How to Use the Clutch Correctly?
4 Answers
The correct method of using the clutch is as follows: 1. First, maintain the correct posture. The left foot should step on the clutch pedal with the heel touching the floorboard and not suspended. Adjust the seat position so that when the clutch is fully depressed, the leg still has a slight bend. This helps prevent the clutch from not being fully depressed or remaining in a semi-engaged state for extended periods. 2. During driving, the clutch is closely connected to the engine and should not slip. 3. Except for starting the car, shifting gears, and low-speed braking, there is no need to depress the clutch pedal at other times. Some drivers may have the bad habit of resting their foot on the clutch pedal while driving. Prolonged placement of the foot on the clutch pedal can lead to clutch slippage, burning of the clutch disc, and in severe cases, damage to the clutch pressure plate and flywheel surface, resulting in clutch slippage and other malfunctions.
When I was learning to drive, I was most afraid of the clutch. Later, an experienced driver taught me a trick: keep your left heel on the ground and press the clutch pedal with the ball of your foot. When starting, slowly release the clutch until you feel the car slightly vibrate (this is the half-engagement point), then hold it there, gently give some gas, and gradually release the clutch completely. When shifting gears, you must press the clutch all the way down before moving the gear lever—don’t try to save time by only pressing it halfway. In stop-and-go traffic, avoid riding the clutch; instead, try to stay in first gear and idle along. Prolonged half-clutch use can cause the clutch plate to overheat and produce a burning smell. Never coast downhill with the clutch pressed—it’s especially damaging to the release bearing. The clutch is truly the soul of driving a manual transmission car.
I've been driving trucks for over a decade, and if you don't press the clutch properly, the gearshift will make a loud clunking sound. The correct method is to quickly press it all the way down when shifting gears, but when starting off, releasing the clutch should be done in three stages: First, quickly lift to the halfway point where the clutch engages, and hold it steady once the vehicle shows signs of moving forward; second, gently lift while giving it some gas, feeling the power connect; third, when fully releasing, immediately move your left foot off the pedal. For red lights lasting over 15 seconds, just shift to neutral and pull the handbrake—don’t foolishly keep the clutch pressed. If the clutch slips (RPMs surge but the vehicle doesn’t move), get it fixed immediately. Forcing it could ruin the pressure plate, and that’s a costly mistake.
The driving instructor always yells 'lift the clutch slowly,' but as soon as I release it, the car stalls. Later, I found that if I couldn't find the semi-engagement point accurately, I could watch the tachometer: shift into first gear and lift the clutch—when the needle suddenly drops by about 500 RPM, immediately add throttle to stabilize it. This method works especially well for beginners. When pressing the clutch, press it all the way down; shifting gears only requires holding it for 1 second. For hill starts, using the handbrake is the most stable method: pull the handbrake - lift to semi-engagement - the front of the car rises - add throttle and release the handbrake. Remember, the clutch is not a footrest!
