YACT: riding the clutch in stop-and-go

My daily commute puts me at a traffic light where there's at least three full cycles of the light before I get to go through. Added to that, people love to inch up and move up 20-30 feet at a time, so I'm forced to inch along with them.

I just started driving stick about a month ago, and I've tried several scenarios for driving in stop-and-go traffic. They are:

• Shift into first gear and take foot completely off clutch when moving. This results in a huge amount of jerkiness, because I'm not going fast enough for second, and first is mostly made for accelerating...not idling along. When traffic is stopped, I stay in first gear but push the clutch pedal in.
• Shift into first gear and play with the cluch and the gas, resulting in a much smoother ride. Also known as riding the clutch. Stay in first gear the whole time, and push the clutch pedal all the way in when stopped, and let it out gradually when moving, but never completely out.

Which is better? Obviously, if a little jerkiness means MUCH reduced clutch wear then I'll go with that method, but if I'm doing damage to first gear by jerking along in stop and go traffic I'd rather wear out the clutch then the gear itself.

Which do you do? Which would you recommend? Is there ANY way to not wear your tranny or clutch when you're in stop-and-go traffic?

 

[spanky]

Shift completely into first gear...jerky, doesn't feel smooth at all

uhh... it shouldn't be jerky if u shift properly.

 

[Lithium381]

just practice method 1 a bit, in the long run it's probably better for your clutch

 

[amcdonald]

Originally posted by: Lithium381
just practice method 1 a bit, in the long run it's probably better for your clutch

 

Originally posted by: spanky
Shift completely into first gear...jerky, doesn't feel smooth at all

uhh... it shouldn't be jerky if u shift properly.

It's not jerky when I shift, that part is smooth. When I speed up and slow down the car jerks back and forth, 'cause first isn't really a 'driving' gear...it's mostly for acceleration. I'd like to be able to use second, but my speed isn't high enough.

 

[spanky]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: spanky
Shift completely into first gear...jerky, doesn't feel smooth at all

uhh... it shouldn't be jerky if u shift properly.

It's not jerky when I shift, that part is smooth. When I speed up and slow down the car jerks back and forth, 'cause first isn't really a 'driving' gear...it's mostly for acceleration. I'd like to be able to use second, but my speed isn't high enough.

ok i see what u mean. well... it's only jerky if u r really trying to follow the guy in front of u tightly. if u dont mind dropping back a bit in following... it should be alright. i usually shift into first... gas it... and try to roll along. it's a hassle... but thats what u get with a manual.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Not necessary to keep giving gas, but this doesn't work in all situations. You can give gas in first and then press clutch all the way riding on whatever momentum you got from giving gas. In some situations, that works well. In others, I just ride the clutch.

 

[jjones]

My suggestion is to use first gear. When coming to the intersection, allow sufficient space between you and the car ahead as you slow down and shift into first. As the cars in front that like to stop and then inch up a bit more, you will have a little space and time to allow for this. Finally, when you do come to a stop and the cars in front creep up even more, don't move unless you have a few car lengths of space in front of you, and then just ease it into first gear. You'll creep up again in first gear and hopefully by the time you reach the car in front of you, traffic will have begun again for the next cycle.

As for getting that jerky feeling, maybe you need to work a little more on letting out the clutch properly, or perhaps you need to check your rpm's at idle. You really shouldn't be having this problem in first gear.

edit: oh, and one thing that may help. If you're creeping along, clutch out, without giving it any gas at all, and then you apply the gas and get the jerky feeling, try depressing the clutch and letting it out again before you give it gas. This is not the best but sometimes gas pedals are a little sticky and you can't quite ease into acceleration like you would like to.

 

[notfred]

Put car in first, get the car up to 3-5 mph, put car in neutral, take foot off clutch, coast up to the rear bumper of the car in front of you. Repeat whenever the space in front of your car gets big enough to worry about.

 

[Excelsior]

Well..easy. Wait till there is enough room to move up in 1st without the jerkiness. I know what you mean.

 

[Vich]

I would go with either riding the clutch or coasting in neutral.

Why?

Well first of all what is cheaper to replace, a worn out clutch or a transmission?

