Driving a petrol after learning in a diesel

radar19

radar19

radar19

Associate
Joined
2 Jul 2009
Posts
1,035
Location
Lincolnshire
How long does it normally take to get used to driving a petrol car after passing your test in a diesel? I'm worried about the difference in clutch feeling as I've just bought a petrol car.
 
Personally I notice no difference in clutch feel petrol v diesel. However most cars (petrol or diesel) have varying bite ranges anyway...

The only thing you'll notice is you can change gear earlier in a petrol (if you wish).
 
No difference, cars all have different biting points anyway.

Generally you have to rev a petrol engine a bit more to get it moving, in the torquey diseasels I have driven I could pull away without using the accelerator very comfortably, but you can't do that in a petrol.
 
I learnt in a Corsa dag and bought a Fiesta 1.25 as my first car and was fine. The clutch is usually lighter on a petrol and you can't hear quite so well what the engine is doing, but just have to adjust a bit for it.
 
Just make sure you used plenty of revs when pulling away. Apart from that should be near enough the same, just quieter.
 
The only difference I really notice is when to change gears because the revs are lower at higher speeds in a diesel.
 
as above petrol seems to need more of that clutch/accel balancing when in first, moving off in second gear seems easier also (for those lazy people)

in the diesel civic id really have to be on the ball to move off in 2nd without stalling, but on the flip side moving off in first requires next to no gas.
weird stuff (im sure someone will explain why).

I hate hill starts in a petrol hence why I tend to stick the diesel's. less chance of me rolling down the hill ;)
 
iamtheoneneo said:
I hate hill starts in a petrol hence why I tend to stick the diesel's. less chance of me rolling down the hill ;)
Click to expand...

Wuss lol. So long as you can control your clutch hill starts are not an issue. Anyway, loads of modern cars come with hill holder now, so even people that can't drive have no excuse.
 
You'll be able to move off in 1st/2nd/3rd in most petrol cars without using the accelerator, too. These reasonings seem a bit silly and inapplicable to the real world, in which it won't make many odds to your driving ability whether it's a diesel or a petrol after the initial couple of moments getting used to the different feel of the controls
 
Can go right through the gears upto 30ish mph in fifth in my 23 year old petrol... Slightly Uphill too

I know this from when the accelerator cable snapped and I needed to move somewhere safe/spacious

Anyway going from peteol to diesel and vice versa is no different to going from one car to another car . You will instantly regret even making this thread
 
Howard said:
You'll be able to move off in 1st/2nd/3rd in most petrol cars without using the accelerator, too. These reasonings seem a bit silly and inapplicable to the real world, in which it won't make many odds to your driving ability whether it's a diesel or a petrol after the initial couple of moments getting used to the different feel of the controls
Click to expand...

yeah true, just seemed like an odd statement in itself

B@
 
Not too long, but I don't think you ever really get over "feeling" the difference. I definitely prefer the weightier clutch and effortless clutch-riding of a diesel. I've been driving a petrol for about 7 months now and STILL feel like a tool over-revving it when moving from stationary to avoid stalling. :(
 
My cars have always had the petrol cap on the drivers side of the car. I recently bought a car which has the fuel cap on the passengers side.

Is there anything I should be doing differently at the petrol station?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom