Resting Foot on Clutch while Idling

sonirohit · 25th February 2009, 11:15

I've a tendency to rest my foot over clutch pedal while idling like when I am waiting on traffic lights etc...the car is generally in neutral and all this while the clutch pedal is depressed.

Is it a bad practice - yes, Would it have any impacts on the clutch in the long term? - Don't know!!!

Please enlighten

mail4ajo · 25th February 2009, 11:30

Certainly not a good practise.

This was discussed a while ago and feedback was that it puts stress on the pivot pin. I am not sure how the damage happens. So as a rule, I always shift to neutral and leave the clitch alone when at idle unless I am sure I will move in a few seconds.

dushmish · 25th February 2009, 11:42

It is very tempting to keep the clutch pressed while idling on a signal in anticipation of moving quickly off the block. The practice is lethal for your clutch plates. One should shift to neutral and press the brake or pull the hand brake instead.

vasudeva · 25th February 2009, 11:58

Not a good practice at all. The left foot should always be on the floor except when engaging the clutch. It should not be used for anything else (in the car that is). The right foot should be used for accelerator or brake (not both at the same time) and not for anything else. In case you have the habit as noted by you, practice and within a day or two, this will not happen again.

maverick030581 · 25th February 2009, 12:14

sonirohit,thats a very bad habit.It will wear out your clutch plates much faster.If the car is already in neutral at a signal,why would you do this?It doesn't even take a second to slot it into first when the light changes.
PS-I hope you don't also have the habit of riding the clutch in traffic while the car is in motion.That is a very dangerous habit.

esteem_lover · 25th February 2009, 12:26

Increase the clutch play to your requirement, you can surely keep a light foot on it.

Sowmya · 25th February 2009, 12:51

How about when you are driving and City limit where you need to change your Gear very ofter. If you just keep the leg on the cluth/ or just a slight press resting you heel on the floor. Will this situation also your clutch will have bad effect ?

Xehaust · 25th February 2009, 12:56

I think that pressing the clutch while at idle not only leads to shorter clutch life but also that it decreases FE as fuel consumption is increased.

Desperadoxx · 25th February 2009, 13:02

Guys, any tips on how to use the clutch and breaks while going downhill (not so steep, about 25-30 degees) on a very very bad potholed stretch, virtually nonexistant rain-eroded road. I shift to second gear, depress the clutch completely and go slow breaking on and off to keep the car from sudden movements. Tried crawling down in second gear, leaving the clutch free, but feels very rough on the suspension when hitting those unavoidable trenches on the road and tends to stop as the car loses the momentum. I have to drive through 100 meters of this road to negotiate everyday, your suggestions/comments would help my Wagon R live longer

hellstar · 25th February 2009, 13:39

definitley not a good idea if you wanna get max life from your cltuch plates and fly wheel !

hellstar · 25th February 2009, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Increase the clutch play to your requirement, you can surely keep a light foot on it.

this may be a bit off topic here but is the clutch play adjustable when you are having a hyudarulic clutch ?

jango · 25th February 2009, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sowmya

How about when you are driving and City limit where you need to change your Gear very ofter. If you just keep the leg on the cluth/ or just a slight press resting you heel on the floor. Will this situation also your clutch will have bad effect ?

Not really !!. Infact in a city like b'lore it is really difficult to drive around within the city with your foot off the clutch completely !!

as you come to dead stop every few meters.

esteem_lover · 25th February 2009, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellstar

this may be a bit off topic here but is the clutch play adjustable when you are having a hyudarulic clutch ?

Nope & thanks for reminding me too.

kannan666 · 25th February 2009, 14:21

Definitely not a good habit and I'm sure that this habit will have a tendency to creep in while driving in heavy traffic too, like they say, habits die hard !!

Clutch is to be used only to change gears, nothing else....some cars even have a dummy pedal to rest the foot on while not using the clutch

rajshenoy · 25th February 2009, 14:58

Give your feet rest, put the hand brakes and well, relax!!
This applies to Bangalore traffic, Here if you are stuck, you wont move that easily.