My car a subaru wrx in first gear jerks like a damn sea-saw (same goes for the sti,the evo, all cars like that), so i know exactly what you mean. And i have driven from Maryland to Connecticut in traffic like that so believe me i know what you are talking about. George Washington bridge at rush hour anyone? :disgust:.

The method i use are combinations of riding the clutch and coasting in neutral.

-Rich

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Vich
I would go with either riding the clutch or coasting in neutral.

Why?

Well first of all what is cheaper to replace, a worn out clutch or a transmission?

My car a subaru wrx in first gear jerks like a damn sea-saw (same goes for the sti,the evo, all cars like that), so i know exactly what you mean. And i have driven from Maryland to Connecticut in traffic like that so believe me i know what you are talking about. George Washington bridge at rush hour anyone? :disgust:.

The method i use are combinations of riding the clutch and coasting in neutral.

-Rich

you don't wear out a transmission in stop-and-go traffic.

Indeed, you shouldn't even wear down a clutch...there's no law that says you have to be within 2 inches of the guy in front of you, and if you time things right and watch what traffic's doing further down the road, you can drive a LOT smoother than even an auto (engine braking+actually being able to select your gears). I once posted 40 MPG on a 2-mile stretch of rush hour traffic in Seattle, just by watching the flow of traffic and anticipating slowdowns. Considering my car gets 34MPG cruising at 65, that's pretty good. Remember, every time you touch the gas it costs you money, and ever time you touch the brakes you just wasted money. You'll get MUCH better mileage leaving a bit of a buffer ahead of you (doesn't have to be huge), and watching for brake lights further up the road so you can anticipate and react. When all the guys around you with automatic transmissions are doing the brake, gas, brake, gas two-step, you can use clutch, gearshift, and light applications of gas to maintain a constant speed, slow down, and speed up MUCH more efficiently. And believe me, you notice the savings at the pump.

 

[zCypher]

Just practice. It's that simple... the better you know your car, and the more used to your car you are... the smoother you will be, without wearing it out faster. You don't have to ride the clutch like crazy to drive smooth. You can press the clutch all the way down, and let it go all the way out, in each gear, including just in first gear in stop-and-go, and still be perfectly smooth.

If you are getting jerkiness taking off, you're simply letting the clutch out too fast. If you are getting jerkiness when trying to maintain a speed or slowly decelerate in first gear... You just need to get used to the sensitivity your car has in 1st gear, get used to the gas pedal more, etc. Every car is different and some are harder to learn on than others, but all can be driven smoothly if you know how.

 

[zCypher]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Vich
I would go with either riding the clutch or coasting in neutral.

Why?

Well first of all what is cheaper to replace, a worn out clutch or a transmission?

My car a subaru wrx in first gear jerks like a damn sea-saw (same goes for the sti,the evo, all cars like that), so i know exactly what you mean. And i have driven from Maryland to Connecticut in traffic like that so believe me i know what you are talking about. George Washington bridge at rush hour anyone? :disgust:.

The method i use are combinations of riding the clutch and coasting in neutral.

-Rich

you don't wear out a transmission in stop-and-go traffic.

Indeed, you shouldn't even wear down a clutch...there's no law that says you have to be within 2 inches of the guy in front of you, and if you time things right and watch what traffic's doing further down the road, you can drive a LOT smoother than even an auto (engine braking+actually being able to select your gears). I once posted 40 MPG on a 2-mile stretch of rush hour traffic in Seattle, just by watching the flow of traffic and anticipating slowdowns. Considering my car gets 34MPG cruising at 65, that's pretty good. Remember, every time you touch the gas it costs you money, and ever time you touch the brakes you just wasted money. You'll get MUCH better mileage leaving a bit of a buffer ahead of you (doesn't have to be huge), and watching for brake lights further up the road so you can anticipate and react. When all the guys around you with automatic transmissions are doing the brake, gas, brake, gas two-step, you can use clutch, gearshift, and light applications of gas to maintain a constant speed, slow down, and speed up MUCH more efficiently. And believe me, you notice the savings at the pump.

Agreed 100%

 

Awesome, thanks! I never realized there was such nuance to traffic jams!

