Does Launch Control Damage the Car?
3 Answers
Launch control is very damaging to the car. Launch control is an operation based on the suffering of the engine and transmission, which affects every moving component from the engine to the tires. Therefore, launch control is extremely harmful to the vehicle. Frequent use of launch control can directly lead to transmission damage. Thus, one must be cautious when using launch control. Most automatic transmission cars simulate launch control through programming, while manual transmission cars rely entirely on the driver's operation to perform launch control. During launch control, the engine is pre-revved to a certain RPM. For automatic transmission cars, the driver needs to simultaneously press the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal, then release the accelerator pedal once the launch control mode is activated. For manual transmission cars, the driver must press the clutch pedal and the accelerator pedal simultaneously while engaging first gear. Once the engine reaches the desired RPM, the clutch pedal should be quickly released.
I specialize in performance cars as a technician, and it's common to see cars towed into the shop after owners attempt launch control. This maneuver puts immense stress on the drivetrain—the clutch plates get violently ground, producing a burnt smell, the differential gears take a hammering, and the transmission fluid temperature spikes past 140°C in seconds. The tires suffer the most, with one launch equivalent to 200 km of normal wear. Tuning shop owners often say ten launches are enough to warrant a clutch replacement, costing over three times more than brake pads. Although manufacturers include launch control modes, warranties explicitly exclude 'track use'—read between the lines. If you ask me, if you're after thrills, hit the track instead—at least engine blowouts are easier to handle with rescue nearby.
As a veteran driving instructor, I have to say that launch control is like forcing a car to do a 100-meter sprint. The engine suddenly gets held at 5000 rpm before being launched, which feels like being pushed off the fifth floor. That 'clunking' transmission noise you hear is essentially the sound of metal gears fighting each other. Especially with front-wheel-drive cars, I've seen drive shafts twisted into pretzels three times already. Replacing a drive shaft starts at 8,000 yuan including labor, enough for two years' worth of 95-octane fuel. If you really want to test acceleration performance, it's better to find a closed road and use Sport mode for a normal start—both safer and less damaging to the car.
