Clutch down, engine on?

I never do! And it annoys the hell out of me when someone else has had my car and left it in gear and i end up leaping forward.

I think it depends how long you have been driving. Older generations all seem to leave the car in gear but i don't know of anyone my age who does this (Unless parking on a steep hill).
 
Gilbretto said:
I never do! And it annoys the hell out of me when someone else has had my car and left it in gear and i end up leaping forward.

I think it depends how long you have been driving. Older generations all seem to leave the car in gear but i don't know of anyone my age who does this (Unless parking on a steep hill).
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I do. Always been told to.
 
I do it because my dad leaves cars in gear when he parks.

I've not had a bike that needed the clutch in, but when I test rode an SV650 it took me about two minutes to work out why it wouldn't start :D
 
I didn't use to do this but read about it on another forum and do it now without fail, don't even think about it!
 
miniyazz said:
Unless the slight extra time on the clutch, while starting, is your reasoning, GeX!
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In my car, if you start with the clutch down, engage first and drive off then it will jolt slightly as you bring the clutch up and the box spins up. Only way round it is to start with clutch in, release and then press again.
Also having seen what it does to splines on the pressure plate I try and avoid sitting there with my foot on the clutch!
 
scenic and focus ST you have to put the clutch down to start. its all about habits really.

Since i drive my parents scenic a few times i often try and pull away in my fiesta ST with the handbrake on, due to the fact the scenic has a auto handbrake :(
 
I deliberately got into the habit of doing this a year or so back, having got lazy since my test. There's many advantages and no disadvantages.
 
Gilbretto said:
I never do! And it annoys the hell out of me when someone else has had my car and left it in gear and i end up leaping forward.
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Checking the car is in neutral should be an automatic reaction for anyone when they start a car. Those relying on pressing the clutch rather than just ensuring the box is in neutral will be in for a shock if it isn't in neutral when they let the clutch out with the engine running; attempting to start the car in gear with the clutch engaged would be far less risky.

The reason that the wheels turn if jacked up with the engine running is primarily down to viscous friction, i.e. the oil in the gearbox is providing a limited amount of coupling. Since viscous friction forces vary with the relative speed of the sliding surfaces, at the low speed that the starter motor turns the engine these forces are very small at the temperatures we see in this country.

If you were starting a huge truck in Arctic conditions it may be different.
 
I only start the car with my foot on the clutch if it needs it for safety reasons - for examples the Corvettes (like most modern US cars) need the clutch depressed to start.

I always check the car's in neutral before doing starting it - much like Dogbreath says, you're in a worse position if the engine's started and then you get distracted or aren't paying attention and release the clutch - it's going to go a lot further before it stops!
 
BigglesPiP said:
There's many advantages and no disadvantages.
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Indeed, though I primarily do it because my parents told me to years ago and it's just automatic now (it must be the only occasion I ever did as my parents said from the age of 15 onwards come to think of it). Just part of a routine, I have a waggle of the stick to check it's not in gear first too, so I guess I'm extra thorough. That and some cars won't start without it...
 
Nope, never bother. Can't see the point. So what if it lunges forward if it's in gear by mistake? I do it about once a year or less, big deal. Oh no I looked like a ****. Worse things to worry about to be honest, like what's going on at sea.
 
Started doing this a few years ago, mainly out of habit from the bikes which occasionally show a neutral light even if it's in gear.
 
Always do this, don't want to risk having it in gear and shooting forward.
Always hold both my normal brake and my clutch when starting the engine, even if the car is in neutral and on the handbrake, habit I guess...
 
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