Should You Press the Accelerator While Releasing the Clutch?
3 Answers
When starting a manual transmission car, it is necessary to release the clutch while pressing the accelerator, which is called clutch-accelerator coordination. Here is an introduction to the related content for starting: 1. Correct Coordination: Proper clutch-accelerator coordination should be adjusted according to the vehicle speed. During the starting phase, place the gear in neutral, start the engine, press the clutch pedal, shift the gear lever into first gear, slowly release the clutch, and coordinate with the accelerator pedal to ensure a smooth start. 2. Precautions: The clutch pedal must be fully depressed when pressing it. During the process of slowly releasing the clutch pedal, feel the vehicle's vibration and movement tendency. When the vehicle shows slight vibration and a tendency to move, gently apply the accelerator, continue to slowly release the clutch pedal until it is completely released, ensuring a smooth start. Clutch-accelerator coordination is equally important when shifting gears while the vehicle is in motion. As the vehicle speed increases, the process of clutch-accelerator coordination gradually shortens, meaning the speed of releasing the clutch pedal should be accelerated.
As a veteran driver with over 20 years of manual transmission experience, the clutch release and throttle application must be adjusted to different situations. For flat ground starts, you should first gently lift the clutch to the semi-engagement point, wait until the car's front end slightly rises, then gradually press the throttle while slowly releasing the clutch. At this point, it's like telling the car 'let's go'—it moves smoothly without jerking or stalling. Hill starts are different; you need to apply throttle in advance, lift the clutch to semi-engagement, and then release the handbrake—otherwise, the car might roll back, which can be terrifying. During normal gear shifts, you must coordinate the clutch and throttle: press the clutch while easing off the throttle, shift gears, then lift the clutch to the engagement point and apply throttle again. If done smoothly, there's no jerkiness. With practice, you'll master it—just memorize the clutch's travel and pedal feel.
From a mechanical principle perspective, the clutch serves as a rigid connection buffer. In disengaged state when pressing the accelerator, the engine idles without driving the wheels; when fully engaged, pressing the accelerator directly drives them. But the semi-engaged state is most delicate - the flywheel and clutch disc press against each other to transmit power through friction. Applying throttle here controls torque transmission: insufficient throttle strains the engine causing stall, while excessive throttle makes the clutch disc slip, spin uselessly and burn. For level starts, the most scientific approach is lifting the clutch pedal to the engagement point (typically the first 1/3 of total travel) before adding throttle. Slopes require greater driving torque to maintain balance, necessitating earlier throttle application. What veteran drivers call 'heel-and-toe' is simply using the right foot to simultaneously operate accelerator and brake while the left foot modulates clutch engagement depth.
