As any manual car driver knows, the clutch is the heart of the manual transmission. It enables transition from one gear ratio to the next by engaging and disengaging the clutch plate from the engine. A worn clutch can cause delayed shifting which is dangerous. Proper shifting, on the other hand, will enable smoother driving and even help you enjoy better fuel economy. That being said, here's how you can ensure your clutch stays in good shape.
Depress your clutch completely during shifting
During shifting, your transmission needs to be completely disengaged from the engine to avoid damage. Minimal clutch depression can expose the clutch plate to friction from the engine which can accelerate wear. To avoid this from happening, depress your clutch completely. Doing so allows enough spacing between the clutch plate and the engine shaft.
Don't engage the clutch continuously during stop-drive situations
One of the most common mistakes which you may be guilty of is engaging the clutch and keeping it depressed continuously. This happens mostly in urban drive-stop-drive scenarios. The downside to keeping your clutch depressed for long is that it wears your clutch springs. After some time, your clutch will not disengage as it should when depressed. Instead on stepping on the clutch and brake during stops, engage the neutral and brake instead.
Avoid double shifting
Double shifting is not very popular for most conventional drivers. However, it's does feature in drivers who seek better performance out of their vehicles. Double shifting is where the driver depresses the clutch, engages neutral and then depresses the clutch again and changes the gear. Just like engaging the clutch continuously in drive-stop conditions, double shifting also contributes to heavy clutch wear and will force you to have it replaced sooner than you ought to.
Use the parking brake in uphill starts
Starting a forward drive in uphill stances is always tricky when you have a manual transmission vehicle. To counter the downward gravitational pull, drivers are forced to apply considerably more throttle. Unfortunately, this increases the engine RPM and transfers high amounts of friction to the clutch and the transmission gears as well. To avoid this, try using the parking brake as a control tool to counter the downward roll.
With a healthy clutch in your car, you will be in a position to change gears timely and control your car's speed quickly. You will also avoid damaging your transmission's gears which could cause you a lot of money at the garage. Learn more tips by consulting experts like Precision Automatic Transmissions.
Share27 March 2015
Hi, my name is Katy, and I love to go on long road trips. However, I also know how scary it is to be stuck in the middle of nowhere when your car needs a repair. Because of that, I have figured out which repairs are essential before you go on a long journey. If you are planning a long journey, please explore these posts, tips and ideas. I hope they help you hone on which repairs or services your automobile needs before your next journey. In this blog, I cover everything from services to packing lists and more. Enjoy and thanks for reading!
