a) Push the clutch in, go to neutral, let the clutch out, and just put your foot on the brake. When the light goes to green, push the clutch in, switch to first, drive away
b) Push the clutch in, break, switch to first gear, and just wait until the light goes green, drive away

I've gotten conflicting info from different guys that drive stick. One guys says b) is fine, another said it's very bad, you don't have want to leave in the clutch for long periods of time. When I asked him why not, he couldn't give me an answer, was just told that it was bad.

Also, if you're at the top of a long hill in 4th do you
a) Push the clutch in, and then just ride down the hill, pumping breaks when necessary
b) Leave it in 4th, and use the engine braking to slow down the car, only using breaks when necessary

Again, I got conflicting info here on what's better for the car.

Thanks in advance!

-Fiona

 

a

b

 

A for the first and B for the second for me as well. I've driven stick for 21 years (in 5 different vehicles for many many miles) and have never had to replace a clutch yet. I even taught myself how to drive a stick in the first manual transmission car I bought, and that clutch was fine for over 128k when I traded it in.

 

People will argue endlessly over both of these questions. My opinion:

It is better for the clutch to move to neutral at a stop. How much better is very much open for debate. I think people could come up with reasons why it might not be better overall (maybe you need to get moving quickly to avoid being in an accident?), but the what-ifs will drive you crazy.

As for coasting, it is not even legal in some states, so leave the car in gear for that reason alone. In addition, the engine will not use any fuel so long as the hill is steep enough to keep it spinning (hard to believe, but true). It will use fuel to idle when in neutral and coasting. In addition, some long hills may exceed the brake capacity when coasting.

 

I'm too wordy. I was agreeing with the a,b answer

 

Hmmm...a + b for me too...

So people will argue that you leave in gear at a stop so you can pull away quickly if you need to (like you spy a texter rapidly approaching on your 6, completely unaware that the traffic in front of them is at a dead stop @ a light..)...that's what the MSF teaches in its rider safety courses, and when I'm on a bike that's what I do. Course I got rear-ended by a teeny-bopper on a cell phone so I'm slightly sensitive to that when I'm on two-wheels.

When I was in Germany ages ago I recall the traffic lights turn from red, to yellow, to green to cue those with manual transmissions in on the impending light change. Makes sense since there's so many vehicles in Europe with manual trannies. If we did that state side, as much sense as it may make, there would be innumerable accidents from the confused masses, so when I do "a" I try to spy the opposing light and use it's yellow as my cue to get my butt in gear...

 

they do that in every European country, its a nice thing it gets the traffic moving, however I doubt it will help here in the states though. Here in Texas too many are reading a book, texting, or talking over a phone that I used my horn more times than I blink. Now I do the choice A when I know the pattern for signals and usually sometimes you can see the other signal. However I would use choice B when ever its a somewhere I don't know the pattern and traffic is heavy/fast.

as for the B, i think people reason its bad because it cause wear to the throwout bearing, which apparently made out of plastic. other than that I don't think B is so wrong... well it does hurt after sometime keeping the clutch in :P

 

At a red light, depends on when you get there. If you know it's a long light, I see no reason why you wouldn't just shift into N.

On a hill, or whenever you're in motion you should always be in gear.

 

I'm in neutral before I come to a complete stop at a light; time to go, clutch in, shift and go. Takes only a second.

I do not coast down long hills, and I use the brakes when necessary - pads are cheap and you will not overheat them, even on long down hills.

I do rev match when down shifting, to save the disc wear........

 

a: When stopped, and the engine is running, with the clutch pedal in, the clutch is motionless, but the flywheel is spinning. This can wear the clutch. In a previous millennium I was taught to put it in neutral and release the clutch pedal. Clutches have improved since then, so it may not be as important as it was. However, some people have worn out MINI clutches pretty fast, so I'll continue with my old practice.

b: On long grades at 50+ mph I'll put it in 6th gear and take my foot completely off the gas pedal. I'll brake if necessary. The MINI will completely shut off fuel to the engine if the car is in gear and the rpms are above idle speed. So, you get better mpg by leaving it in gear than by costing in neutral (gas is required to keep engine idling in neutral).

With the clutch in, engine is using gas, and you are putting unnecessary wear on the clutch. If you need to quickly release the clutch to put power on, the cars speed and engine rpm probably will be mismatched, and could cause significant strain on the engine/drivetrain and/or cause a loss of car control. Very bad idea.

 

I keep the car in gear ready to go while stopped. Never know when you need to move fast and get out of the way. I learned this from a motorcycle safety instructor, but it applies in my Mini as well.

 

a - worried about wear on the cheap plastic throwout bearing otherwise
b - used to coast down hills in neutral on previous cars, but since the MINI
and most other modern cars turn off the fuel injector's supply when you have the
pedal at 0 and rpms above about 1400, you use more gas idling in neutral.