25th February 2009, 11:15	#1
sonirohit BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 321 Thanked: 15 Times View My Garage	Resting Foot on Clutch while Idling I've a tendency to rest my foot over clutch pedal while idling like when I am waiting on traffic lights etc...the car is generally in neutral and all this while the clutch pedal is depressed. Is it a bad practice - yes, Would it have any impacts on the clutch in the long term? - Don't know!!! Please enlighten
	() Thanks

25th February 2009, 11:30	#2
mail4ajo Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 1,957 Thanked: 331 Times View My Garage	Certainly not a good practise. This was discussed a while ago and feedback was that it puts stress on the pivot pin. I am not sure how the damage happens. So as a rule, I always shift to neutral and leave the clitch alone when at idle unless I am sure I will move in a few seconds.
	() Thanks

25th February 2009, 11:42	#3
dushmish BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 418 Thanked: 82 Times View My Garage	It is very tempting to keep the clutch pressed while idling on a signal in anticipation of moving quickly off the block. The practice is lethal for your clutch plates. One should shift to neutral and press the brake or pull the hand brake instead.
	() Thanks

25th February 2009, 11:58	#4
vasudeva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 2,221 Thanked: 212 Times	Not a good practice at all. The left foot should always be on the floor except when engaging the clutch. It should not be used for anything else (in the car that is). The right foot should be used for accelerator or brake (not both at the same time) and not for anything else. In case you have the habit as noted by you, practice and within a day or two, this will not happen again.
	() Thanks

25th February 2009, 12:14	#5
maverick030581 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 198 Thanked: 2 Times	sonirohit,thats a very bad habit.It will wear out your clutch plates much faster.If the car is already in neutral at a signal,why would you do this?It doesn't even take a second to slot it into first when the light changes. PS-I hope you don't also have the habit of riding the clutch in traffic while the car is in motion.That is a very dangerous habit.
	() Thanks

25th February 2009, 12:26	#6
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 502 Times View My Garage	Increase the clutch play to your requirement, you can surely keep a light foot on it.
	() Thanks

25th February 2009, 12:51	#7
Sowmya BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 493 Thanked: 19 Times View My Garage	How about when you are driving and City limit where you need to change your Gear very ofter. If you just keep the leg on the cluth/ or just a slight press resting you heel on the floor. Will this situation also your clutch will have bad effect ?
	() Thanks

25th February 2009, 12:56	#8
Xehaust BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 846 Thanked: 81 Times View My Garage	I think that pressing the clutch while at idle not only leads to shorter clutch life but also that it decreases FE as fuel consumption is increased.
	() Thanks

25th February 2009, 13:02	#9
Desperadoxx Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Thiruvananthapuram Posts: 20 Thanked: Once	Guys, any tips on how to use the clutch and breaks while going downhill (not so steep, about 25-30 degees) on a very very bad potholed stretch, virtually nonexistant rain-eroded road. I shift to second gear, depress the clutch completely and go slow breaking on and off to keep the car from sudden movements. Tried crawling down in second gear, leaving the clutch free, but feels very rough on the suspension when hitting those unavoidable trenches on the road and tends to stop as the car loses the momentum. I have to drive through 100 meters of this road to negotiate everyday, your suggestions/comments would help my Wagon R live longer
	() Thanks

25th February 2009, 13:39	#10
hellstar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,072 Thanked: 44 Times	definitley not a good idea if you wanna get max life from your cltuch plates and fly wheel !
	() Thanks

25th February 2009, 14:21	#14
kannan666 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: KA-02 Posts: 1,002 Thanked: 128 Times View My Garage	Definitely not a good habit and I'm sure that this habit will have a tendency to creep in while driving in heavy traffic too, like they say, habits die hard !! Clutch is to be used only to change gears, nothing else....some cars even have a dummy pedal to rest the foot on while not using the clutch
	() Thanks

25th February 2009, 14:58	#15
rajshenoy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 2,885 Thanked: 2,230 Times View My Garage	Give your feet rest, put the hand brakes and well, relax!! This applies to Bangalore traffic, Here if you are stuck, you wont move that easily.
	() Thanks