stop-start driving tips?

M cebee

are there any useful tips for stop-start driving?
is it bad for the clutch to hold it down in 1st gear while stopped?
-this was being discussed on learning to drive forum and seemed to be recommended for traffic lights at front of queue?

dgt

M cebee wrote: »

are there any useful tips for stop-start driving?
is it bad for the clutch to hold it down in 1st gear while stopped?
-this was being discussed on learning to drive forum and seemed to be recommended for traffic lights at front of queue?

Very. Don't be at this in traffic

corglass

dgt wrote: »

Very. Don't be at this in traffic

How is this very bad for the clutch if it's fully depressed?

I mean there are driver risks of jumping forward and possibly (very limited) risk of early wear out of the pressure plate springs. But clutch damage? Don't think so.

Cookie_Monster

M cebee wrote: »

are there any useful tips for stop-start driving?

buy an auto

dgt

corglass wrote: »

How is this very bad for the clutch if it's fully depressed?

I mean there are driver risks of jumping forward and possibly (very limited) risk of early wear out of the pressure plate springs. But clutch damage? Don't think so.

Your wearing out the fingers on the pressure plate.
The release bearing is under much more pressure and wears faster.
Your leg gets tired; there is a danger of slipping off and ramming the car infront

If people changed their own clutches or understood how they worked, they wouldn't be inclined to hold the car in gear

M cebee

dgt wrote: »

Very. Don't be at this in traffic

dangerous or bad for clutch?
must recheck that lrning to drive thread to see how it panned out

so any driving advise

Triangular

Your handbrake should be up and gears in neutral at lights.

If you're stop/going a lot, it's really just tough luck. The pains of driving a car in a city that was designed for horse and carriage!

corglass

dgt wrote: »

Your wearing out the fingers on the pressure plate.
The release bearing is under much more pressure and wears faster.
Your leg gets tired; there is a danger of slipping off and ramming the car infront

If people changed their own clutches or understood how they worked, they wouldn't be inclined to hold the car in gear

I completely agree with you, I was just being pedantic about the clutch disc itself would have no additional wear or damage.

Bad habit all the same.

dgt

M cebee wrote: »

dangerous or bad for clutch?
must recheck that lrning to drive thread to see how it panned out

so any driving advise

Both

They allow and advise on it in the test and as a driving style. Beyond stupid to be advising people to hold in the clutch. Typical Irish attitude :rolleyes:

My advice, leave plenty of room between you and the car infront. Often, I'll let the car creep in tickover as the people infront launch foreward and jam on 5 car lengths later, only to move when I'm almost behind them again

Pottler

When stopped at traffic lights, wait when it changes to green until it is just about to go red again, then move off. The people behind will love you for giving them a respite from the go-go-go. Loads of people out Swords direction following this tip today, I was soo pleased.

M cebee

dgt wrote: »

weBoth

They allow and advise on it in the test and as a driving style. Beyond stupid to be advising people to hold in the clutch. Typical Irish attitude :rolleyes:

My advice, leave plenty of room between you and the car infront. Often, I'll let the car creep in tickover as the people infront launch foreward and jam on 5 car lengths later, only to move when I'm almost behind them again

i've been changing into neutral lately when stopped-just wondered

what about slowing down in 2nd,braking and changing into neutral to stop- is that ok?

also what about travelling some distance with slowing down( in between) and eventually stopping in 50km zone- what's the best way to work the gear changes?

dgt

M cebee wrote: »

i've been changing into neutral lately when stopped-just wondered

what about slowing down in 2nd,braking and changing into neutral to stop- is that ok?

also what about travelling some distance with slowing down( in between) and eventually stopping in 50km zone- what's the best way to work the gear changes?

I'm not the best poster to be giving advice on how to slow or stop as I float the gears in my car (clutchless) so my style would be anticipation and observation of other road users movements and intentions.

You are meant to slow down through the gears and when fully stopped, handbrake up and into neutral.

Dingle_berry

dgt wrote: »

You are meant to slow down through the gears and when fully stopped, handbrake up and into neutral.

Not that it means anything concrete but my driving instructor told me that this was a hangover from older brake systems that weren't very reliable, no need to do it now in modern cars. I passed my test without slowing down through the gears. But I've come to understand that this wears down the break pads faster.....

I was also thaught that at a red light you always come to a complete stop, into neutral, handbrake on and foot off clutch pedal. A yield sign and stop signs are different, I think.

Mycroft H

If you've time to think about putting the handbrake up and slotting it into neutral then do it.

