kevsrs

My granda (he's 86) says it helps protect the engine etc. if you press the clutch in as you're starting the car?????

Now he's been driving cars for longer than you or me so is he right or is he going senile??

RSrussell

old giffers only do it because 9 times out of 10 the piss stinking senile twats leave it in gear in the first place

Physio

Micky

Youre grandad is half correct!!!!!!!!!!!!!By depressing the clutch you take the drag from the gearbox off the starter motor,which in turn means the starter motor will last longer.I always press the clutch in with the gearbox in neutral.Nice of RSrussell to refer to youre grandad in such a lovely tone .Regards Micky

kevsrs

I'll tell him you called him that

kevsrs

Yes i thought that myself

kevsrs

Anymore technical opinions on this??

Billabong

Yep, I do (and what of it Rickaaaay ) it's called mechanical sympathy

Other things included:

NOT braking hard to a standstill with pedal still down when you've stopped, NOT resting my hand on the gearshift whilst driving along, NOT riding the clutch, gently warming the car up (and down again at the end of journey) - all of which are much nicer to the components involved and result in improved life of the components

kevsrs

Exaxctly the same, i treat my car like it's the king

Ginge !

yeah but bil wheres the fun in all that

oh some jap cars ya gotta dipo the clutch to start the car ( fooking hundyai shite crap)

i hadto wait 45 mins for me mate to answer his phone when i borrowed his car when i stopped to get petrol the fooker wouldnt start

neilm

The auld fella is cock on...

Always dip the clutch when starting the car...



And Billabong you forgot... dont rev the car more than 3500 rpm, always wear a flat cap when driving and dont eat yellow snow...

All valuable tips I think you'll agree

Billabong

LOL, I'm not quite there yet but I've yet to see you wearing a flat cap

plynchy

Agree with the clutch thing,all the owners manuals tell you the same.
I don't always lift my foot off the brakes before i've stopped tho,you tend to hit things

RSrussell

fpmsl

old codgers, loads of them

Bill, why not do one better, leave the car in the garage and get a fookin bus!

kevsrs

Come on russell the old oys are much wiser, you must listen!!!

RSrussell

ok, but i'll discard any advice on dress sense and car preference

kevsrs

Well we'll put that to one side cos my grandpa would have you in a second!! How do you beat them?? Seriously??

M Brian

that explains alot of things!!


I always do that when starting the car, for the reasons listed above its spot on.

John Laverick

Yep, I alwyas do this especially if the cars been stood for a while. If is a cold day you can hear the engine not change / revs dip as you let the clutch back up

AlexF

Hmmm

As you press the clutch in all the force from the clutch springs is taken by the thrust washer that control the end float of your crankshaft. So basically you a ramming a lump of steel into some little bearings and generally adding lots of extra friction to the system.

The clutch also does not fully disengage, it simple reduces most of the drive to the gearbox to allow you to change gear but releaseing enough spring pressure from the clutch cover so the driven plate (friction plate) can spin.

So I'm not sure your grandad's theory is right!


Alex

AndyRST

i always press the clutch down when starting a car, to make double sure that its not in gear, and even if it was in gear it wont jump through a wall/fence/garage when you turn the key.

jas

i always press the clutch as once i started a car in gear at work and nearly went through a fence as it was right up against it.
Not sure if its good or bad thing kinda a habit now

Mr C

iTrader: (2)

Yeah i dip the clutch on start up, eases the load as per the manual instructions, anything to help the old girl out

Moose 130

On my Mustang I have to press the clutch or it won't start.

Bloody safety switch!!!

Kevsrs- I see you've been to Munich! it threw me a bit when I saw that footy pitch.

Brigsy

i always press the clutch down on start up, force of habit i guess, prevents embarassing kangaroo moments

Darrone

Bill - What the fuck is wrong with leaving your hand on the gear stick when driving a long??????

I always do it ... just in case I need to drop a cog very quickly!

adamS2RST

I press it down also - Rikki

stevo

very weird i didnt realise i actually put my foot on the clutch each time i start my car.
only reason i do incase ive left it in gear

A few tips i do so helps the car last longer.

dont sit in traffic with foot on brake as this wears the bulb out quicker. use hand brake when stationary but dont pull it to hard.

when braking at lights i take it out of gear and coast till i stop, to save wear and tear on gears and clutch.

Proper pikey eh

M2YLE

I alway leave my car in gear just incase the handbrake fails and my nice shinny car goes rolling down a hill and into a tree, therefore i alway press the clutch when im starting.

Guessing its not good to leave your car in gear?

AndyRST

You forgot to hold to the handbrake buttom in when pulling it up, save wear on the ratchet mech of the handbrake.

Mario, from experiance i seen a car roll away with a handbrake on! We think that because it had rear discs and they were hot when handbrake was applied, as they cooled down they contract, and it must have been enought for it to roll away!!!

GAZ W

Is this dipping the clutch lark also effective when going along when you want to change gear?? Just wondered because when i try to change gear i allways seem to get a load of crunching noises

BigNige

Gaz

That normally means your box is fugged well the syncos at least

Nige

Lee Reynolds

Well i dont, cos i will never own a car long enough to ever notice the affects it has had on it NOT dipping the clutch

mattbibs

i always put mine in reverse before turning the engine on - to avoid that classic ford crunch into reverse!

have to confess to driving with my hand on the gear stick tho!