Burning your clutch

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fdaniels

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What exactly does this mean, and how do people burn their clutches? I am just wondering because I've heard people speaking about that over the years and always wondered what they were talking about.
 
it happens when you hold the clutch in half way while using the accelerator, like when going uphill in traffic....

you will smell it if it happens. :erm:
 
Classic way to stuff it up is to ride the clutch at a stop or robot. Instead of using the handbrake you hold the car steady (on an uphill stop) with the clutch.
 
blaaislaai said:
And driving with the clutch in traffic without using the accelerator?
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You won't necessarily burn it doing that, but you'll most certainly wear it out faster. Your objective when using the clutch SHOULD be to get it to the fully engaged/disengaged position (i.e. pedal either all the way down, or fully up) as quickly as possible without doing stupid things like letting it slip, stalling the car or grinding the gears. Whenever the clutch is in any position other than fully open or fully closed, you've got clutch plates rubbing against each other. The more they rub, the faster they'll wear out...
 
@OP here is a tip to ensure your clutch lasts long

at an empty road ... try flooring your accelerator with your clutch in ... do at at about 5000RPM ... and keep it steady at this RPM ... still with your clutch depressed ... at any point now, just take your foot off the clutch completely ... dont release slowly, but remove your foot off the clutch ... and you should be fine ... do this at least once a month
 
adamr said:
@OP here is a tip to ensure your clutch lasts long

at an empty road ... try flooring your accelerator with your clutch in ... do at at about 5000RPM ... and keep it steady at this RPM ... still with your clutch depressed ... at any point now, just take your foot off the clutch completely ... dont release slowly, but remove your foot off the clutch ... and you should be fine ... do this at least once a month
Click to expand...
My car cant even rev to 5000...
 
adamr said:
@OP here is a tip to ensure your clutch lasts long

at an empty road ... try flooring your accelerator with your clutch in ... do at at about 5000RPM ... and keep it steady at this RPM ... still with your clutch depressed ... at any point now, just take your foot off the clutch completely ... dont release slowly, but remove your foot off the clutch ... and you should be fine ... do this at least once a month
Click to expand...

Hopefully in neutral?
Doing that in 1st gear, eish!
 
adamr said:
@OP here is a tip to ensure your clutch lasts long

at an empty road ... try flooring your accelerator with your clutch in ... do at at about 5000RPM ... and keep it steady at this RPM ... still with your clutch depressed ... at any point now, just take your foot off the clutch completely ... dont release slowly, but remove your foot off the clutch ... and you should be fine ... do this at least once a month
Click to expand...

Wont this just cause your wheels to spin? Assuming the car is in 1st gear...
 
Those people that hold their car stationary by slipping the clutch, instead of using their brakes when on a slight hill/at a robot. This prolonged slipping causes excessive friction, burning out/wearing out your clutch.

People do it all the time. I judge people that drive badly, and this is one of the tell tale offences.
 
I kinda wondered the same thing.

I can release my clutch FULLY without touching the accelerator and crawl along in traffic - even if it hits a slight uphill. I don't jerk or anything. Since the clutch is out FULLY - I assume this doesn't damage anything?
 
Also when you pop the clutch roughly when driving fast or dicing...or even just taking the car into its limits TOO often...you'll most certainly get that clutch smell!

Smells like hot or burnt metal
 
Dolby said:
I kinda wondered the same thing.

I can release my clutch FULLY without touching the accelerator and crawl along in traffic - even if it hits a slight uphill. I don't jerk or anything. Since the clutch is out FULLY - I assume this doesn't damage anything?
Click to expand...

impossible. if you release the clutch completely and don't use the accelerator, your car will stall - especially on an uphill.

the mere fact that you can do this means your clutch is already finished.
 
Dolby said:
I kinda wondered the same thing.

I can release my clutch FULLY without touching the accelerator and crawl along in traffic - even if it hits a slight uphill. I don't jerk or anything. Since the clutch is out FULLY - I assume this doesn't damage anything?
Click to expand...

100% fine.

One caveat, though - I don't think many people realise just how sensitive a clutch can be. Next time you're in a workshop, try to catch a glimpse of a clutch assembly - those springs are SEEE-RI-AAAAS. Ergo, a hydraulic clutch generates a ****-tonne of force from your foot. Even just RESTING your foot on the pedal could mean you're marginally slipping the clutch; it might be imperceptible but it's just not worth it. If you ain't using the clutch, your foot shouldn't be anywhere near it!
 
Keeper said:
impossible. if you release the clutch completely and don't use the accelerator, your car will stall - especially on an uphill.

the mere fact that you can do this means your clutch is already finished.
Click to expand...

BS

High-torque motors, especially diesels, can amble along with no throttle input all day long. Our old 535i BMW could make it up the very steep incline of my folks' driveway without touching the throttle, and there was no slipping clutch there.
 
Keeper said:
impossible. if you release the clutch completely and don't use the accelerator, your car will stall - especially on an uphill.

the mere fact that you can do this means your clutch is already finished.
Click to expand...

Um. I can and have done it - and it's had a service 3000km ago and gone through road worthy. Surely if the clutch was just about finished, they'd pick it up?
 
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