Hi guys,

I came across recently a discussion thread from Mainland China saying that as DSG is in fact a "automatic" manual gearbox, in order to maintain its useful life, it is advised that whenever stopping for redlight it is better off put your gear into neutral ("N"), as that of the manual gearbox. The discussion thread claimed that by doing so, you can help to maintain the useful life of the DSG gearbox and minimize its likelihood of future failure. Is this true????? I thought if you constantly switching from "D" to "N" everytime you stop for the redlight, this will actually increase the wear and tear of the gearbox??? Which is more true???

There's a thread here discussing that very subject

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/188801-dsg-overheating-warnings/

I allways shift to N when I think I am likely to be stationary for a while.

I allways shift to N when I think I am likely to be stationary for a while.

+1

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Yep, it's true... 2 electronic manual boxes with dry clutches on the CR 170 engine... Holding the car in D can lead to the clutches overheating... The manual explains it

All true

I ALWAYS slip it into N when stationary

All true

I ALWAYS slip it into N when stationary

I have been driving automated manuals for about seven years now, first in Ford Transits, then MAN trucks and now the Skoda. I have never worried about it in any of them. What we found at work was drivers using them like converter type autos using the clutch to hold the car on a hill, in effect riding the clutch instead of using either the foot brake or hand brake. This was guaranteed to kill the clutch but MAN put a system in the truck that prevents it, the motor reverting to idle if the driver attempts it. I wonder if this is what VW are actually referring to and trying to prevent happening. Certainly my car has never had an issue and I always leave it in drive just like a normal auto.

Yep, it's true... 2 electronic manual boxes with dry clutches on the CR 170 engine... Holding the car in D can lead to the clutches overheating... The manual explains it

Actually, the CR170 uses wet clutches, the dry clutch DSG is the 7 speed DSG...

As a taxi driver, clocking up 100 miles a day minimum, in heavy daytime traffic, I always pop it into neutral when stationary. I even use neutral when rolling up to stationary. And cruising downhill. I've noticed that my dsg also tends to stay in 2nd at low speeds, "riding" the clutch. So I pop it into 1st manually, slipping it back into drive, when the traffic starts moving faster. All this will I hope, prolong the life of the clutches. I have followed the interaction manuals advice, and then some! But I'm open to advice if what I'm doing is "overkill".

Cars in fir 1st service next Sat, I'll ask them about it and report back.

I do wonder if it might be in VW's interest to do some education on the use of and the driving of the DSG. For instance a lot of criticism is levelled at it for being jerky at take off when the problem is user ignorance not allowing the clutches to take up before jumping on the throttle.

Have never driven any dual clutch auto, be it DSG, Powershift, PDK or anything else other than just like a normal auto. If the delay clearly is going to be a while then slip it into N, but by that I mean a long hold up at roadworks, or a level crossing, or if sat at red lights and it's clear that nothing is going to be moving even through the next cycle.

Have never adopted the slip it into N in stop start and at a normal red traffic light stop, also don't use it to hold on hills as it's obvious that is mechanically unsympathetic, especially on dry clutches, wet ones can handle more abuse.

Never been an issue, but agree with the view that manufacturers need to be clearer about specifics of these boxes, however fear they are pandering to the lowest common denominator.