What is the correct method for wet dual-clutch at a red light?
2 Answers
When waiting at a red light with a wet dual-clutch transmission, you can keep the gear in D and hold the brake, or shift to N. Some cars have an autohold function, allowing you to stay in D without pressing the brake. Here are some precautions for using a wet dual-clutch transmission: 1. Avoid heavy acceleration in traffic jams: When driving a car with a dual-clutch transmission, if you encounter a traffic jam or need to stop at a traffic light, try to avoid heavy acceleration, as this can cause frequent gear shifts, leading to jerky movements and rapid transmission overheating, which may further damage it. 2. Press the brake firmly or shift to N when temporarily stopped: When temporarily stopped, press the brake pedal more firmly. If the waiting time is long, you can directly shift to N. If your foot slips off the brake, it may cause the transmission to remain in a semi-engaged state.
I'm an ordinary driver with a wet dual-clutch transmission car, and I need to pay attention to the operation method when waiting at a red light to avoid damaging the transmission. For short red lights, like within ten seconds, I usually keep it in D gear and firmly press the brake—it's convenient and safe. But for longer red lights, say over thirty seconds, I decisively shift to neutral and pull the handbrake to prevent the clutch from being partially engaged and overheating. The dual-clutch system, submerged in oil, has decent cooling, but prolonged partial engagement can raise oil temperature and wear internal components. Over time, this might cause the car to shake or increase fuel consumption. My experience is to make it a habit: shift to neutral in advance for long red lights to reduce future repair hassles. Last time I didn’t pay attention, and the car jerked when starting—later, the mechanic reminded me to be more careful. These small daily driving habits really matter; don’t slack off. In short: press the brake for short waits, shift to neutral and pull the handbrake for waits over half a minute—it protects the car and saves a bit of fuel.
