I often take the car out of gear, put it in neutral and then push the brake...is this bad? I do it because i don't want to wear out my clutch.
2006-08-14 03:58:36 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
What i mean is for example i'll be going 35 mph approaching a stoplight and i will take it out of gear and release the clutch and apply the brake til the stoplight.
2006-08-14 04:02:50 · update #1
as if i were braking with an automatic
2006-08-14 04:07:32 · update #2
Good question!
You are not hurting anything the way you are doing it now. But you might be losing some of the ability of the car to slow itself down when you release the gas.
When you let off the gas pedal, the engine will help to slow the car down a bit and save wear on the brakes. If you are approaching a stop light that is at the bottom of a hill the engine will be a big help in slowing the car. Just be sure you push the clutch in if the car starts to rumble or shudder, because that indicates the engine is turning too slow.
If your car has a 5 speed transmission you should not leave it in that high gear as you are slowing down, the engine was not made to turn that slow.
Since you are worried about the clutch, just be certain you let it up smooth and steady, don' t leave your foot on the clutch pedal because that can cause it to slip and wear out prematurely. Learn to match the gas pedal with the speed of the car so that when you shift to the next gear the car doesn't jerk slower or faster, smooth is the best to prevent wear.
Hope that helps.
Happy motoring.
2006-08-14 04:31:53 · answer #1 · answered by Harley Charley 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What you are doing by taking the transmission out of gear is called,"free wheeling." It actually gives you less control of the vehicle.
The engine will help you slow down. When you take your foot off the accelerator, the car will slow down more than if you put it in neutral. The speed of the engine determines the speed of the car only if it is in gear.
It will not "hurt" your car by putting it in neutral but it will cause the brakes to wear out faster. You are not letting the engine slow you down the speed of the car. That is why you are supposed to leave it in gear until you get close to stopping, then depress the clutch. You then use the engine and then the brake to slow down the speed of the car.
2006-08-14 11:13:08 · answer #2 · answered by tichur 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It might save a bit of wear and tear on the clutch, but not enough to warrant the control of the car you lose by not using the gears to slow down from a higher speed. Plus, you're wearing your brakes out faster that way.
2006-08-14 11:05:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I do the same thing, once you take the car out of gear, you do not need to use the clutch until you engage first gear again. Do not use the clutch at all once you have put the car in neutral.
2006-08-14 11:03:05 · answer #4 · answered by Heatmizer 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If you are coming to a stop, shift into neutral and engage the clutch. If you are slowing for a turn shift into the proper gear and engage the clutch BEFORE the turn. Having the clutch fully engaged will not put wear on it, but disengaging the clutch will put slow wear on the throwout bearing.
2006-08-14 11:05:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
dear isaac j87, which habbit ur doing thts wrong bcause whn u want stop speedy car in emrgncy and u do 1st nutrl thn brake that time clutch is away from engine gear box which attached to gear tht time engine became very free and ur car get more speed that speed is more than u think to stop in emergncy and u brake tht time ur car some how trvl some distance after u braked and u can do any accident but if u brake whn ur gear is engaged tht time the speed of engine control by this clutch by engageing with gear and tht time u brake tht speedy car its stop in few second without any skeed. pls chnge ur habbit thats increase ur life bcoz life is more precious thn that clutch. thnx.
2006-08-14 11:16:03 · answer #6 · answered by vinay bhatkar 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No,you don have to do that when your are driving just brake like and Automatic Transmission. What you R doing is good to do in bumper to bumper traffic, your clutch will last longer, also when you are in a full stop.My BMW clutch works like new is a 3 year old car. i hope this will help you.
2006-08-14 11:30:12 · answer #7 · answered by Bratso 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
clutch has to be worn out...
cmon man...
brake applied directly gives jerks while clutch and brake makes the car stop smoothly!
2006-08-14 11:05:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
as long as the car isn't in gear, you will not hurt it
2006-08-14 11:02:44 · answer #9 · answered by Comfortably Numb™ 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I see what you mean. Yeah I do the same thing. I thought most people did...
2006-08-14 11:03:11 · answer #10 · answered by Mike Hunt 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