CVTs work with a variety of engines: these are 3.5-liter strong guys and 2-liter mid-range … They can transmit high torque and contribute to smooth, but fast dynamics.
However, experts from Za Rulem, the oldest and most authoritative automotive publication in Russia, Aleksey Revin and Mikhail Kolodochkin warn that sudden shocks from a standstill can damage the variator and lead to expensive repairs.
Yes, the variator is afraid of sharp shocks. This causes the belt or chain to slip on the pulleys. Do not forget that the principle of operation of the variator is not based on hooks, but on friction: a taut belt unwinds with one cylinder and rotates the other.
Slippages lead to the appearance of grooves, which are accompanied by the appearance of metal chips in the oil. It is dangerous because it quickly disables all the elements it gets into: bearings, hydraulic pump and other mechanisms.
You can learn more about the features of CVT control in Alexei Revin and Mikhail Kolodochkin’s original article “How Drivers (and Heat) Kill CVTs: 5 Fatal Mistakes.”
A picture: Subaru