Ok, I heard from a friend of mine (I have tried this too), that in rush hour bumper to bumper traffic you can just use the clutch to move you forward and not even use the gas at all. I have done this slow movement of just using the clutch to go forward however sometimes I get a heated smell. Is this ok for the clutch or should I truly use the gas in rush hour traffic?

Help

 

yea that would be the clutch lol i wouldnt do it too often.....

 

Then how should I drive in rush hour? Whats the best way to keep going like <5 MPH in bumper to bumper?

 

just slowly add some gas so ur not puttin a heavy load on the clutch..or just wait until traffic moves more than a foot to move up...

 

If your car makes enough power to move when you let the clutch in without having to use the throttle then it should be OK. Otherwise what Big D said makes sense. I bought my first auto as a result of too much driving in slow traffic. What I used to do was just slip the clutch a little until I got moving and then when I had to stop again shift back into neutral while I waited for traffic to flow.

 

Well, when I am at a stop and I let the clutch out slowly, it will start rolling forward all by itself, not needing any gas, which to me is actually easier...however I dont want to burn up the clutch.

Like I just tried it when I was pulling into the garage, I was at a stop, I let out the clutch slowly, it started moving forward, then I let it out, then once I was in the garage I pushed it in again with the brakes to stop and put the stick into neutral.

When I got out, I smelled a slight burning smell, I wasnt sure if it was the clutch or not. I dont want to hurt it, but if the car goes forward without needing gas, I didnt know if this was bad for the clutch or not.

 

u can tell the difference between a hot smell and the clutch smell....i had 1 bad moment with my clutch the 1st night i got it but ever since then everythings been fine....knock on wood

 

Well does anyone know if driving like this can hurt the clutch?

 

If you are continually "slipping" the clutch then yes. But you don't have to slip it to do it. It's hard to explain, but you'll quickly find out where the sweet spot is and you'll stop slipping it in no time.

 

Yes, it can hurt the clutch. If you listen closely, when you slowly let the clutch out and move the car forward without touching the accelerator, you'll hear a faint rattling. That is your throw-out bearing. If you do it too much, you'll screw up the throw-out bearing and have to replace your clutch. Slipping the clutch constantly will also give you premature wear on your clutch.

Just stick with giving it a little gas and letting the clutch out a little, then just put it back in neutrala nd coast to stop. Also, don't edge up every time the car in front of you moves an inch. Wait a few seconds until you have a good distance between you and the next car to move forward so you won't constantly slip the clutch.

 

Ok so what is "slipping the clutch"?

 

It's the opposite of what you do with the clutch when you make a quick shift between gears. You have to slip the clutch a little when starting--you don't just dump it and go. But a lot of drivers will ride the clutch a lot in slow traffic because that way they can go slow but still be moving. This is what accelerates clutch wear.

Don't worry. You'll get it. Just let the car in front of you move a few feet before you start and you'll be fine.

 

Exactly what it sounds like, letting out the clutch too slow and easing it into gear.

From your own words You were probably slipping it there. You should be be able to get the car in gear with little or no throttle input, yet not slip it, nor pop it either.

It's hard to explain, you'll just have to get a feel for it. Once you do, it'll be like riding a bicycle, you'll never forget it.

 

Buy an Automatic

 

Ok Lets just clarify something for the people that may think a clutch will last forever


If you use the clutch while the engine is running you will hurt it to some degree, but that is how they work, the higher the rpm and the greater the pressure on the disk at the point that is is slipping hurts it more.

so the clutch will either last 50 miles or 500,000 miles depending on you you drive.
but it will or would die eventually because you are wearing it out every time you use it, just like brakes.

Also I firmly believe that if you have to ask questions like this in the first place, then either.

1. you don't have a license
2. you bought the wrong car, the one you need has only 2 pedals on the floor.
3. don't ever turn the traction control off.

 

I think that slipping the clutch is what we used to, in the olden days, refer to as riding the clutch.

A perfect example of this would be if you are stopped on a hill (upward) and you feather the clutch to maintain your position without the brake. This is bad.

You should engage the clutch quickly and deliberatley in one fluid motion.

Do not stop your motion when depressing or letting up on the pedal.

The entire time that the pedal is in motion the clutch plate is engaging or disengaging. It is much harder on the clutch when engaging (letting up).

I always let the car in front of me get about 5 car lengths ahead of me before I even move. Start out like you normally would with less accelerator. Depress the clutch as you approach traffic. The ultimate solution would be to always keep the car in motion. In some stop and go conditons or slow moving traffic this is possible.

The only thing that happens in these situations that I find frstrating is that you get to be the victim of a lot of lane jumpers. I don't care cause I'm being nice to my car.