 

I agree with this 100% and was also taught over 20 years ago when I got my motorcycle license that same thing.
Alot has to do with your surroundings, traffic and even time of the day.
Normally I leave it in Neutral, but if traffic is heavy I am always looking in the mirror to see that one A--- hole who will not stop and then rear end you.
I leanred that lesson the hard way when I was 18 and rear ended by a drunk, I went through the windshield and took my seat with me, back then there was no seat belt law and I was stupid enough not to have one on. So i watch the rear view mirror ALL THE TIME NOW

 

I leave it it neutral when stopped at a light, setting the parking brake and letting off the brake pedal if it's a longer light. This is the way I was taught in the UK and the way I passed the test.

The reasoning is that if you're in 1st and have your foot on the clutch pedal, if you are rear ended, your foot can slip off the clutch pedal causing the car to jump into the car in front, or worse--into the cross traffic. Also, keeping the clutch depressed for prolonged periods of time causes wear on the throwout bearing.

Of course, like JRoca says, you don't want to be sitting there just twiddling your thumbs. Watch the traffic around you and be aware so that if a potentially dangerous situation arises, you can react fairly quickly. If you're the last person in line and there's someone coming up fast from behind, it might be wise to stick it in 1st with the clutch down.

For going downhill--always, always, always in gear. Firstly, you'll use less gas, since as others have said if the wheels are turning the engine the MINI will cut off fuel, whereas if you're in neutral (or have the clutch depressed) it has to inject enough fuel to keep the engine at idle. Secondly, you'll save wear on your brakes (just select the right gear when you're coming down--4th on a fairly steep grade will keep me at 80 km/h with minimal braking).

The only exception to this is when I'm in downhill stop and go traffic. I really shouldn't, but sometimes I let the car creep down in neutral gear (like automatic creep), and slip it into 2nd directly if the traffic gets moving quicker. I can guarantee you this would fail you in a UK driving test, but... well, it's more practical.

 

A then B, like everyone else above me.

I will only leave the car in gear at a light if it was red well before I got there (looking far down the road), or if I know its a short light. Thats more-so because I'm lazy and don't feel like holding down two pedals though.

 

That's also what I do, I'd have failed the UK driving test if I didn't go into neutral and set the hand brake. However I'll be watching the light to see when they're going to change, you can usually see the lights to you side going to amber and red, so I'll be in 1st with the clutch in by the time the light turns green.

Going down hill is using engine braking and the brakes only sparingly.

 

I set the parking brake occasionally also, but when I do, I throw on the rear fog lights, just so I have red glowing behind me. You never know when the driver behind you isn't paying attention, will look up, not see your brake lights and just go.

 

There are other choices here. When coming to a stop you can coast or brake down to about 1000 rpm while in gear and shift into neutral without touching the clutch pedal hence causing zero wear. I would call this choice C

Choice B on the other one. Have done direct observation. Fuel intake at idle is higher than fuel intake when coasting in gear.

 

A, B

In the first set of scenarios, choice B puts extra wear on the throwout bearing. Nothing catastrophic, but still not a good practice.

In the second set, choice B uses less fuel (actually, it uses none at all). It also gives you a bit more control. Not using your brakes also helps keep traffic flowing.

 

I put it in neutral while waiting at a stop light.

I usually cost when I come to a stop too. I don't know for sure, but it doesn't seem reasonable that the injectors cut off ALL fuel to the engine while it's coasting. The engine would need to sort of re-start when you push in the clutch. That probably wouldn't be smooth. And, I know from watching my instant mpg meter, I can sometimes get 80 or 90 mpg while decelerating in gear and as soon as I put it into neutral it pegs at 99 mpg.

I suppose it's slightly safer to keep it in gear while coming to a stop. But it's all relative. Putting it in neutral when you coast to a stop is probably less dangerous than taking your eyes off the road to look over at your dinner plate speedo to check your speed!

 

Freudian slip?

Reality is stranger than fiction. It happens, and it is smooth. However, fuel is injected when the engine gets down to a certain rpm. Remember, this all computer controlled. So, it can insure that it is done smoothly.

I can get the mpg reading on my ScanGaugeII (reading the same source as the MINI tach) to 999 mpg while decelerating in gear.

Depends on what speed you put it in neutral and how far you have to travel. The higher the speed/longer the distance, the less safe. I'll put it in neutral when the engine gets down close to idle rpm, rather than shifting into a lower gear. I don't recall the exact speeds, but the distance isn't far.

 

A
B

-Chase

 

B, B

 

A, B. I also know people that do B, A and their cars are holding up quite well, so I don't know how much extra wear it really is. I usually keep my foot off the clutch though until the light turns or is about to turn green.

 

I am an A, B-er as well...although sometimes I just do whatever I feel like depending on driving conditions.

Does anyone know if the Auto cuts fuel during a downhill coast?