Do you start a manual car with the clutch down?

[smart]

I’ve always been taught to start a car with the clutch down. My dad taught me to drive and he always leaves cars in gear when they are parked so makes sense for him but I’m pretty sure my driving instructor made me do the same thing? ( was a long time ago now?!)

What’s the science behind it and does it still count for modern engines with dual mass flywheel?

[bobdisk]

Never done that, but I was taught first thing, check its in neutral, even before putting the key in. I still do, its habit.

[ChasR]

A couple of schools of thought with this one, which are as follows.

-Because the starter won't have the inertia of the gearbox to also turn, it will have an easier life ; alot of car handbooks say this, including Alfa-Romeo.
-Having the clutch down when you don't need to can also cause thrust bearing wear when the car is running due to the load on the crank from having the clutch pushed in. It's not recommended that you put the clutch down unless changing gear in cars like VW Beetles or Triumph 1500s as the thrust bearings just aren't designed to take that kind of load, thus they eventually drop out of the crank and leave you with alot of crankshaft 'endfloat'.

[Rich]

May 4, 2020 4:59:09 GMT smart said:

I’ve always been taught to start a car with the clutch down. My dad taught me to drive and he always leaves cars in gear when they are parked so makes sense for him but I’m pretty sure my driving instructor made me do the same thing? ( was a long time ago now?!)

What’s the science behind it and does it still count for modern engines with dual mass flywheel?

Majority of modern manual cars will not start Without your first depressing the clutch as a safety measure.

[MiataMark]

My dad also taught me to have the clutch down when starting, so it's now a deeply ingrained habit. I always have to remember to put the handbrake on for the MX5 as I always park it in gear with handbrake off (to stop it seizing).

As Rich says most modern cars you need the clutch or brake engaged to start.

[bmcnut]

I always used to check the car was in neutral before starting it, so didn't tend to start it with the clutch down. My Cube requires me to put my foot on the clutch before starting, so as a result I'm probably going to do it out of habit now.

[paul99]

Dalied a Saab 9-3 for 6 years. You don't get any choice...

[droopsnoot]

I tend to only do it on one of the Vauxhalls, if the battery is a bit low and it's cold weather, purely to save it having to turn the gearbox over.

[duggers]

It's probably one of those things that has lingered on from when car electrical systems were less robust than modern cars.

Depressing the clutch to start is far less harmful than holding the clutch in while the engine is running such as in traffic when stationary though.

My daily is a DSG, my Boxster, Galaxy and '88 Scirocco are all manual and unless the battery is a bit tired from lack of use I don't depress the clutch, don't get a choice on the 2001 speed triple

[Bozwell]

vehicle dependent. as said moderns wont let you start without holding the clutch pedal down.

Having worked with many older and race vehicles with heavy duty clutches it's always neutral and not pressing the clutch.

Vehicles with heavier duty clutches put a high load on the thrust bearings and with no oil pressure till running will cause a lot of drag, even to the extent the starter will not turn the engine quick enough.

[arsonist]

I think I've just always done it as a matter of course, although can't remember being taught to. Mostly my paranoia, even after checking I'm not in gear, that I don't lurch forward and take out whatever's in my way.

[comfortablynumb]

Likewise, everything I have is always left in gear, particularly if it’s in storage with handbrake off to prevent seizing, I always drop the clutch, but as ChasR says, it’s supposed to do the thrust washers s power of no good. Never had a problem with any of mine though

[Deleted]

2012 Juke per manual; Transmission in REVERSE, clutch depressed, brake depressed.

[Deleted]

[Phil H]

Sounds like they’re copying Saabs of old?

[igor]

May 10, 2020 23:39:14 GMT @jagwinn said:

2012 Juke per manual; Transmission in REVERSE, clutch depressed, brake depressed.

Leaving you with zero spare feet to tickle the throttle it if needs it. Fool of an idea. Must be a way to disable that.

[comfortablynumb]

May 11, 2020 7:58:24 GMT igor said:

May 10, 2020 23:39:14 GMT @jagwinn said:

2012 Juke per manual; Transmission in REVERSE, clutch depressed, brake depressed.

Leaving you with zero spare feet to tickle the throttle it if needs it. Fool of an idea. Must be a way to disable that.

Never heard of heel and toe....😀
Totally agree, something else being done for the sake of it

[Rich]

May 10, 2020 23:39:14 GMT @jagwinn said:

2012 Juke per manual; Transmission in REVERSE, clutch depressed, brake depressed.

That’s got to be a weird US market thing or something. Euro cars just require the clutch to be depressed.

[gregg106]

H&S when working on vehicles dictates that the safest way is sat in the vehicle with the clutch down and in neutral, handbrake on, covering the footbrake and door closed. No one foot on the floor and no leaning through the window. Obviously when working on a vehicle that is not yours you cannot always be certain of the functionality of clutch, gears or brakes, hence covering all possibilities.

Personally I generally park my vehicles in gear and always start with the clutch down, it’s just become habit now. The mechanical aspect is a minor concern compared to the car lurching into your house/dog/garage door etc.

[Xenocide]

Yeah I always do. I'm in and out of cars all day. You never know what people have left them doing. Always knock it in neutral and clutch down.