How do you deal with the clutch at stop signs, stoplights and stop and go traffic?

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Let the engine slow the car until its almost at stall speed then hit the clutch. On direct injected engines this saves a lot of fuel since the injectors turn fully off and the engine inertia spins all the accessories rather than having to idle to spin them.

In stop and go its a matter of feathering the clutch unless its downhill and you can roll a bit in neutral.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

The title of the thread can be misleading.

Depends on the length of the stop usually. And my mood. And if I'm on my motorcycle whether or not I want to stretch my arms/hands.

MV

No brainer. Never changed a throwout bearing....don't ever want to....

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

It's a time based thing. If I'm going to be fully stopped for more than say, 10 seconds, I just put it in neutral. If it's just a short pause like a stop sign or toll booth, I just hold the clutch.

Now, in stop and go traffic, I use the same formula. If I'm not moving for a short time, I just hold the clutch.

On my truck, the game is changed slightly because the rotating mass of 50 pounds of gears has pretty much worn out my 1st gear synchros making it difficult to get it into 1st gear. So I tend to hold the clutch more on this vehicle. What was happening was that every time I stopped and put the transmission in neutral, the gears spin back up to the speed of the engine. If I simply pressed the clutch and tried to put it in gear, the synchros were trying to spin up the heavy clutch disk to match the still rotating gears and after 160,000 miles, they're trashed.

It's kind of a catch-22, synchros or throw out bearing...

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

This.


Most of the time, I am in first/clutch in, ready to go.


The rest of the time, sitting in neutral stretching.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

I usually slow down to about 800 RPM, then tap the gas and the stick comes out of gear effortlessly. I then put it back in gear when the light turns and roll out. I get occasional honks for not moving instantly when the light turns green, but I don't care.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

That's where I'm at.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Dunno, ask RuPaul.

LOL

Surely Larry knew.

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Jim

I suppose I am showing my naïveté. I even google man tran and didn't find what you guys are commenting about. I don't have the capability or I would do away with the abbreviation.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Since it's the second poll-type, Q and A thread Larry authored this a.m., RE: Manual Transmission......I got it as; 'Manual Transmission,' right away.

I do all three at different times depending on the situation.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

I thought Larry was expanding his options late in life.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13