3 Tips That Can Help Keep Your Clutch In Good Shape
One of the most important components of your vehicle is the clutch, which also explains why the clutch can also be one of the most expensive components to replace or repair. Listed below are three tips you can follow that can help you keep your clutch in good shape for as long as you possibly can.
Reduce Your Shifting Frequency
One of the best things that you can do to extend your clutch's lifespan is to reduce your shifting frequency whenever possible. This means not rushing away from every red light as fast as you can and shifting quickly to maximize your speed. The reason for this is that the more often that you shift gears the more you're going to be pressing down on the clutch, which puts a lot of unnecessary wear and tear on the clutch when your shifting more than is absolutely necessary.
Put The Car In Neutral When You Are Completely Stopped
Another tip that can help you keep your clutch in good shape is to put the car in neutral whenever you are completely stopped. Now, this does not mean that you have to put the car in neutral when you are sitting at a stop sign, but it is typically a good idea if you are sitting in a drive-through or are stuck at a traffic light. The reason for this is that sitting with the clutch pushed down and the vehicle in first gear puts a lot of strain on your clutch, particularly if you happen to do a lot of city driving where you are getting stuck at traffic lights multiple times throughout the day.
Engage The Handbrake Whenever You Park
Finally, make sure that whenever you park your car you engage the handbrake if you want to eliminate unnecessary wear on your vehicle and the clutch. A lot of people seem to think that it is fine to turn the engine off and simply leave the vehicle in gear while they go about their day, but that does place a massive amount of pressure on the clutch disc over the course of the day. Instead, consider putting the vehicle into neutral and utilizing the handbrake to keep the vehicle from rolling while it is parked.
Contact a mechanic or auto service today in order to discuss what methods they would recommend you follow in order to maximize the lifespan of your clutch. Reducing your shifting frequency, putting the car in neutral when you're completely stopped, and engaging the handbrake whenever you park are three very effective ways of preserving and protecting your clutch.