A quote from the July 96 issue of Consumer Reports, page 19:

Driving Tips:

Don't abuse the clutch. In cars with a manual transmission, holding the car on a hill with the clutch or keeping the clutch pedal depressed while waiting for a light can wear the clutch prematurely.

Lately I have been using the following technique when slowing for a traffic light. I tap the brakes a few times to slow the car. Next I slip the gearshift into neutral without using the clutch and then stop completely using the brakes.

Question: Is any harm done to the tranny when going into neutral without using the clutch?

There was another thread titled "Shifting to Neutral" by no1fa but I couldn't really decide from those responses if this practice is harmful or not. There is absolutely no noise heard when doing this and it is very easily done, so I don't see a problem. But I am not an expert and hope to hear from some of the members who are.

 

I don't think you are doing any harm to your clutch or tranny by engaging neutral without dipping the clutch. It is possible to drive without using the clutch at all as long as you get the revs right.The clutch wear isn't really coming from normal gear changes anyway as your post points out. The damge is caused by riding the clutch and holding the vehicle on a slipping clutch on hills. Most driving instructers would frown on engaging neutral whilst the car is moving.. you are removing the the power of engine braking and the ability to accelerate should the need arise.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by littleton
[B]A quote from the July 96 issue of Consumer Reports, page 19:

Lately I have been using the following technique when slowing for a traffic light. I tap the brakes a few times to slow the car. Next I slip the gearshift into neutral without using the clutch and then stop completely using the brakes.

 

Hmm... well the whole neutral idea seem to be a controversial one so I never really paid attention to it. For example, if you cruise in neutral, the idea is that you will save gas but then there are arguments that you actually don't.

There are several reasons why you shouldn't just shift to neutral and brake. Besides the "danger" factor of not having your car in gear, you lose the fun and control that you have in downshifting. Stopping in neutral can be slow if you're one who doesn't brake firmly or early enough I think. I don't think there's that much of an advantage in terms of saving your clutch by having your car in neutral and braking. I don't know whether it causes any damage however, but it is certainly considered a lazy man's way of driving and or poor stick driver's way of driving.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Howie

There are several reasons why you shouldn't just shift to neutral and brake. Besides the "danger" factor of not having your car in gear, you lose the fun and control that you have in downshifting.


So let me ask this question. Let say you are going 55mph and you are in 6th. Do you brake and leave the gear in 6th or do you downshift to 5th, 4th...etc. until you stop. If you downshift all of the time, doesn't it wear down the clutch? Just curious. I usually leave it in 6th and let the car slow, when the rpm is low enough I slip it into neutral. Is that considered to be lazy or bad?

 

I used to be a big fan of downshifting, would do it all the time. Then I replaced the clutch.

Considering the cost of a clutch, against the cost of brakes. I'll gladly pay for a new set of brakes any day over replacing a clutch.

As I drive now, I downshift to a reasonable braking speed, say 50 - 60 km and then coast the distance and brake in neutral, foot off the clutch. As long as you pay attention to the speed and whats coming behind, in front or to the side of you, you can always pop it back in gear and do whatever it is you need to do.

Just my 2cents cdn.

DM

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by labratodd

Quote:

Originally posted by Howie

There are several reasons why you shouldn't just shift to neutral and brake. Besides the "danger" factor of not having your car in gear, you lose the fun and control that you have in downshifting.


So let me ask this question. Let say you are going 55mph and you are in 6th. Do you brake and leave the gear in 6th or do you downshift to 5th, 4th...etc. until you stop. If you downshift all of the time, doesn't it wear down the clutch? Just curious. I usually leave it in 6th and let the car slow, when the rpm is low enough I slip it into neutral. Is that considered to be lazy or bad?

If you are in 6th gear and you are approaching lights on red or some other circumstance where you obviously have to stop many would argue stay in 6th and brake gradually to a stop, engaging neutral when you are stationary. Should it not be necessary to stop, e.g. the lights change to green, you have the option to engage a gear suitable to the speed you are doing at that time and resume normal driving. Others would say that if the vehicle is moving you should AT ALL TIMES be in a gear suitable to the speed you are travelling. Using this second method approaching the lights in 6th.as your speed slows due to braking and or deceleration you would engage appropriate gears as your speed decreased. No-one would suggest that you went through all six gears on the way down, probably just 3rd. or say 4th and 2nd. I suppose the more you change gear the more you inevitably wear the clutch, but the real; clutch damage in my opinion comes from excessive launches, driving along with your foot on the clutch and slipping the clutch as in holding on a hill.Put simply just poor overall technique

 

A few members here have noticed that their gearshift sometimes spontaneously pops out of gear while driving (usually from 4th as I recall).

Question: is it possible that if you make a habit of pushing the shifter into neutral without using the clutch that you can increase the chance of gear pop-out?

 

The advance driving license course (over here in the UK) says that you should use the brakes to slow rather than engine braking as it's much cheaper to change the brakes than replace the clutch/transmission....

Personally I like to feel I'm in control of the car and was tought to keep the car in the right gear for the conditions. I struggle to remember that I should brake and change at the last minute.

A friend has just come off a police driving course. They're tought to brake and then select the right gear for the corner. He's taken me out and he's awesomely quick now.....

 

If you match RPM before re-engaging the clutch the wear is very minimal.


Hugh