how automatic cars avoid chewing up first gear

Question

In a car with an automatic transmission, you start creeping forward as soon as you lift your foot off the brake. When you’re in Drive, but standing still with the brakes stopping the car, how does the engine avoid wearing down the first gear?

In: 10

Answer 1

Its called a torque converter. Simplest way to explain it is that its an automatic clutch that engages/disengages the transmission. At low rpms with the brakes pressed it slips so the transmission sits idle. They are designed to require certain amounts of torgue to engage the transmission to make it work.