Hey guys, I've had a '95 SE 5spd for about a month now. I am pretty new to manual tranny's. What are the major "dont's" with a 5spd?? How hard is it on your clutch to drop it at like 3000rpms? I guess it can't be that good on it.What else can I do to make my clutch last as long as possible. Thanks, Steve

 

Noooooo!!! Don't drop the clutch at 3000rpm.
Not good. I find that a good launch would be
at about 1600-1800rpm. If you want your clutch
to last, think "smooth". If your aggressive
on the clutch all the time then of course it
won't last very long.

 

This is the worst possible abuse. If you wanted to make a clutch die quickly this is the way to do it.

Remember that a clutch is used to change gears.
Don't wait at a stoplight in first gear holding the pedal down. Shift to neutral and take your foot off the pedal.
Refrain from racing starts.
Don't ride down the highway with your foot resting lightly on the pedal. Keep your foot off that pedal unless you are in the act of changing gears.
Don't back out of a parking space and shift to first gear while still rolling backward, and roar off. Use the brakes to stop the car before driving forward.

 

Since we're on the discussion of clutches I had a few questions for ya Daniel:
1) If you were resting on a small hill is it bad to clutch halfway so that you don't roll, but the car is still in gear?
2) I was told that leaving your hand resting on the shifter at all times can cause extra wear and tear to the synchros. Myth maybe?
3) During normal driving does it reduce clutch wear if you match the revs by bliping the throttle when downshifting? i.e. upon or after taking a turn (not slowing down).
4) Gas question (I've always wondered this): Are you better off driving at half throttle at around 2500-3000 rpms in 3rd gear, or WOT in 5th? I do this everyday while I go through school zones and 30mph zones.

Thanks.
-hype

 

Yes, it's bad. You could prevent rolling by using your brakes or your clutch. In this instance the brakes would not wear at all because the vehicle would not be moving, but the clutch would be wearing. Don't do it.

Almost true. It causes needless wear on the shifter forks. Don't do it.

Almost true. This technique is called "speed matching". It reduces the wear on the synchronizers.

You are better off at half throttle at around 2500-3000 rpms in 3rd gear. Watch out for those school zones. Cops and judges have no sense of humor about violations committed in school zones.

 

Thanks for the reply Daniel. I always try to keep bad habits from forming in my driving, but now that I know I won't do the aforementioned As far as the WOT in 5th I drive through school zones in 5th gear with the clutch out and my car runs at around 600-800rpms. When I leave the school zone, even though I am at WOT the car doesn't make a whole lot of noise until 2500-3000. I'll downshift to 3rd from now on though
-hype

 

Consider this: the oil pump output is proportional to the engine speed, at least up to the point where the pressure relief valve opens. Running your engine at 600-800 rpms and then "punching it" means you are sharply increasing bearing loads at precisely the time when there is the least oil volume and oil pressure the bearings need to deal with that increase.

The recommended maximum engine speed is the tachometer red line, 6500 rpm. The recommended minimum engine speed is not indicated on the tachometer (but maybe it should be). It is 1500 rpm.