What is The Difference Between The Powertrain vs Drivetrain?

A car’s powertrain may be a term that has been tossed around. You might know what it refers to and are aware that it’s one of the most important pieces of your vehicle. However, do you know what it does? And why it’s so important? Toyota of Clermont experts are here to cover the components that are part of the powertrain and how they work together to make your car move. 

What is a car powertrain? 

Your car’s powertrain is responsible for every working component of your vehicle that causes it to push forward. It essentially creates power from the engine and sends that power to the wheels on the ground. The vehicle powertrain is broken down into five aspects of your Clermont Toyota. 

The Components inside of the Car Powertrain

Since your Toyota’s powertrain contains five different components that make up the powertrain system. Let’s go over each component individually and what they do. 

Engine: 

The engine works as part of the powertrain by using it to generate the power to drive the car. This is the heart of the components of the powertrain. 

Transmission: 

This part of the vehicle powertrain distributes the proper power to each wheel. It takes power from the engine and adjusts the power sent to the wheels based on the driving conditions. 

Driveshaft: 

This vehicle powertrain component transfers the torque from the Transmission to the wheels. It’s essential as it has to work through different angles and lengths to adjust the movement in the suspension. 

Axles: 

The axles are an essential component of driving your Clermont Toyota. They are responsible for rotating your car’s wheels and supporting its weight. They are actually connected to your car’s wheels! 

Differential: 

It’s responsible for allowing the wheels to turn at different speeds. For example, it’s crucial when your car turns corners because the outside wheel needs to rotate faster than the inside wheel. 

Why is the powertrain important for your car? 

It aids in pushing the vehicle to move and withstand high levels of friction when on the road. If you don’t maintain the powertrain, your car is not moving. All of the components in your vehicle operate to create movement. The powertrain is also responsible for causing performance on your Clermont Toyota to run smoothly. 

Powertrain Warranty

Your Toyota of Clermont car offers a Powertrain warranty that covers 60 months/60,000 miles of coverage for your engine, transmission/transaxle, front-wheel-drive system, rear-wheel drive, seatbelts, and airbags. Toyota’s are known for their reliability, and Toyota powertrains are known to last beyond their competitors. 

Diving into your Toyota’s Drivetrain

Let’s get into another aspect of your Clermont Toyota, the Drivetrain. The Drivetrain is a car term that may sound familiar. 

What is a drivetrain?

A drivetrain is a term for the group of components inside of your Clermont Toyota responsible for sending power to the wheels through the Transmission when the engine starts. However, it’s important to note that different types of drivetrains call for different processes. Therefore, it’s important to know the four different types of drivetrains. 

The Components inside of the Drivetrain

Since your Toyota’s drivetrain contains five different components that make up the drivetrain system. Let’s go over each component individually and what they do.  

Front-wheel drive (FWD)

The front-wheel drive is delivered to the front wheels of your vehicle. The rear wheels don’t receive any power of their own. Many Toyota cars with Front-Wheel drive are the Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Highlander, 2023 Toyota Camry, and more! 

Rear-wheel drive (RWD)

This type of Drivetrain is delivered by the rear wheels that push the car forward. This Drivetrain helps drivers accelerate faster. The rear-wheel drive also allows cars to tow and haul heavy weights. That’s why you may find it in pickup trucks. 

All-wheel drive (AWD)

This system allows both the front and rear wheels all the time. It has a system technology that enables the wheels to adjust intelligently based on the driving conditions in the Clermont Toyota. In addition, it helps maximize your Clermont car’s fuel efficiency by being programmed to send the power to the right wheels in certain weather conditions.

Four-wheel drive (4WD) 

This driving system comes in different forms. For example, there’s full-time four-wheel drive and part-time four-wheel drive. It’s a system that gives your engine power to four wheels evenly. The rear wheels that the power is sent to drive the vehicle forward. If you want to activate all four wheels dividing torque amongst the wheel’s driving system, you will have to change the function manually through a lever or button.

The Different Components in the Drivetrain

The Drivetrain contains many different vital components of your car. Understanding what each separate piece in the Drivetrain does can better help you take care of your Clermont Toyota. 

Transmission:

The Transmission is a big part of your Clermont Toyota. It’s responsible for sending power from the engine to the wheels. 

Driveshaft: 

This part provides torque to the wheels and rotates into vehicle motion. It’s a cylinder that connects to the U-joint at the back of many transmissions. 

CV Joint: 

CV joint standing for the constant-velocity joint is responsible for allowing your able to move with your Clermont Toyota while still turning your wheels. It also gives your car the accessibility to bend in any direction. 

U-Joint: 

Also known as the universal joint, this is a flexible point on the driveshaft that allows the shaft to pivot and move when going over any bumps or dips in the road. 

Differential: 

This component of the Drivetrain is responsible for distributing equal power to each drive wheel. 

Axle Shafts: 

This help delivers power from the differential to the rear drive wheels on either side of the rear differential. 

Why is the Drivetrain important for your car? 

You want to take care of your Drivetrain because it plays an important role in moving your car forward. It’s another group within your powertrain and is responsible for elevating the quality of your drive. 

The Difference Between a Powertrain vs. Drivetrain

It can be tricky to determine the difference between these two because they share similar components. So our Toyota of Clermont experts will go over precisely the difference between them and signify your car is having issues in either the powertrain or Drivetrain. 

How are they different? 

You may find that powertrain and Drivetrain are often used interchangeably. However, they are different in specific ways. For example, a powertrain contains an engine and a drivetrain, while a drivetrain is a separate system that includes multiple components inside your car. Also, some powertrain components are located in the Drivetrain, like the Transmission. 

Signs your car is having powertrain problems.

If you don’t prioritize getting your car serviced, you may run into issues with how your car is running. You may want to ensure you get your car checked out at Toyota of Clermont’s tech experts. Let’s check it out. 

• Gears lipping 
• Fluid issues
• Check engine light on
• Won’t go into gear
• Noises coming from the engine

Signs your Drivetrain is having issues

If you neglect the proper maintenance on your Clermont Toyota’s Drivetrain, it can result in issues driving your Transmission  overheating, strange noises from your gears, and other symptoms. Here are some signs your Drivetrain is having and what it might mean for your Clermont Toyota. 

• Vibrations from under the car – possible cause could be worn out u-joints
• Difficulty turning – possible cause could be u-joint issue
• Loud clunking noise – possible cause could be Driveshaft damage 
• Car juddering on acceleration – possible cause could be loose u-joint 
• Squeaking noise – possible cause could be u-joint needs lubricating 

Schedule services at Toyota of Clermont! 

Make sure to keep your Clermont Toyota maintained with the proper servicing. Do you have questions about your Toyota Powertrain, or do you need to schedule one? Visit Toyota of Clermont today at 16851 State Road 50. You can also call us ahead of time to set up an estimated appointment at (352) 404-7000.