Should the Clutch Be Depressed When Turning Off the Engine?
2 Answers
Depressing the clutch is not necessary when turning off the engine. Here is more relevant information: 1. The role of depressing the clutch when starting the car: Depressing the clutch when starting the car can reduce the load on the engine and minimize wear on components such as the battery and starter. When the vehicle is in neutral, although the input shaft gear of the engine is not engaged with the power output gear of the transmission, part of the engine's power is still consumed by components such as the clutch driven plate and clutch output shaft after the driven part of the clutch. 2. Depressing the clutch can prevent accidents: Some manual transmission drivers prefer to use the gear to prevent the vehicle from rolling when parking, but often forget that the vehicle is still in gear when starting it. If there is no habit of depressing the clutch when starting the vehicle in such cases, it can often lead to sudden jerking of the vehicle, and in severe cases, traffic accidents may occur.
I remember when I first started learning manual transmission, I was always worried about stalling. The instructor taught me to immediately press the clutch pedal when I felt the engine was about to stall, such as during hill starts or deceleration. This action disengages the engine from the transmission load, preventing a complete stall. Stalling itself may be due to low RPM or improper gear shifting. If the car has already stalled, you must press the clutch to restart; many cars have a safety mechanism that prevents the engine from starting without the clutch being pressed. When driving normally, developing the habit of lightly pressing the clutch can reduce the risk of stalling, especially in traffic jams or low-speed driving. With more practice, this operation becomes instinctive. In terms of safety, sudden stalling can lead to accidents, so pressing the clutch is a fundamental skill to protect yourself and the vehicle. After each stall, don’t panic—first press the clutch, shift to neutral, and then restart.
