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Automotive vocabulary · Transmission and Drivetrain

Gear ratio

Meaning in automotive, with examples

nounCommon term

In automotive, gear ratio means: The number of turns the input shaft makes for one turn of the output shaft, for example 3.5:1. Low gears have high ratios for pulling power; high gears have low ratios for cruising.

In Turkish: dişli oranı, vites oranı, çevrim oranı

How it is used

Used in transmission and powertrain engineering. Engineers choose the gear ratios and the final drive ratio; people describe gearing as short (quick acceleration) or long (low rpm on the highway). 3.5:1 is read 'three point five to one'.

Example sentences

  1. We changed the final gear ratio to lower engine speed at 120 km/h.

  2. First gear has a ratio of 3.7:1, while sixth gear has a ratio of 0.7:1.

Common collocations

  • final drive ratio
  • short gear ratio
  • gear ratio spread
  • change the gear ratio
  • transmissionThe unit that changes the gear ratio between the engine and the wheels so the car can pull away, accelerate and cruise efficiently. It can be manual or automatic.
  • differentialA gear set on a driven axle that lets the left and right wheels turn at different speeds when the car goes around a corner, while still sending power to both.
  • torqueTwisting force, measured in newton meters (Nm) or pound-feet. It describes how strongly an engine or motor turns, and how tightly a bolt should be tightened.
  • clutchThe part that connects and disconnects the engine and the gearbox, so the driver can change gear and pull away smoothly. In a manual car it is operated with the left pedal.

More terms: Transmission and Drivetrain

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