The clutch is constantly subject to friction, so it’s no surprise that it eventually wears out. You might find that your clutch lasts 10,000 miles before it needs a new one, or you could go 150,000 miles before it fails. Exactly how long your car can go without needing a clutch replacement depends entirely on how you drive.
If you need to replace the clutch at some point, the life of the clutch may not seem important; but when a replacement clutch can cost hundreds of pounds, you might want to think carefully about how you treat it. Here are some suggestions on how to change your driving style to protect your clutch and your money.
- Don’t foot-clutch
‘Foot-clutch’ is a term often used by driving instructors, but it’s not always clear what it means and how it can harm your car. ‘Foot-clutch’ simply refers to the action of partially depressing the clutch pedal. This pushes the pressure plate against the clutch disc, but doesn’t fully engage it, so it creates more friction and wears out the clutch faster. The best way to avoid this is to keep your foot away from the clutch unless you actually want to change gear. Don’t turn or slow down for traffic lights with the clutch half-depressed. - Stay in Neutral When Parking
When waiting at a traffic light or intersection, depressing the clutch, shifting into first gear, and applying the brakes can put unnecessary stress on the clutch. If you’re going to be parked for a while, it’s best to shift into neutral and use the handbrake to hold the car still. - Use the Handbrake When Parking
Parking the car in gear can put stress on the clutch, even if the engine is off. If possible, use the handbrake to immobilize the car when parking, rather than holding the vehicle in gear. This reduces the stress on the clutch plate when you’re not driving. - Shift Quickly
Don’t procrastinate when shifting gears. This is a common problem for new drivers when they first learn to drive a manual transmission car. Shifting gears doesn’t take long, and the longer you hold the clutch pedal down, the more stress the clutch will experience with each shift. It may only take a few seconds, but think about the number of times you shift gears in an average trip and you’ll see how quickly shifting time can add up over time. - Shift Decisively
Don’t shift gears more often than necessary. If you can see far ahead, try to think ahead to the obstacles you’ll encounter so you can try to maintain a constant speed instead of changing gears every few minutes. Remember that many of the things you do to reduce the amount of times you use the clutch will ultimately put more stress on your brakes. A piece of advice often given is to not use the transmission to slow down in order to extend the life of your clutch. Shifting down means you use the clutch more often, but not doing so puts more stress on your brakes, causing them to wear out faster. It’s a delicate balance.
