A torque converter comprising: a cover; an impeller attached to the cover, the impeller having a plurality of impeller blades, each impeller blade having a front surface and a rear surface; a turbine between the impeller and the cover, the turbine having a plurality of turbine blades, each turbine blade having a front surface and a rear surface; a thrust washer (200;300;400;500;600) between the cover and the impeller; and a stator between the impeller and the turbine, the stator comprising: an inner circumference; an outer circumference; a plurality of stator blades between the inner circumference and outer circumference, each stator blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a front surface and a rear surface; wherein the leading edge and the trailing edge are non-linear from the inner circumference to the outer circumference, and the stator blade includes a non-ruled surface (134,135), said torque converter being characterized in that said thrust washer (200;300;400;500;600) comprises: an annular body having a front surface, an inner diameter, and an outer diameter; a plurality of grooves arranged radially along the front surface and extending from the outer diameter towards the inner diameter, the grooves having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a width; and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the front surface and located between adjacent grooves in proximity to the inner diameter; wherein the front surface is curved such that a thickness of the thrust washer is greater at the inner diameter than at the outer diameter. a cover; an impeller attached to the cover, the impeller having a plurality of impeller blades, each impeller blade having a front surface and a rear surface; a turbine between the impeller and the cover, the turbine having a plurality of turbine blades, each turbine blade having a front surface and a rear surface; a thrust washer (200;300;400;500;600) between the cover and the impeller; and a stator between the impeller and the turbine, the stator comprising: an inner circumference; an outer circumference; a plurality of stator blades between the inner circumference and outer circumference, each stator blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a front surface and a rear surface; wherein the leading edge and the trailing edge are non-linear from the inner circumference to the outer circumference, and the stator blade includes a non-ruled surface (134,135), said torque converter being characterized in that said thrust washer (200;300;400;500;600) comprises: an annular body having a front surface, an inner diameter, and an outer diameter; a plurality of grooves arranged radially along the front surface and extending from the outer diameter towards the inner diameter, the grooves having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a width; and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the front surface and located between adjacent grooves in proximity to the inner diameter; wherein the front surface is curved such that a thickness of the thrust washer is greater at the inner diameter than at the outer diameter. an inner circumference; an outer circumference; a plurality of stator blades between the inner circumference and outer circumference, each stator blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a front surface and a rear surface; wherein the leading edge and the trailing edge are non-linear from the inner circumference to the outer circumference, and the stator blade includes a non-ruled surface (134,135), said torque converter being characterized in that said thrust washer (200;300;400;500;600) comprises: an annular body having a front surface, an inner diameter, and an outer diameter; a plurality of grooves arranged radially along the front surface and extending from the outer diameter towards the inner diameter, the grooves having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a width; and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the front surface and located between adjacent grooves in proximity to the inner diameter; an annular body having a front surface, an inner diameter, and an outer diameter; a plurality of grooves arranged radially along the front surface and extending from the outer diameter towards the inner diameter, the grooves having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a width; and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the front surface and located between adjacent grooves in proximity to the inner diameter; wherein the front surface is curved such that a thickness of the thrust washer is greater at the inner diameter than at the outer diameter.