A rather general question for stickshifts, but I have always done this when driving (no matter that the car). As I'm driving up to a light, after the rev's have fallen low (2000RPM or less in most cars), I will put in the clutch and put the transmission into neutral. I don't do this all of the time, but only when I'm in heavier traffic and know
that once I stop in traffic- I'll be stopped for a little while.

Rather persnickity, but several people have told me this is bad for any manual-trans car long-term? That it should always be in gear? I'm not a big fan of engine braking (unless for performance or rapid transit in the twisties :smile: as I'd rather wear out my brakes vs. clutch & transmission.

Any thoughts & thanks in advance,

-Matt

 

I have my own shifting habits aquired over the years. I may be doing it all wrong. But I'll bet we can get some good advice, zfxr, from the MCO brain trust.

 

Hmmmm, I do the same thing. I used to downshift but was told THAT was bad and that since brakes are cheaper to replace than a clutch, to use my brakes to slow me rather than downshifting. Geez, I've been driving a manual for 34 years now and I still might be doing it wrong.

Hey, do you guys remember what it was like learning to drive a manual transmission? I had a '69 VW Beetle and I could do everything but get that baby into reverse. I was 17 and when my girlfriends and I would go someplace we would look for a spot where I could pull right out. If we did get stuck in a parking place where I was required to put it in reverse, I would put it in neutral and they would push me out of the spot. Needless to say, I got a lesson in reverse right then and there.

I love driving a stick, especially a nice smooth shifting one like the MINI has.

Sorry I went on a ramble but I just always smile when I remember that story.

Laurie

 

It amazes me how many old wive's tales there are surrounding manual transmissions (and, cars in genereal for that matter).
There is nothing wrong with your technique. Modern transmissions are built like brick sh*t houses. Especially compared to trannies of yesteryear. Even so, I still don't comprehend what damage your techniques could *possibly* do. Heck, I do it myself.
In your many years of driving a manual, how many transmissions have you ruined?
I'm guessing none.

 

Wouldn't sitting at a light for 5 minute with the clutch depressed in induce far more wear? I think going to neutral is the best course of action, but I'm happy to hear the other side of the argument.

See ya,
JS

 

Leaving the clutch depressed for long periods will put more stress on the throwout bearing (which is what pushes the tongues on the pressure plate to release the clutch) but I wouldn't worry about it.
There's definitely no difference between the tranny being in gear vs in neutral - heck, if the clutch is depressed the tranny isn't spinning anyway!! There's no need for a car to always be 'in gear'.
The least stressful position would be in neutral with the clutch out - thus no stress on the TO bearing, pressure plate, or tranny gears.

 

I always drop into neutral when coming up to a light or other situation where I know I will be stopped for more than a few seconds. Keeping the clutch pushed in is not only adding to the wear of the throwout bearing, but more importantly (and many people, even mechanics seem to forget or do not know) the thrust bearing in the engine. When the clutch is depressed, the force that the throwout bearing puts on the clutch fingers to release and hold it is taken up by the crankshaft thrust bearing in the engine. This causes undue wear on this part over time. If it looks like you will be sitting still for more than a few seconds, pop it in neutral and release the clutch pedal. When you are ready to take off, push in the clutch, ease it into gear and take off. Never ride the clutch or keep your foot on it for any length of time.

Think not only of your transmission or clutch, but the engine as well.

 

Back in the old days,
there was a reason for downshifting and keeping the engine engaged as much as possible: older cars were more apt to stall while idling, and when the engine stalls you lose your brake power boost. The nasty result may be that as you approach a light and put the engine in neutral, it may stall and you may think you have just about lost your brakes.
Of tcourse we all the know the solution to this problem is to drive a REALLY old car that has no power breaks (like my 1973 MGB-GT, it had nothing power-***, no power steering, no power brakes, no power windows).

 

Car Talk guys had a discussion on this a while ago. There is also a safety issue. I was once rear-ended by someone who left the car in gear and then their foot slipped off the clutch. I know that in some countries you are expected to put the car in neutral when stopped at a light. Other people would argue that it is safer to always be in gear so you can accelerate if need be.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'm waiting for the 3 spoke steering wheel, rear-fogs and stumble fix (well, not sure when they will get that done :smile:

But back to the discussion, mrbean- righton about that. New manual transmissions are built quite solidly. My first car was a stick, 1986 Pontiac Grand Am V6. Was a total POS (100k mi, bondo wonder), but it had it's own stumble/stall when very humid, so a manual worked quite well. I've been doing this on all of my cars, and have yet to have a problem.

So I will continue doing this. Bonus, helps fuel econ too by coasting into lights!

cheers,

-Matt

 

I've heard all sorts of ideas on this one.

I shift in to neutral any chance If I'm coasting to a stop, or in slow (10-20 mph) traffic and I don't want the jerky ride of being in 2 or 3rd gear. Having said that, I've just recently learned how to double clutch, and for fun around turns I rev the engine up to where down shifting is smooth. (in most cases, I usually jam on the accelerator and smile sheepishly!)

I think what you are doing is fine. I leave the car in neutral at stop lights, and I "prepare" the car to move just before the light turns green. Just be careful when you drive an automatic after many years of driving manual, I almost took out a few pedestrians in times square, NY totally forgetting that automatics move forward when you take your foot off of the brakes :smile:



happy motoring!