Will the Engine Stall if You Press the Brake Before the Clutch?
1 Answers
Pressing the brake before the clutch will not cause the engine to stall. Pressing the brake first is the most standard and effective way to decelerate a manual transmission vehicle. This is because pressing the clutch first would eliminate engine braking, reducing braking efficiency. As for stalling, the engine will not stall as long as the vehicle hasn't come to a complete stop. Here are several scenarios regarding pressing the brake or clutch first: 1. Stopping the Vehicle When stopping, you should first press the brake to reduce the speed (avoid sudden braking), then press the clutch. If the speed is already low, around 15-20 km/h, you can press the clutch first and then use the brake to bring the car to a complete stop before slowly releasing the clutch. 2. Emergency Braking Simultaneously pressing the clutch and brake is only recommended during emergency braking. The purpose of this is to prevent misoperation. In an emergency, there's a high chance of mistakenly pressing the wrong pedal. If you press both the brake and clutch simultaneously, even if you accidentally press the accelerator, it won't affect the braking performance. Additionally, not pressing the clutch might cause the engine's drag torque to interfere with the ABS system's normal operation. In severe cases, it could also affect overall control and the effectiveness of emergency maneuvers, especially on slippery roads, making it more dangerous. 3. High-Speed Emergency Braking At high speeds, you should firmly grip the steering wheel with both hands, observe the road ahead, and quickly and decisively press the brake pedal with your right foot, possibly all the way to the floor. Avoid rushing to press the clutch because, before the vehicle slows down sufficiently, the engine also provides some deceleration. Pressing the clutch too early and putting the car in neutral could leave the vehicle in an uncontrolled state, making it difficult to perform corrective actions like steering. Only when the speed drops to near stalling speed should you press the clutch.