Whats "better" for the clutch??
Discussion
All
While commuting through traffic recently, I got wondering....through stop start traffic, is it better for the clutch to stay in gear with the clutch pressed down, say for 20-30 seconds at a time, or is it better to come out of gear, then as the trffic moves depress the clutch & select a gear then move off ?
Oviously over any distance, the latter means more actual clutch use, while the former has less clutch use, but the clutch is pressed for longer periods.
Which is "better" for clutch life?
Ro.
While commuting through traffic recently, I got wondering....through stop start traffic, is it better for the clutch to stay in gear with the clutch pressed down, say for 20-30 seconds at a time, or is it better to come out of gear, then as the trffic moves depress the clutch & select a gear then move off ?
Oviously over any distance, the latter means more actual clutch use, while the former has less clutch use, but the clutch is pressed for longer periods.
Which is "better" for clutch life?
Ro.
Not at all sure, but from my simple mechanical understanding the clutch friction material only wears when the clutch is being engaged or disengaged when a gear is selected (i.e. not in neutral).
So in the scenario where the car is put into neutral and the clutch released then this wears the friction material exactly the same amount as if the clutch is held depressed because it only makes one on/off transition when "under load". Therefore by holding down the clutch you are simply straining some other parts of the mechanism like the cable etc.
For this reason I think it is probably best to put the car in neutral and release the pedal, but I could be hopelessly incorrect.
So in the scenario where the car is put into neutral and the clutch released then this wears the friction material exactly the same amount as if the clutch is held depressed because it only makes one on/off transition when "under load". Therefore by holding down the clutch you are simply straining some other parts of the mechanism like the cable etc.
For this reason I think it is probably best to put the car in neutral and release the pedal, but I could be hopelessly incorrect.
If you want to help your clutch last longer in queues:
1) Engage first gear completely as soon as is practical - do not "creep" by "clutch riding".
2) Leave a larger gap between you and the car in front - use this to soak up stop/start so you can leave the car in gear.
Trust me - this technique works - but it does seem to wind up the odd knobber behind who can't seem to work out that you're making just the same progress - just at a more constant speed...cue the need to time the next set of traffic lights right to leave said knobber behind...
1) Engage first gear completely as soon as is practical - do not "creep" by "clutch riding".
2) Leave a larger gap between you and the car in front - use this to soak up stop/start so you can leave the car in gear.
Trust me - this technique works - but it does seem to wind up the odd knobber behind who can't seem to work out that you're making just the same progress - just at a more constant speed...cue the need to time the next set of traffic lights right to leave said knobber behind...
Don said:
If you want to help your clutch last longer in queues:
1) Engage first gear completely as soon as is practical - do not "creep" by "clutch riding".
2) Leave a larger gap between you and the car in front - use this to soak up stop/start so you can leave the car in gear.
Trust me - this technique works - but it does seem to wind up the odd knobber behind who can't seem to work out that you're making just the same progress - just at a more constant speed...cue the need to time the next set of traffic lights right to leave said knobber behind...
Notch one up on the score board for the correct answer from Don
Yep - foot off pedal as much as possible. The clutch thrust bearing is working all the time when the pedal is depressed.
The only argument that I can think of for keeping the clutch down during a brief stop is that you will reduce the total number of pedal movements, hence reduced wear on the pedal pivot axis. However, given that this is easily accessible for greasing or replacement it'a a meaningless advantage.
The only argument that I can think of for keeping the clutch down during a brief stop is that you will reduce the total number of pedal movements, hence reduced wear on the pedal pivot axis. However, given that this is easily accessible for greasing or replacement it'a a meaningless advantage.
Thanks all.
Don - you make me laugh - thats exactly my drive into work at the moment, idiots behind trying to gain an inch or 2 by driving up my ar5e. Instead of reading the road ahead they slam into 1st gear, shoot off then half a second later slam their brakes on & repeat the process all down the road.....crazy.
Don - you make me laugh - thats exactly my drive into work at the moment, idiots behind trying to gain an inch or 2 by driving up my ar5e. Instead of reading the road ahead they slam into 1st gear, shoot off then half a second later slam their brakes on & repeat the process all down the road.....crazy.
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