Confusion appears to abound regarding the above.....  The 'Internet' appears to be in 2 camps ....

 

1) Never ever apply the handbrake and just leave the gearbox in D when stopped in traffic. The gearbox is designed that way. ( We have autohold of course )

 

and

 

2) The clutches are ALWAYS engaged ( a little ) when stopped so to stop wear and overheating engage the handbrake and put the gearbox in N.

 

Any Techies who have a definitive answer ?

 

TA !

Regardless of any technical reasons, I prefer the comfort of using N and the handbrake just so I don't have to hold my foot on the brake all the time. And I'm not blinding the person behind me.

interested to know the techie answer to this also.

 

I would have kept it in D and used the Autohold?

My understanding from reading the SSPs for the 6 and 7-speed DSGs is that the clutches are disengaged when P or N are selected, AND in D when the footbrake is applied and the engine is idling. So there is no clutch wear and tear when stopped with the footbrake applied. Using VCDS I have confirmed that the idling revs for my 7-speed DSG are the same in P and N as in D with the car held on the footbrake.

If you apply the handbrake and leave the car in D when stopped in traffic, one of the clutches will be engaged and there will be wear and tear The car will also be straining against the handbrake.

i assume that Autohold has the same effect as holding the car on the footbrake but without the brake light illuminated.

The 7 speed is completely disengaged when sat in D with your foot on the brake.

 

The 6 speed remains partially engaged in D with your foot on the brake.

 

The difference being that the 6 speed clutches are lubricated and cooled with oil so can remain engaged to give the "creep" function like a conventional auto.

 

The 7 speed clutches are "dry" and not lubricated or cooled so leaving them partially engaged can damage/wear/overheat them so it's not done this way on that box.

 

If the car is equipped with the auto hold/auto handbrake gizmo when you release the brake the clutches are released on the 6 speed to stop it trying to pull the car forward.

 

The 6 speed can still overheat and will go into a special mode where it reduces the time the clutches are slipping. I experienced this once driving through London. 30c+ temperatures in stop start traffic for 2 hours! The clutches went very jerkey. Setting off from a crawl would normally be done in 1st with the clutches slipping into 2nd to smooth it out. It revved higher in 1st and went straight into 2nd. Also it didn't creep the same and suddenly jolted forward when letting go of the brake.

 

Phil

Edited 21 October, 201510 yr by Phil-E

Confusion appears to abound regarding the above.....  The 'Internet' appears to be in 2 camps ....

 

1) Never ever apply the handbrake and just leave the gearbox in D when stopped in traffic. The gearbox is designed that way. ( We have autohold of course )

 

and

 

2) The clutches are ALWAYS engaged ( a little ) when stopped so to stop wear and overheating engage the handbrake and put the gearbox in N.

 

Any Techies who have a definitive answer ?

 

TA !

I'm in camp 2, for the reasons mentioned down-thread & also if I have a heart-attack I don't want the car to start driving itself!

 

DC