My buddy and I have been having some friendly arguments lately on how you should use your clutch.

He says that it is BAD for the clutch to be pushed in when say, for example... at a red light and your waiting for it to turn green and you have the truck in 1st and the clutch in. Is it bad to have it in or should you let up off the clutch?

 

i just throw that ***** in neutral

 

bad for it.

 

The throwout bearing is the weak point here.
I agree, "throw it in neutral"
...Terry

 

This is good to know since my new truck is manual and I just learned how to drive manual couple months ago, I always throw it in nuetral at stoplights and such instead of just pushing it in and holding it. My dad always says just push it in and i find it easier to just throw it in nuetral and wait then go to first.

One thing he told me is not to ride the clutch though and I dont.

 

I hold the clutch in.

Always have.

My 92 Saturn's engine died at 274,000 miles, still had the original clutch.



I think it's less wear and tear holding it in. You folks that put it in neutral will use the clutch master and slave cylinders exactly TWICE as much as I do at each stop. Twice as many cycles on an already iffy hydraulic clutch system sounds like it'll wear it out faster to me.

Sometimes, I'll rpm match and upshift to the next gear (usually to 4th and 5th) without using the clutch at all. I also push it out of 5th and coast to some stops, without using the clutch and end up sitting there in neutral, but many times the coasting is anticipating the green light, so I'll clutch it into the appropriate gear and go.

The flip side of that philosophy is that I end up holding pressure for longer durations. Since the system is designed to handle that pressure, in my mind it is still simply one cycle. I don't think pressure duration is a wear factor as much as cycles are.


I am going on record as saying that holding it in, in gear, at a light is NOT BAD for the clutch, based on my own driving experience. My 67 Ford van, 76 Datsun B210, 79 Mustang, 81 Chevette, 81 Rabbit, 83 Ranger, 92 Saturn, 93 Saturn, and 2000 Ranger have all left my ownership, still running, with the clutch installed that was installed when I got them. Granted, the van and the Chevette had cable clutches, not hydraulic.

The only transmission work I have ever done, or had to HAVE done, was on an automatic. And I'm a big fan of the power shift to 2nd during a pull out, turn left, make the ls kick in and slide the *** end around. I don't baby it.

The key is not to let the clutch slip. Gas it and go. Pedal out smoothly and quickly.
It's a knack.

 

I dont think its bad for it either. I used to drive a manual daily and never had any issues. I held the clutch in at every light.

 

i hold it in always have no problems

 

Damn... mixed opinions. What to do...?

Any other opinions?

 

I hold mine in as well... I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. I also agree that when you put it in neutral, you are double working the slave...

 

I always leave the clutch in as well... aside from the days where I'm too lazy and pop it out.

 

I put my car in neutral while at a light and just use the brake. Usualy while Im coasting and a light turns red Ill put it in neutral then and just coast to the light.

 

I use a combination of both but ussually hold it unless I know the light just turned red. I also tend to put the truck in neutral and coast down long hills, I actually believes it saves gas. As far as good or bad I would say neither except in the case where you own a vehicle that the slave cylinders are known to leak(sound familiar?). In which case I say put it in neutral to keep from losing fluid.
John

 

x2... when I sold it to my neighbor's son, he didn't know how to drive it...he learned to upshift, but for some reason every time he comes home, he goes thru each gear downshifting... I know thats bad...DONT do that... poor truck :(

 

i always hold it in, especially in stop and go traffic on my trips to long island. by the time i pop it in neutral and step on the brakes or set the e brake, its already time to move, so its not worth it


for the guys that shift without clutch when driving, what rpm range do you shift at with no problems?!

 

I always leave my old 91 in gear with the clutch in. If I put it in neutral who knows if it will wanna go back into any gear, lol. Match revving is easy after about a day of it. Just make sure when upshifting to let your revs down slow, and while downshifting rev the motor slowly as not to be violent on the trans.

 

I keep the pedal engaged as long as it's not a long stop. If I'm just slowing down or I'm at a fast light why bother? If I'm sitting for a few minutes or something I put it in neutral but I think it's just because my leg is tired of holding it there. I'm so glad my truck is an automatic so I don't have to bother with it unless it's my father's truck or a customer vehicle.

 

depends on my mood sometimes ill keep it in

sometimes i keep it in. sometimes i wont

 

umm.. interesting results, I usally do a combinaition of both. also depends if alot of traffic or not. Also it depends of how i feel, and yea the trick is, NOT to let it slip and let it go smoothly, then up you gooo....!! :)

 

it varies...i do both...not sure which is better or worse though...

 

I would always coast to the light in neutral.. then I would watch the light, if I knew it was about to change I would put it in gear and get ready to take off.

 

ive never actually driven a stick before, but ill put in a perspective from riding a motorcycle everyday
When sitting at a light, which is faster to do if you look in your rearview mirror and see another vehicle barroling down on you and not stopping
A. give it gas and go
B. look for 1st gear then go
the theory being is that if you are already in gear you are that much faster to avoid an accident if you are able to where as if you are in nueatral its that much longer to get out of a bad situation if you need to
Ive always gone by staying in gear to match RPM of the vehicle so you have complete control of the vehicle instead of have to try to look for a gear if you find yourself in a bad sitiation
Just my .02 though

 

I only use the clutch in first and reverse as well....as far as RPMs for shifting....my 99' doesnt have a tach so its by ear....its best to practice at different RPMs i'd say and see how it is on your truck