Relying on the clutch during traffic jams
 

Hi,

1) Is it true that an engine with more torque is less likely to stall if you let go of the clutch very very slowly at the slippage point without using the gas and just using that action to get the car to move forward and stop during traffic jams?

2) Having asked question, is the RX8's 159 lb-ft of torque enough to do that for that car? Or do I absolutely need to give it a little gas?

Cheers,
Andrew

you will not stall if you slowly let off the clutch without gas, unless you're going uphill.

Buy an automatic! LOL! sorry, I just had to say that.

What mysql said. DO NOT consider an auto.

Actually, what I do when traffic os moving slowly is leave it in first gear and lay off the clutch and throttle. In first, it'll cruise at 5 mph, in 2nd at 7 mph, and in 3rd at 11 mph, all without stalling.

not with a LW flywheel it won't :(

What would the light flywheel's effect have?
Does anyone know what the stock flywheel weighs? the mazdaspeed accessories catalog lists the MS light flywheel weight already.

Cheers,
Andrew

1) yes its true

2) you can slip the clutch out but you have to be more careful with it than say in a vette, porsche, mustang, etc... Its not hard to do once you're used to.

Its time to live up to your name.

1. Yes.
2. It depends on how delicate your clutch pedal footwork is, but it's better to just give it a little gas just to be safe.

Depending on how fast traffic is moving I'll just let the clutch out and let it roll for awhile. Of course, traffic usually picks up speed a little bit so I have to give it gas. If I don't the vehicle behind me usually gets pissed. :)

actually I tried it again - it will cruise in first - just dont try accelerating from idle without first putting the clutch in unless you want a wild west bucking bronco ride :)

Your better off hanging in back of the pack and try not to stop or slow down that much. Then you won't have to use your clutch.

that is what I do, just dont ride the guys bumper in front of you, just put a big gap in front of you. It lets whatever idiots who are going to try and change lanes to "get ahead" do it with out killing anyone, and you dont have to keep clutching. and by not slowing down, you help the people behind you keep a good pace going.

the whole "car with more torque" deal seems awefully irrelevant to me, because most cars at idle are between 800-400 RPM...and being that low, the amount of torque produced seems like it would me miniscule, making it just as sussceptable to a stall as other cars. I mean, even some of the cars with the lowest torque power-bands don't really spool up much power until about 2500.

I've found that in the 8, as long as yur not on a steep incline, it is possible to let the gas out slowly...but EVER so slowly. To me, you would have to be in an ungodly slow traffic jam to consider doin so without applying a hint of gas.

There's no point in slipping the clutch excessively just to "prove" you can get the car moving without pushing the gas pedal. Use whatever clutch and/or gas you need to get the job done. The goals are smoothness, and also to minimize the amount of clutch slippage. The clutch only wears when it is slipping.

I also second Razz1 -- try to move at the average speed of the traffic rather than constantly accelerating and decelerating. This means leaving some space between you and the car in front and using that buffer-space to absorb the speed changes, rather than your clutch.

When you are on the Hwy 401 in Toronto, Canada during rush hours, it is UNGODLY slow... just like the DVP/404. heheheh

Cheers,
Andrew

I sometimes drive behind semi's in the 8 during heavy traffic. You can usually get a good 8mph first gear roll going because they tend to accelerate and brake slowly. Also, if you leave a few car lengths in front of you, people generally don't jump in front of you just to stare at the back of a truck. I don't follow box trucks and busses - they tend to dump soot onto your car - especially busses.

I do the gasless cluth roll when i go to school in the morning in the ungodly pack traffic here in Canada :d But im wondering do you actually save gas milleage for doing that?

I really can' t beleive you asked this question.

Just drive your car a few times and learn its capabilities.

the question isn't actually a bad one. anyone can drive it and find out what they think the car's capability is but they won't know if they are driving it correctly and that is why you put the question out to those who can help. if you're worried that you're wearing out the clutch unnecessarily you come onto a forum, do some searching, and if you don't find the answer, you ask the question.

I have a Toyota Tacoma with a V6 in it. It behaves very noticably different when gently letting the clutch out in heavy traffic to creep along. The Tacoma has enough power to crawl up slight inclines where my 8 wants to stall.

You've obviously never been in the Seattle area during rush hour. Or worse yet LA area on the 405. Ugh. We (Seattle) have some of the worst traffic in the country due to rapid growth in the area and really, really poor urban planning. If I actually go into the office I always try to plan my commute so it's as far from peak times as possible; and I still have heavy traffic to deal with. During peak time my normal 25 minute drive from house to office is well over an hour.

i've got a 97 Cobra and 97 Probe and neither of them seem to have adequate torque to go up hills. Granted they may be slightly better than the 8, but again, due to the 5500 RPM required to meet only 160 torque, it's no surprise.

Point being, feathering the clutch (AKA not fully engaged) shortens the life very quickly. Just engage sooner and don't flog it until you work yur way up a little.


yur right...i haven't. But does Indianapolis, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Chicago traffic count? None of them seem overwheling on that behalf.

Give it a little gas, and do some practice starts. The best thing about driving a manual is getting in touch with your car, learning how to use it. After a while you just feel what to do and no thought is required.

Sure? I've never experienced it there. I guess I did come across like a jackass with that statement. Sorry, didn't mean to. I'm just complaining about our traffic. Because it's easy to do. And it really really sucks. :(