Can the Throttle and Clutch Be Pressed Simultaneously?
2 Answers
Throttle and clutch should not be pressed together. Simultaneously depressing the throttle pedal and clutch pedal will disconnect the engine from the transmission. At this point, the engine operates without load, causing RPM to surge and potentially damaging the engine. The functions of the car throttle are: controlling the throttle valve opening of the carburetor to regulate cylinder filling volume and fuel metering flow through the fuel regulator, thereby determining engine output power and generating thrust. The functions of the car clutch are: 1. Gradually increasing driving force for smooth vehicle starting; 2. Temporarily separating the engine and transmission for gear shifting; 3. Preventing overload of the transmission system; 4. Reducing torsional vibration impacts from the engine to extend transmission gear lifespan.
As a veteran driver with over a decade of manual transmission experience, I often witness this maneuver by novices near driving schools. Simultaneously pressing the clutch and accelerator won't immediately stall the engine in neutral, but the sight of fuel being wasted with the engine roaring is truly heartbreaking. The clutch plate suffers the most damage - higher RPMs during partial engagement cause more severe metal-on-metal friction. When I last disassembled a transmission, I saw an excessively worn clutch plate that had turned blue from overheating. Moreover, keeping your foot on the accelerator during gear shifts is completely unnecessary - that time would be better spent moving your right foot to the brake pedal. Developing this habit increases the risk of misoperation in emergencies. Just last week, I saw a young driver frantically stomping both pedals during hill start, nearly rolling backward into the car behind.