What is the purpose of a torque converter?

• A. To transfer power from the engine to the transmission.
• B. To reduce engine RPM
• C. To convert torque to horsepower
• D. To store torque

Answer: (A)

A torque converter transfers power from the engine to the transmission while letting the engine and transmission run at different speeds. It sits between the engine and an automatic transmission and uses hydraulic fluid to connect the two rotating parts. The engine-driven pump pushes fluid into the turbine, which drives the transmission; the stator redirects the flow to multiply torque at low speeds, helping the vehicle start moving smoothly. As speed rises and the engine and transmission speeds align, the converter behaves more like a direct connection with less slip. It isn’t about reducing engine RPM, nor about converting torque to horsepower, nor about storing torque—its primary role is to transmit energy between the engine and transmission, with possible torque multiplication at low speeds.