Should I Shift to Neutral (N) When Stopping with a 7-Speed Dual-Clutch Transmission?
2 Answers
Dual-clutch transmissions will disengage the clutch when the brake pedal is pressed during a stop, meaning the engine's power cannot be transmitted to the transmission, and the car cannot move forward. Therefore, it is acceptable to either shift to neutral (N) or remain in gear. Below is more relevant information: Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT): A DCT is a relatively simple automatic transmission that essentially adds an extra clutch and a shift control mechanism compared to a manual transmission. One clutch in a DCT controls the odd-numbered gears, while the other controls the even-numbered gears. DCTs offer fast gear shifts and high transmission efficiency. There are two types of DCTs: dry-clutch and wet-clutch variants.
After driving a dual-clutch car for five years, I've learned that whether to shift to N when stopping depends on the duration. In traffic jams, if it's just a brief stop of around ten seconds, keeping it in D with the brake pressed is fine—the clutch wear is minimal anyway. But for those super long red lights, say over two minutes, I'll shift to N and engage the handbrake. This gives my foot a rest and reduces strain on the transmission. Especially during summer traffic jams when the dashboard shows rising transmission temps, shifting to neutral noticeably helps it cool down. Just don't switch too frequently—constantly toggling between D and N might actually damage the shifting mechanism. My car's now over 70,000 km, and the clutch is still holding up strong.
