If you are one of the 18 percent of drivers within the United States who drives a car with a clutch, taking good care of that clutch is important. By taking a take a look at your driving practices, you may save thousands. Your clutch does have a lifetime, but extending it could be relatively easy. Just taking a look at three of the biggest clutch-driving mistakes and fixing them can extend the life by months, if not a few years.
Trying to shift at the right time
A clutch is used to shift gears while your engine is running. Changing those gears at the right time will help you to cut back the wear and tear on the clutch — and make your engine run better. On most cars, you need to shift up when the engine RPMs are between 3,000 and 4,000. When braking, you’ll want to downshift the engine before you apply the brake – it will help prevent wear and tear on both your clutch and your brakes.
Resting your feet
You might think about resting your foot on the clutch when you drive. Pressure will be placed on it if you rest your foot there. The pressure could slowly grind down the clutch. Keep your foot off the pedal unless you are using it.
Park it safely
To keep it from rolling when parked on a hill, you should put it in gear. However, you need to never rely on just the gears to keep it there. Use your emergency break and first gear. If your gears are slipping, not using the emergency brake could mean you end up chasing your car down the hill. Always use your emergency break to be safe.
