding this B&M SuperCooler keeps the ATF and transmission cooler, and keeping a vehicle's transmission cool is essential for dependability, especially in performance applications. The unit is designed to be very efficient for its size and weight, to cool much better than an ordinary 'fin and tube' cooler, and to reduce the risk of lube system failure. Using fluxless, oven brazed construction for vibration resistance, it is built out of lightweight aluminum alloy and features a revolutionary 'stacked plate' design with multiple oil flow paths. The unit monitors resistance to flow by allowing a controlled amount of ATF to pass through a self-regulating orifice. Controlled by viscosity, thicker ATF is returned directly to lube through two bypass openings in the stacked plate core, while thinner ATF is directed through the core to cool as operating temperatures increase.

I like that this cooler restricts colder/thicker transmission fluid from flowing through the cooler until the transmission fluid warms up and thins out.

[wagondude]

The latest Consumer Reports road test on the 2016 Subaru Outback claims they've gotten the CVT on those working as smoothly as a traditional automatic, but with slightly less acceleration.

I have a 2010 and a 2013, both with the CVT. I have no complaints with how mine have been working. Both cars work very well and get great fuel economy when you consider the all wheel drive. There have been problems, but not that many. That, more than anything, accounts for why transmission shops can't repair them. There just aren't that many cores available to service.

[Shadow Catcher]

Next time you are in the dealership ask about repair of the transmission. My bet you will be told it is a replacement.