 

[Robor]

One thing is you'll get used to driving a clutch as you use it more. You shouldn't be jerky at all if you know how to apply gas/clutch properly.

Anyway... I drive a stick and when I'm in stop-n-go traffic I try and do as much moving at idle speed in first gear as possible. By that I mean let the traffic move up a bit then slip the clutch at low rpms so you're moving at the slowest possible speed in 1st gear. If your car isn't messed up it's not going to buck or stall until you hit the brake. Also, don't "inch up". If a car in front of you moves up a 1/2 car or car length, who cares? Just wait until the traffic starts moving again until you start moving again.

 

[Twista]

what kind of car do you have? Is this ur new car?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: spanky
Shift completely into first gear...jerky, doesn't feel smooth at all

uhh... it shouldn't be jerky if u shift properly.

It's not jerky when I shift, that part is smooth. When I speed up and slow down the car jerks back and forth, 'cause first isn't really a 'driving' gear...it's mostly for acceleration. I'd like to be able to use second, but my speed isn't high enough.

Nope, that 100% driving style and 0% due to the nature of 1st gear. I can idle in 1st geat on both of my manual transmission cars and be smooth enough with the throttle to prevent any jerkiness. There's no mechanical reason you can't idle along smoothly in first gear. Practice, practice, practice.

ZV

 

Originally posted by: Twista
what kind of car do you have? Is this ur new car?

Yup, got it almost a month ago. 2004 Accord LX 5-speed. I love it.

 

[DnetMHZ]

Reason #56,762 why I like an automatic, sure manual is more fun to drive, and the purists will have nothing else. To me the hassle in day to day traffic is just not worth it. Driving is about my only time to relax, I don't want to have to work while I'm doing it.


now... where did I put that flame suit... hmmm..

 

[cyclistca]

Trade it in for a Hummer and just run the person in front of you over.

 

[acemcmac]

need... two.... cars... When I loose the automatic mustang, Ill replace it with a used, automatic subaru legacy... i had one once and it ruled.... all will be augmented by a stick 05 or 06 mustang GT... rool;

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: jumpr
My daily commute puts me at a traffic light where there's at least three full cycles of the light before I get to go through. Added to that, people love to inch up and move up 20-30 feet at a time, so I'm forced to inch along with them.

I just started driving stick about a month ago, and I've tried several scenarios for driving in stop-and-go traffic. They are:

• Shift into first gear and take foot completely off clutch when moving. This results in a huge amount of jerkiness, because I'm not going fast enough for second, and first is mostly made for accelerating...not idling along. When traffic is stopped, I stay in first gear but push the clutch pedal in.
• Shift into first gear and play with the cluch and the gas, resulting in a much smoother ride. Also known as riding the clutch. Stay in first gear the whole time, and push the clutch pedal all the way in when stopped, and let it out gradually when moving, but never completely out.

Which is better? Obviously, if a little jerkiness means MUCH reduced clutch wear then I'll go with that method, but if I'm doing damage to first gear by jerking along in stop and go traffic I'd rather wear out the clutch then the gear itself.

Which do you do? Which would you recommend? Is there ANY way to not wear your tranny or clutch when you're in stop-and-go traffic?

I know exactly what you mean. Let me see if I can explain.

When moving very slowly in first gear and the clutch is completely engaged, if you let off the gas completely, the car will jerk as if you tapped the brakes.
Then if you apply a little gas, it'll lurch forward, both resulting in a very uncomfortable ride.

In those situations, are you supposed feather the clutch?
My recent thread.

 

[Goosemaster]

I think something important that NO ONE has addressed is your minimum speed in 1st gear.

My car can handle ~5mph, but any lower, and it will stutter, shake liek crazy, and commence to stall...SLOWLY. Perhaps this is what he meant?

That is why the advice about keeping your distance is quite importatn in some situations. if you keep your distance, and are going 5mph + in yourcar, giving gas SMOOTHLY when you need to speed back up and feathering the clutch when it gets real slow or at a dead stop., you should be fine.

my advice:

practice starting from a dead stop. If you aren;t good at shifting then, that is where most of your clutch wear will come from