If I know I'm going to be sitting at the lights for an age I'll occasionally turn off the engine too.

dgt

Dingle_berry wrote: »

Not that it means anything concrete but my driving instructor told me that this was a hangover from older brake systems that weren't very reliable, no need to do it now in modern cars. I passed my test without slowing down through the gears. But I've come to understand that this wears down the break pads faster.....

I was also thaught that at a red light you always come to a complete stop, into neutral, handbrake on and foot off clutch pedal. A yield sign and stop signs are different, I think.

Coasting??! More pressure on the discs, pads, fluid.... Yeah, I'm not normal :P

Yes in regards the red light. And yes, they are different

Mycroft H

dgt wrote: »

I'm not the best poster to be giving advice on how to slow or stop as I float the gears in my car (clutchless) so my style would be anticipation and observation of other road users movements and intentions.

You are meant to slow down through the gears and when fully stopped, handbrake up and into neutral.

My Uncle drove a VW Beetle for 3 years without a clutch. Couldn't imagine doing it these days.

dgt

BX 19 wrote: »

My Uncle drove a VW Beetle for 3 years without a clutch. Couldn't imagine doing it these days.

I use mine to take off, park or reverse. That's about it really...

Bigcheeze

BX 19 wrote: »

If I know I'm going to be sitting at the lights for an age I'll occasionally turn off the engine too.

Ah come on!

According to my car it uses 0.6L of fuel per hour while idling. Basically a euro per hour. You might save 2 cents per day.

Dingle_berry

dgt wrote: »

Coasting??! More pressure on the discs, pads, fluid....

I thought coasting was taking the car out of gear leaving it in neutral or with clutch depressed/engaged while moving? I meant I was told to brake, then switch to first gear or whatever before accelerating again. That going from 5th to 4th to 3rd to 2nd to 1st to neutral wasn't necessary for the test. And it wasn't for my test!

Mycroft H

dgt wrote: »

I use mine to take off, park or reverse. That's about it really...

I can sort of do it. Getting it out of gear is the easy bit but matching the revs and going up or down slightly harder.

Discovered it by accidentally years ago in a Starlet when I pulled it out of 5th without realising (bit of a wtf) and experimented from there. Was easy enough on the defender, quite hard in the clio as the gearbox selector is a bit vauge.

Mycroft H

Bigcheeze wrote: »

Ah come on!

According to my car it uses 0.6L of fuel per hour while idling. Basically a euro per hour. You might save 2 cents per day.

I'm a stingy bollocks. Plus your not spewing out fumes into the atmosphere for no reason.

Cookie_Monster

Dingle_berry wrote: »

I passed my test without slowing down through the gears. But I've come to understand that this wears down the break pads faster.....

of course but they're designed to be worn down and replaced far more often than your clutch or gear box is...

M cebee

dgt wrote: »

I use mine to take off, park or reverse. That's about it really...

what do you mean?

kona

What's the deal with coming to the back of a q, car infront stops, you stop behind, handbrake on. Then the car infront moves again about 3m and stops!? Drives me ****ing mental.

dgt

M cebee wrote: »

what do you mean?

The only times I use the clutch

BX 19 wrote: »

I can sort of do it. Getting it out of gear is the easy bit but matching the revs and going up or down slightly harder.

Discovered it by accidentally years ago in a Starlet when I pulled it out of 5th without realising (bit of a wtf) and experimented from there. Was easy enough on the defender, quite hard in the clio as the gearbox selector is a bit vauge.

The ratios are close enough on the 406 to do it on a regular basis, much more forgiving. Not like the Fiats that require a bit of warming up first!

Bruthal

dgt wrote: »

BX 19 wrote: »

My Uncle drove a VW Beetle for 3 years without a clutch. Couldn't imagine doing it these days.

I use mine to take off, park or reverse. That's about it really...

I did it in a brava a couple of times when the clutch plate fingers failed, leaving the clutch unable to be dis-engaged, which happened a couple of times on it.

Used to start engine in first gear to get moving from stopped.

ironclaw

Driving test expects you to be in 1st, clutch depressed and hand-brake up I believe, unless your not first in the queue at lights. If your not 1st, your in neutral, hand brake up.

At least thats what I was taught. The idea being you can move off quickly on the light change.

As regards coasting, for the test you should never be out of gear unless your just about to stop (i.e. In the motion of pressing the brake) or completely stopped.

Again, thats what I was told.

As regards holding in clutch in 1st at lights, I've never had to change a clutch anywhere outside the usual mileage range for that car and I'd consider all my cars to do high, city mileage. Any additional wear cannot be substantial enough in my eyes to warrant not doing it. Its considerably less wear than those who 'hold' on the clutch on inclines, especially in the multi-stories. That will wear away a clutch in no time!