i know its bad if you only put the clutch pedal down partiallly or if you hit the gas w/ the clutch in but is it bad to go down hill or stretches of straight road with your clutch in (clutch pedal down w/ no gas)?

 

I dont see why it would hurt anything, i have been doing it recently to save gas

 

Thats called riding the clutch and it puts alot of stress on the clutch (actually whenever you push the peddle down it puts stress on the clutch).

A downside to driving downhill or on a long stretch with the clutch in is that you dont have full control of the car anymore and its not safe. Its the same as if your driving in nutural, which isnt good if your going over 40mph.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Luserkid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thats called riding the clutch and it puts alot of stress on the clutch (actually whenever you push the peddle down it puts stress on the clutch).

A downside to driving downhill or on a long stretch with the clutch in is that you dont have full control of the car anymore and its not safe. Its the same as if your driving in nutural, which isnt good if your going over 40mph. </TD></TR></TABLE>

why isnt it good to cruz in nutral i alwasy thow it in nutral when i see a red light commin up er like if i realize im going to fast and just want to gradualy slow down

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Slow_CvC99 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
why isnt it good to cruz in nutral i alwasy thow it in nutral when i see a red light commin up er like if i realize im going to fast and just want to gradualy slow down</TD></TR></TABLE>

@ speeds of over 40MPH you can starve your gearbox for oil when you leave it in neutral too long.

 

And it's always good to be in gear to avoid potential car accidents.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chowmien &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And it's always good to be in gear to avoid potential car accidents.</TD></TR></TABLE>

ok??????

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chowmien &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And it's always good to be in gear to avoid potential car accidents.</TD></TR></TABLE>

no joke

 

while in gear you can stop better while not in gear

 

Your brakes take a lot of stress when coasting with the clutch out or in neutral.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bmw626 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I dont see why it would hurt anything, i have been doing it recently to save gas </TD></TR></TABLE>

You are actually hurting your gas mileage. If you were to coast down a hill in gear, you will burn no fuel. This is true only if you are not applying the throttle and your rpms are above idle. When you put the clutch in, or put the car in neutral, the rpms drop and the ECU prevents the car from dying by activating the fuel injectors. So, to save maximum fuel, keep the car in gear. Besides, as others have noted, it is really hard on your clutch----and brakes are soooo much cheaper to replace than clutch.


Jon

 

the reason y i usually do this is because sometimes when i let off the gas the car jerks alittle and it was getting annoying...any idea what could cause the jerking? There is a grind in my trans area...where the axle slips into the trans...and i was going to replace the axles and possibly the trans.. would that help the jerking?

 

I think you actually save more gas leaving it in gear. When it's in gear the road turns the engine, when it's in neutral or clutch in, the engine has to idle itself. I noticed this on my wife's old civic hybrid, it was an automatic, but I think the theory carries over.

Edit: Oops, didn't see Johnny's post. Ya, what he said.

Maybe longer springs on the clutch plate would help, but I think you're just gonna have to ease the pedal a little bit more. First gear, theres probably not much you can do, second and up, you should be able to make small enough movements on the throttle to avoid the tugging/bouncing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Cypher0117 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the reason y i usually do this is because sometimes when i let off the gas the car jerks alittle and it was getting annoying...any idea what could cause the jerking? There is a grind in my trans area...where the axle slips into the trans...and i was going to replace the axles and possibly the trans.. would that help the jerking?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The jerking is caused by changing down too early, with your foot off the gas.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by macsmurray &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The jerking is caused by changing down too early, with your foot off the gas.</TD></TR></TABLE>

any way to adjust or fix that?

 

Its also really bad for the throw-out bearing to ride or sit at a light with the clutch in, or even have your foot on the clutch. The bearing isnt meant to spin constantly, only when the clutch pedal is depressed during shifts and such, so with the pedal in is spins extra amounts and gets hot and will wear out sooner than if you dont ride it and leave your foot completely off the pedal.
I also think its dumb to glide in neutral becuase you cant immediately perform any maneuver requiring power.

Also JohnnyWash1, are you saying with no throttle input going downhill at 3,000 rpm letting the engine brake itself I spend less gas than letting it idle at 750rpm? I thought that even with no throttle input the injectors just spit the bare amount of fuel needed, not completely shut off. just wanted some clarification

 

well i learned something, did not know all of this info, i for sure will think twice about these 2 things

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EG_intheworks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Also JohnnyWash1, are you saying with no throttle input going downhill at 3,000 rpm letting the engine brake itself I spend less gas than letting it idle at 750rpm? I thought that even with no throttle input the injectors just spit the bare amount of fuel needed, not completely shut off. just wanted some clarification</TD></TR></TABLE>

From what I have been told, no fuel is being used. However, I also wonder if a very finite amount is being injected into the cylinders. Either way, the fuel used during coasting (engine braking) is far, far less than having the car idle itself.

 

Good to know

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Cypher0117 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">any way to adjust or fix that?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Only way really is to change down slightly later. I tend to keep it in as high a gear as possible, and pressing the clutch at the last moment to prevent stalling (while slowing to a stop). I never change into first while the car is in motion. Pretty elementary stuff really, but it would amaze you the amount of people that don't know that (I'm not saying you're like that BTW )

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JohnnyWash1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">From what I have been told, no fuel is being used. However, I also wonder if a very finite amount is being injected into the cylinders. Either way, the fuel used during coasting (engine braking) is far, far less than having the car idle itself.</TD></TR></TABLE>

In modern cars the ECU is programmed to use NO fuel while it's under "engine braking" ie coasting in gear. But when idling the engine needs fuel to keep it running.

 

but im not changing down at all...just letting my foot off the gas..

and i thought that engine breaking is bad for the engine, (engine breaking being coasting in gear)

 

It's not bad for the engine at all, I can't speak for USA but in UK we are taught that engine braking approaching traffic lights, going downhill etc, is the CORRECT way to drive. Riding the clutch (which is bad) is when you have your foot resting on the clutch pedal ALL the time causing excessive wear on the clutch and release mech.
Your clutch might be on its way out I'd have it checked, but it may just be the gearing on the 'box in your car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by macsmurray &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's not bad for the engine at all, I can't speak for USA but in UK we are taught that engine braking approaching traffic lights, going downhill etc, is the CORRECT way to drive. Riding the clutch (which is bad) is when you have your foot resting on the clutch pedal ALL the time causing excessive wear on the clutch and release mech.
Your clutch might be on its way out I'd have it checked, but it may just be the gearing on the 'box in your car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Exactly. I was taught that engine braking was actually beneficial for the motor in the long run, since it uses the engine in the backwards capacity, which helps even out wear. That could be a stretch, but the logic is there.


Jon