Should the Clutch Be Fully Depressed When Shifting Gears?

[SanAva]

When shifting gears, it is not always necessary to depress the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. The engagement travel of the clutch and transmission gears varies from car to car—some have longer travel, while others have shorter. As long as the clutch is depressed enough to disengage the transmission gears, you can shift gears. However, the clutch must be depressed every time you shift. Below are some key points about fully depressing the clutch when shifting: 1. Principle: Fully depressing the clutch when shifting completely disengages the engine from the transmission gears, allowing the gear lever to change the gear set before re-engaging. Since the gear sets before and after shifting are different, there is a speed difference between the gear sets to be engaged after shifting, which is synchronized by the synchronizer. 2. Consequences: If the clutch is not fully depressed during the shifting process, there will be a significant speed difference between the shifting gear set and the transmission gear set, making smooth engagement difficult. In mild cases, this can accelerate wear, and in severe cases, it can cause gear grinding, leading to transmission damage.