Can the Clutch Be Fully Released?
4 Answers
It can be released. Below are the relevant details: 1. When starting, if you don't press the accelerator and only release the clutch to start, the car will start very slowly. The engine's idle torque is low, and such low RPM is not conducive to the car's acceleration. Therefore, the best advice is to practice coordinating the clutch and accelerator properly—press the accelerator while releasing the clutch. 2. When decelerating, you should first press the brake until the engine RPM is relatively low before disengaging the clutch. 3. When downshifting, although the clutch can be released all at once, it can damage the transmission. This is because the engine RPM will suddenly increase during downshifting. If the clutch is released too quickly, the engine RPM will change drastically, resulting in a significant impact. Therefore, when downshifting, it's best to release the clutch slowly, allowing the engine RPM to gradually rise to a higher level.
As a regular car owner who often drives manual transmission vehicles, I know the clutch should fully disengage when pressed and reconnect the engine drive when released. But recently, my car's clutch feels a bit sticky—it becomes stiff when fully released. This could be due to worn clutch plates or a dry clutch cable. Prolonged driving in a half-clutch state tends to accelerate this wear. My usual approach is to first check if the floor mat is obstructing the pedal, then follow the mechanic's advice for regular maintenance, such as applying lubricant or cleaning the system. If there's shuddering or sluggish acceleration, it's best not to wait until highway speeds become problematic—just head to the repair shop for part replacements. Safety first—I wouldn’t want to stall at an intersection.
Back when I was a driving school student, I often wondered if the clutch could really be fully released. Now, after driving for several years, I understand that fully releasing the clutch is perfectly fine—it's just that beginners are often too nervous to let go quickly. If you feel the pedal rebounds slowly or gets stuck midway, it's likely due to a shifted floor mat blocking it or dust in the system. My advice is to practice starting maneuvers more, pressing and releasing gently without hesitation, and keeping the half-clutch engaged for no more than a few seconds to avoid overheating and damaging the gears. Regularly clean the clutch pump and minimize driving on rough terrain to reduce vibrations—this trick has helped my car last an extra 100,000 kilometers.
A common issue when repairing cars is the clutch not disengaging properly, which is usually caused by aging cables, blocked cylinders, or uneven friction plates. A properly functioning clutch should fully separate and engage. If there's still a sense of gap after releasing the pedal, it might be due to internal wear or improper operation. I would suggest the owner first check if gear shifting is smooth before rushing into disassembly and repair. Consulting the manual for standard procedures and keeping the system clean can extend its lifespan by several years.
