I've been driving for years so should know this but I don't.
I have to park my car with great precision-about 15 mm clearance along rear wheel arch and rubbing strip.(It's a long silly story). I park on dead level ceramic tiles so everything is very controllable. I manoeuvre entirely with the clutch pedal and the engine on tick over.
So all I'm doing is applying engine power to wheels aren't I? That is not slipping the clutch is it?
Clutch slip is where you put 3000 revs on and let the clutch in to get out of an underground carpark with 4 on board--isn't it?
Or have I got it all wrong? TIA
|
|
You will almost certainly be slipping the clutch. It wears the clutch, but is the correct way to perform slow manoeuvres. Every time you use the clutch you will be slipping it.
|
You are slipping the clutch.
The 5000 revs to get out in a hurry is called dropping the clutch (virtually zero slip).
|
I hate to think what's happening to my clutch when I park outside my house. It's a reverse park in a one way street, up the hill. It has to be a very precise manoveure (tiny parking space), and most of the time can be carried out at revs-slightly-above tickover. (Big diesel engine.)
Just how fast am I destroying my clutch, as even idling speed in reverse in my car works out about 6mph, so it's essential to slip it.
|
I've been driving on four wheels for 41 years and in a wide range of cars owned over that period.
I've only had to replace one clutch in that time (every car I've ever personally bought has been second or third hand) and that was during the early years when SWMBO was also driving (that's my excuse!)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
That sounds like slipping the clutch to me, however, there's nothing wrong with slipping it in moderation. It's dropping it as mentioned above that causes the worst damage.
Obviously if you slip it like that for ages you will get an interesting smell...
Blue
|
Everyone slips the clutch,no way of avoiding it ie gear change, the clutch still slips on engagement.though not much,but is still slipping!
--
Steve
|
Yes, you are slipping the clutch, but this is perfectly normal for a manual car whenpositioning a car at low speed. As others have said dropping the clutch at high revs is much more damaging.
Many years ago when learning to drive, my instructor and parents were much more concerned about riding the clutch...resting the left hand foot on the clutch pedal while driving at normal speeds. Much more damaging if done over a long period of time.
StarGazer
|
Yes, you are slipping the clutch, but this is perfectly normal for a manual car whenpositioning a car at low speed. As others have said dropping the clutch at high revs is much more damaging. Many years ago when learning to drive, my instructor and parents were much more concerned about riding the clutch...resting the left hand foot on the clutch pedal while driving at normal speeds. Much more damaging if done over a long period of time. StarGazer
I do not see why,doing so would only take up slack in the cable or linkage to cylinder.Considerable pressure has to be applied before the clutch slips.
I am always amused at traffic lights on hills when I see cars bobbing up and down as they slip the clutch.Presumably they save themselves the 'bother'of a hill start,I wonder how often they need a new clutch.
|
Couple of weeks ago I definately slipped the clutch big time on my Mondeo TDCi 130. And immediately knew it. If anyone knows the road between Grasmere across to Elterwater (the road is "Red Bank) there is a very steep bit. Think it's 25% incline.
I was going up behind another and car coming other way. Had to stop on the "steep bit" and when I went to pull off, no movement at all.... just held on the clutch and then the nasty smell. It would not move. Dropped to second gear and it got going though so assume the torque to much for clutch bearing in mind the steepness and a fully populated car.
Went down another day and boy was it steep looking down it. Will not go up it again!
It's a two year old Mondeo... will clutch just adjust and be okay for a bit? Seems okay.
|
Clutch slipping from driving can take place at any revs, idle or lots of revs. The minimum revs to acomplish the aim is far less wearing. If you can manovour at tickover, then you are being kinder to the mechanical things.
Steep hills are the only time a few revs might be needed, the skill is just enough and no more. Unless rtj70s clutch was way out of adjustement, and even then, then I doubt it's long for this world. 1000 miles or less, perhaps.
|
I'll get it checked. Company car... Thanks for advice. doing at least 250miles on motorway per week. I was shocked it didn't pull away in the first place with low revs. Maybe there's a fault and still in warranty ;-)
The incident got me wondering anyway (not had time to check). It was a 25% incline but have walked it so surely car would not have had a problem. Unless clutch had a problem anyway. Just tried to pull away as you would and it would not move. Clutch must have been spinning.
|
|
You tried to pull away in 3rd gear on a steep hill? Think I've worked out why your clutch is slipping... ;-)
|
No I tried first gear to pull away on that hill and clutch slipped (and smelled lots). Had to drop to second. Never was in third to start with... get real.
Maybe because of the torque of the TDCi on overboost (258lb/ft) it didn't have all that in first due to ECU? Or maybe it did and that caused the problem?
|
|
>> riding the clutch
The advice was sound. It is true that the clutch plates will not suffer wear, but resting the "left hand foot" :-) on the pedal could well eventually fry the release bearing. Although an inexpensive part, the engine and gearbox will still need to be separated to replace it.
|
>>It is true that the clutch plates will not suffer wear
Incorrect,it does,just depends on the amount of slipping.ie the less slipping it does the less wear,release bearings even dry can/will last life of clutch.on most occasions when the release bearing becomes very noisy,is an indication the clutch needs replacing anyway.though exceptions do apply!
--
Steve
|
It's not just the slipping, it's the amount of torque being transmitted at the time. At idling, on the level, very little I'd have thought.
Also clutches have springs inside, cushioning the torque take-up.
At idling revs there might actually be no slipping at all - the plate might engage instantly, and the spring-connected hub a split second later.
|
It's far better to let the clutch slip a bit rather than the aternative which is not to give the engine enough revs, hence sending vibrations through the whole drive train. The latter will do immense damage in the long term.
A clutch is designed to take some wear, it's what it's for.
When did you last need one changed?
|
When did you last need one changed?
1969
--
L\'escargot.
|
>> When did you last need one changed? >> 1969
I should have added......purely because the diaphragm spring plate (whatever the correct name is) suffered a fatigue fracture.
--
L\'escargot.
|
|
|
