Any tips going from a Diesel to a petrol?

Mark A · 21 Oct 2007 at 13:19

Hi,

Ive only ever driven diesel cars, and this was only once a week for 30 odd hours total while i was learning to drive. I learned in a turbo diesel Focus and passed my test in it back in June.

Ive recently got a first car (Focus 1.6) which is petrol and I'm finding it hard to get used to. I don't think it helps that i haven't driven for months after passing but it also just seems totally different.

In the diesel i could maneuver the car slowly just using the clutch and no revs but i tried this last night when i was parking up and it stalled. What is best to do here?, find the bite then apply some gas and then lift the clutch a bit to move slowly?.

Another thing I'm struggling with is finding the bite. In the Diesel Focus i was told to raise the clutch until i felt a sinking sensation in the seat. The car would actually sink down slightly as well. In the petrol Focus the car doesn't move at all. I tried listening for the engine noise to change instead and this was a bit hit and miss really, sometimes id roll back slightly. Plus if Ive got the radio on the engines so quiet i wouldn't be able to use this method anyway. Is this just something you have to practice and eventually your foot will go to the right position subconsciously?.

Another thing i wanted to ask is what does "slipping the clutch" mean?, Ive heard it mentioned on the forum as something not to do but I'm not sure what it means.

TIA

DannyW · 21 Oct 2007 at 13:25

Yeh with my petrol focus I had to give it some revs before bringing the clutch up about 1000-1500 i think, my diesel is great tho its got loads of feel and the car can set off without no throttle even up hills. dont worry about it you will get used to it in no time. I leant and passed in diesel and when i got car i went diesel > petrol > petrol > diesel never bothered me either.

paradigm · 21 Oct 2007 at 13:27

Its all about clutch control, even the lowlyest of petrol cars can be manuevered on the clutch alone, it'll come to you with time.

georges · 21 Oct 2007 at 13:29

Slipping the clutch is when you don't have the clutch fully up, but are letting it bite for a long time (so the clutch is slipping, and the rotations before the clutch are faster than after the clutch).

Mark A · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:02

Gotta love OcUK, all my questions answered in 3 posts, cheers.

I don't think i slip the clutch, if I'm on a steepish hill and stopped in traffic I'd use the handbrake to secure the car and then lower the clutch until I'm ready to move, is this correct?.

Saying that Ive not really been in any traffic in my car, Ive been waiting till the roads are quiet then going for a drive to get used to it.

I went out on this NSL road on thursday night and noticed the headlights were only lighting up 6' in front of the car. I'm going to have to find somewhere flat tonight and then adjust them to point up a bit.

SB118 · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:09

This because petrols suck, at low end torque.

PMKeates · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:13

Now you can pull away, remember to rev to between 3,000 and 4,000 before changing gears!

Duke · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:15

Mark A said:
Any tips going from a Diesel to a petrol?

Make sure you put the correct fuel in

Shimmy · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:19

I had the same problem initially for the first couple days.

Learnt in 1.7td corsa around 30 hours, then got a clio 1.2 petrol a few months after passing. I too used to just use the clutch with the diesel, but in the corsa I'm applying some revs as I raise the clutch to achieve the same movement. You'll get used to it fairly quickly.

Lopéz · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:20

Mark A said:
Any tips going from a Diesel to a petrol?

Yes, don't drive everywhere changing up at 4,000 rpm if you want to make decent progress.

Howard · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:22

Mark A said:
I don't think i slip the clutch, if I'm on a steepish hill and stopped in traffic I'd use the handbrake to secure the car and then lower the clutch until I'm ready to move, is this correct?.

Yep, except if you're waiting for a long time (longer than about 5 seconds) put it in neutral, less wear and tear, and less effort required keeping the clutch to the floor.
I have friends who hold the car on hills by slipping the clutch and it drives me mad :mad:

spoonz · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:22

Remeber, diesel engines are upside down.

7k rpm is where its as. All this bloody low down turbo induced torgue running out at 3k rpm is a load of boring crap.

I mistakenly bought a "performance" diesel and it bored me silly. Stick to petrol, its the future!

Sone · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:24

PMKeates said:
Now you can pull away, remember to rev to between 3,000 and 4,000 before changing gears!

I normally change at 2000-3000, 2000ish in town but 3000 if going uphill or on a 60/70 road

Howard · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:24

Sone said:
I normally change at 2000-3000, 2000ish in town but 3000 if going uphill or on a 60/70 road

What do you drive? It must have some torque if you can change up all the time at 2000rpm and not simply crawl along

Sone · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:25

howardcanning said:
What do you drive? It must have some torque if you can change up all the time at 2000rpm

a lowly 2.0 mondeo. Don't need revs to make progress.

Dogbreath · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:28

Sone said:
a lowly 2.0 mondeo. Don't need revs to make progress.

If it's a 2.0L petrol, then yes you do. Although that would depend on your definition of "making progress" I suppose.

PMKeates · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:29

Sone said:
a lowly 2.0 mondeo. Don't need revs to make progress.

They certainly help! You'll be surprised how much difference changing up at 3,000 versus 2,000 can make to your average progress. It's just so much easier!

Howard · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:29

To be fair I can change up at low revs in my 2L Honda and it'll be fine for town driving, just not on the open road

Sone · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:30

Dogbreath said:
If it's a 2.0L petrol, then yes you do. Although that would depend on your definition of "making progress" I suppose.

Reach the speed limit / appropriate speed for road within a resonable time period. Only really drive through town or on the motorway so i see no point of driving the nuts off it, not exactly going to have any fun.

barnettgs · 21 Oct 2007 at 14:31

Driving my girlfriend's Ford Fiesta petrol zetec feels like its coming home where it belongs...Thats how it feels, I am not sure I will buy diesel again as my next car.