Hey,

I noticed a few people mentioning that it's a good idea to press your clutch pedal in before starting your car, and then holding it in as your turn the car on. Does this apply to petrol and diesels?

Thanks,

J

Yes, it applies to both petrol and diesel. As I understand it, it means the starter motor is just tuning over the engine without the extra drag of turning over the gearbox shafts.

It's also useful if you've left the car in gear and forgotten about it

I think also the flywheel gets spun up if you start without the clutch pedal pressed down. Not an issue on mine as it weighs sod all, but on stock application, the flywheel weighs a good 30lb odd.

Ah. just remembered the flywheel is bolted to the engine/output shaft, so it must be spinning up clutch and other side, i.e gearbox, as mentioned above.

It's also useful if you've left the car in gear and forgotten about it

Even more useful if you share the car with someone who parks it in gear when you do not.

My Dad's knees have still not forgiven me for the blow they took when i turned the key while he was looking under the bonnet.....after the other half had parked up the night before! OUCH!

And away from human casualties I also hear it reduces stress on the noisy oily bits under the bonnet too

ive been doing it in this weather, less strain on the battery too if it starts easier

If you have a facelift Octavia you have to press the clutch pedal otherwise the car will not even turn over. When I had my previous car I always pressed the clutch out of habitt, the engine is under less load since it does not have to turn the gearbox as well so the engine starts quicker. Also means that if you leave it in gear then it will not lurch forward as you turn the key.

I believe it would be only the input shaft into gearbox, clutch assembly and flywheel that would turn on starting (if out of gear of course).

If clutch pedal is depressed a load would be placed onto flywheel surface from clutch assembly generating friction/ resistance and the need for more battery power to turn engine over,

and still would not stop gearbox input shaft from also turning.

The understanding of what does what on starting a car should be studied a-little more, from reading other members statements.

Conclusion to me would amount to, ensure disengagement of gears by selecting neutral before turning the starter key, and display a sign of a good driver?? No offense intended.

OOoops !!

- - - - Apologies !! I have it wrong the gear-box input shaft does stop rotating to allow gear changing etc

when clutch pedal depressed. (Clutch pad friction surface slips on flywheel surface)

However I am right on stating this does/will place a greater load onto flywheel which starter motor has to move/turn,

rather than freely rotate.

Edited 2 January, 201115 yr by giandougl

I believe it would be only the input shaft into gearbox, clutch assembly and flywheel that would turn on starting (if out of gear of course).

If clutch pedal is depressed a load would be placed onto flywheel surface from clutch assembly generating friction/ resistance and the need for more battery power to turn engine over,

and still would not stop gearbox input shaft from also turning.

The understanding of what does what on starting a car should be studied a-little more, from reading other members statements.

Conclusion to me would amount to, ensure disengagement of gears by selecting neutral before turning the starter key, and display a sign of a good driver?? No offense intended.

Quote from the Fabia handbook

Starting the engineGeneralYou can only start the engine only using an original ignition key.

• Place the gearshift lever into neutral (or place the selector lever to the position

P or N in the case of an automatic gearbox) and put on the handbrake firmly before

starting the engine.

• The clutch pedal should be fully depressed when starting the engine - the

starter then only has to crank the engine.

• Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts otherwise there may be damage

to the starter.

So Skoda clearly reckon, foot on clutch to start. As has been stated elsewhere in this thread, anything made after about 2008 won'ts start unless the clutch is depressed anyway. I think that's more of a safety feature for our American colleages though

Edited 23 December, 201015 yr by wja96

I believe it would be only the input shaft into gearbox, clutch assembly and flywheel that would turn on starting (if out of gear of course).

If clutch pedal is depressed a load would be placed onto flywheel surface from clutch assembly generating friction/ resistance and the need for more battery power to turn engine over,

and still would not stop gearbox input shaft from also turning.

The understanding of what does what on starting a car should be studied a-little more, from reading other members statements.

Conclusion to me would amount to, ensure disengagement of gears by selecting neutral before turning the starter key, and display a sign of a good driver?? No offense intended.

Are you being serious there?

Engine -> Flywheel -> Clutch -> Gearbox -> Wheels

You depress the clutch, then you are disconnecting the engine and flywheel from the gearbox and wheels. Pushing the clutch has no effect on the flywheel at all, you seem to imply that the clutch pushes against the flywheel.... the clutch pushes against the clutch :yes:

If you push the clutch whilst turning the starter, it will stop the input shaft of the gearbox and one half of the clutch from turning. Whether it will make any noticable difference to the life of you starter motor is negligable. The decision comes with deciding which is cheaper to replace, starter motor or clutch thrust bearing.

Giandougl is right in that the clutch thrust bearing will exert pressure and hence drag. How this balances with the reduction in drag from other parts will depend on the car, the oil, the temperature etc and with some cars the clutch 'drag' is greater than the gearbox 'drag'. Be that as it may, I find no obvious difference with our two Fabias - but then they spin up immediately so you can't really tell. I make a habit of pressing the clutch even after checking that it is in neutral. Better safe than sorry.

Giandougl is right in that the clutch thrust bearing will exert pressure and hence drag. How this balances with the reduction in drag from other parts will depend on the car, the oil, the temperature etc and with some cars the clutch 'drag' is greater than the gearbox 'drag'. Be that as it may, I find no obvious difference with our two Fabias - but then they spin up immediately so you can't really tell. I make a habit of pressing the clutch even after checking that it is in neutral. Better safe than sorry.

I quite possibly read Giandougls post wrong, but after reading it i had a picture of a clutch assembly with a friction plate on oneside, and the the flywheel on the other, and the clutch working due to the friction between the two

Yeh, its one of those balancing situations. I personally do it purely as my partner drives my car sometimes and she's a nightmare for leaving it in gear :p

Edited 23 December, 201015 yr by Simonbt

...and she's a nightmare for leaving it in gear :p

Leaving a car parked in gear is good practice - it stops you're disappearing down the road should the handbrake fail!

I have never started a car with the clutch depressed and never will do

until I have to. Never had a problem in all the years I have been driving....

I quite possibly read Giandougls post wrong, but after reading it i had a picture of a clutch assembly with a friction plate on oneside, and the the flywheel on the other, and the clutch working due to the friction between the two

Yeh, its one of those balancing situations. I personally do it purely as my partner drives my car sometimes and she's a nightmare for leaving it in gear :p

You're on the right track.

i have always started every car with the clutch in....

as i always leave my cars parked in gear ( 3rd ) as i've had a few dodgy handbrake's over the years

i have always started every car with the clutch in....

as i always leave my cars parked in gear ( 3rd ) as i've had a few dodgy handbrake's over the years

Same here. I always leave my cars in gear. In the works vans I never use the handbrakes. Don't trust them on works vans, always use gears to hold it.

Edited 2 January, 201115 yr by kai_mitsurugi

i always leave mine in gear an always depress the clutch to start