Quote:
Originally Posted by raghunandanj 1. Usage of clutch - I am in the habit of depressing the clutch frequently, in both city and highway driving, be it road humps or attempts
to slow down. Is this a bad practice that is probe to increase in wear and tear ? Please advise.
2. Usage of brakes without depressing the clutch - I have seen many drivers do this. Though I dont think this the way, I am suprised
that a large number of drivers do it this way. I always depress the clutch before braking, however insignificant the situation may be.
So am I missing something here ? Please advise.
3. Down-hill driving in lower gears -Though I have tried this on multiple occasions, I feel the need to brake frequently and depress the clutch for a settled and smooth ride for the passengers. I understand that frequent usage of the brakes on a continuous down-hill stretch heats up the brakes, but is there any way I can minmise the usage of brakes and yet achieve a smooth ride for my co-passengers ? Please advise. |
I'm sure many will chip in, but here's my two cents worth:
When you slow down there is no need to depress the clutch unless you're going to change gears. Only depress the clutch when you get to the speed that warrants shifting down. If anything keeping the engine in gear will help slow down the car a bit more quicker. Same with braking. Unless you brake, i.e. slow down, to the speed where you need to engage a different gear, you should not touch the clutch at all.
Hate to tell you this, but if you drive like this in the Netherlands during your formal driving test you would fail the test, because you would not demonstrate proper "car handling".
Depressing/re-engaging the clutch can unsettle the car. Won't happen so easily on a dry straight road, but in bends, wet roads etc you need all the traction you get. Also, of course it does cause additional wear and tear on the clutch mechanism, no doubt.
So there is no need for it and in addition your driving will become much smoother if you don't use the clutch that often. If you need to slow down a bit, just come of the throttle, don't touch the clutch, brake if you need to and come back on the throttle when you can speed up. One smooth motion, not need to depress the clutch. Only use your right foot. (Unless as stated you slow down so much that you would have to engage a different gear, but even then you don't depress the clutch untill you get near to the speed where you need a different gear.
Going downhill, on a really long stretch, can be very hard on the brakes, so you don't want to use the brakes and that means downshifting to a lower gear untill you are basically rolling down the hill with very little braking effort. On steep hills, that might mean you need to get down to maybe even second gear, first gear on real steep hills. Don't worry about reving the engine. I've noticed that many Indian drivers are very reluctant to rev up their engines. They shift up very quickly when accelerating and like wise they keep the revs very low when slowing down. Nothing wrong with that, and it's certainly good for fuel efficiency. But you don't use the engine braking power much at these low revs
But especially going down hill, lower gears will give better braking and higher revs will increase that even more. So to get some speed going downhill you need to get in low gear and high rev. That will ensure proper speed whilst still maintaining adequeate engine braking.
As long as you don't red line the engine, its fien to use high revs. Be it accelerating or de-celerating. In fact, from an engineering point of view, accelarating with high revs is better for the engine than low revs, but it does reduce fuel efficiency. (But it will go quicker and depending on your car and exhaust system you'll get a great sound.)
With an automatic gear box, going downhill the same applies, get it out of drive and get it in a lower gear at speed that requires little or no braking.
Safe drivings and give that left foot of yours a bit of a rest!
Jeroen