Should You Depress the Clutch When Turning a Car?
2 Answers
When turning a car, you should not depress the clutch. Pressing the clutch is equivalent to putting the vehicle in neutral, causing it to lose engine braking force, which can endanger driving safety. The functions of the clutch are: 1. Gradually increasing the driving force of the car to allow for a smooth start; 2. Temporarily separating the engine and transmission for gear shifting; 3. Preventing overload of the transmission system; 4. Reducing torsional vibration impact from the engine and extending the lifespan of transmission gears. Severe clutch wear can lead to: 1. Slipping of the car and insufficient power; 2. Difficulty in starting the car and ignition problems; 3. Poor climbing performance and increased fuel consumption. The working principle of the clutch is: 1. When the inner race is fixed, the outer race can rotate freely in the clockwise direction without locking the wedge block; 2. When the outer race rotates counterclockwise, the wedge block locks, preventing the outer race from rotating.
I remember when I was young, I used to habitually press the clutch when turning, thinking it would make the car smoother. However, I later realized it actually caused the car to coast or even stall, almost leading to accidents. Now I understand that pressing the clutch disconnects the engine from the wheels, completely cutting off power during the turn and making steering feel sluggish—especially dangerous on slippery roads or sharp curves. The correct method is to slow down before the turn and shift into an appropriate gear, such as second gear, keeping the clutch fully engaged and using the throttle to maintain a steady speed through the turn. This not only ensures safer and smoother handling but also protects the engine and transmission. After years of driving, I’ve learned this lesson: the clutch should only be pressed when shifting gears. Unless a significant speed change requires a gear shift during a turn, both feet should stay away from the clutch pedal. Adopting this habit has made my driving more confident and reliable, avoiding unnecessary maintenance issues.
