It's been well over a decade since I've driven a stick shift. I want to make sure I am doing it correctly to make the clutch last as best I can, I have fears that I could burn it out if I don't do it right.

So, a dumb but simple question. How do you guys release your clutches? Slowly depressing the gas peddle at the same time or releasing the clutch quickly without giving it much gas?

I'm looking for the correct way to use the clutch to make it last as it's been a very long time since I've done this.

 

Hmm, hadn't thought about it much. Kind of inate.

I'm wondering how dangerous it is to coast out of gear (say down a two mile hill to save on gas, or coast up to a stop light). Manual says don't do it, brakes etc don't work as well. In addition to RonP's clutch question, can anyone chime in on coasting in nuetral? thanks.

 

I'd say release your clutch with minimal gas. I don't think releasing it fast vs. slow is a big issue. Just don't use a slow release of the clutch with a lot of gas to accelerate quickly. Accelerate after the clutch is fully engaged. Here's how I've come to that conclusion...

I had an '03 MCS and traded it for an '05 MCS. I had noticed significant clutch wear on the '03. In that, the friction/engagement point on the clutch moved quite a bit higher on the pedal's range of movement over only about 10,000mi. I thought it was because the car had a pretty 'tall' 1st gear, and I feathered the clutch to get a smooth launch. I believed that the lower gearing, starting in the '05, would make launches easier and that I'd experience less clutch wear.

However the lower gearing makes for more acceleration, and I think I've been using more gas while releasing the clutch to make the launch blend into the increased acceleration. My friction point is now near the top of the pedal throw, after less than 10,000mi. So now I'm trying to *not* acclearate too quickly during clutch release. I only mash the gas after the clutch is fully engaged.

 

More the former than the latter. Important thing is not to accelerate hard while you still have your foot on the clutch, and do NOT use the clutch to 'hold' you on a hill - that's what the brakes are for.


As for coasting in neutral, first you aren't going to save much gas. Fuel injected engines are very stingy when decelerating. Second, the logic is that if you're in neutral, you have less control of the car. If you needed to accelerate for any reason, you've got an extra step to accomplish before you can. I don't buy the 'brakes don't work as well' line. Back in the day you needed engine braking to make up for crappy drum brakes that didn't stop the car all that well. With four wheel disk, you've got plenty of braking power (but you still don't want to ride them!)

 

i apply very small but enough throttle to maintain momentum on the flywheel, then
gently engage.

 

Clutch: From full stop release clutch smoothly (but don't ride it) while giving just enough gas to keep from stalling, after that (when car is moving) you can release quicker. Do some city driving and you will find out soon enough what works best for you.

Coasting in neutral: down a two mile hill is definitely not advisable. Less control as Eric mentioned above, also you'll burn up your brake pads when you get to the bottom of the hill. It's not a good habit to coast in neutral even for a short time (e.g., approaching stop sign) IMHO, however, you do want to shift into neutral when stopped and waiting at a traffic light, coz prolonged depression of the clutch pedal is not good either (for you or the car).

 

You've got the "how to use the clutch properly" from everyone so I'll have a bit of fun with this one...

Run and hold the tach at about 4 grand, let the clutch out as fast as possible and hold on.... (If you have DSC, turn it off first or it's no fun at all)

 

They say the Mini peddals are set up for 'heel-toe' shifting...
I haven't tried it yet, but one of these days ill give it a go.

 

All great advice and pretty much what I've been doing. It's good to know I'm doing it correctly.

I do not coast in neutral, I don't down shift either. I'll release the clutch when I'm just about ready to come to a stop. When in gear you have the added use of the tranny to help slow you down.

 

What do you recommend if you're waiting at a light on a hill for both steep or tiny hills?

 

Me personally, I just use the foot brake. Others use the handbrake to hold the car in place.

 

I say figure out where the bite point on the clutch relative to the position of your clutch pedal pressed.

then gas slightly whilst releasing (depressing) the clutch to engage with the flywheel.

You'll know when you have it right when the transition is smooth and not jerky.

 

Set the hand-brakes, put car into gear and release the clutch (slowly) till you feel it tug, then release the hand brakes while giving more gas. If you have to do this frequently, it will put extra wear & tear on the clutch, but I don't see any other way to get going safely from a "hilly stop".

 

I've never actually used the e-brake in a hill start -- more fuss than it's worth, in the long run. Just practice on smallish hills until you're confident of the engagement point and the amount of gas required to get you going with minimal roll.

 

Confucious say: Never take clutch advice from someone with 'toast' in their handle.

 

Hey! I may set toasters ablaze, but I haven't yet toasted a clutch!





















(knocks on wood)

 

I dont think it matters since the only reason the clutch even exists it to match the RPMs to the road speed. Just match the RPMs to road speed and over time it will just come naturally.

 

Here's a follow-up question:

I was in NYC stop&go traffic for over an hour a few weeks ago. I did not get out of first gear the whole time. When I start from a standing stop (as I did many times in that hour), I always slip the clutch a bit, which wears it. After that trip and 100 starts, I thought "I just put the equivalent of 1000 miles on my clutch". Am I right?

 

Rush hour traffic is a killer. Maybe not 1000 miles but it didn't help anything. I try to avoid stop and go traffic as much as I can.