Quote:
Originally Posted by NoCO2
How does this method effect clutch wear though?
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It obviously depends on how often you bump start. I did it compulsively, probably 50-100 times per commute.
I have also noticed that some cars (such as a Mira) aren't very bump-start friendly, for whatever reason. On other cars I have driven (e.g. early Suzuki Swift, carb model), the wear on the clutch would be imperceptible (as judged by loss of kinetic energy in the car). On a bump-start friendly car, it could probably be done with abandon.
I bump started for 2 years like this on the Mira and the clutch is on its last legs.
However, if I had restricted the bump starting to the largest hills (e.g. glides of maybe 20 seconds plus) instead of every opportunity to glide (even several seconds), I would have had the lion's share of the benefit and maybe the clutch would have lasted 10 years.
There is something to be said also for getting the clutch fully engaged before major acceleration, rather than a gentle easing out until 2000-2500rpm, and avoiding engine braking since the loss is in the form of kinetic energy, and brake pads are cheaper than clutches. As it is, a dedicated hypermiler will probably have brake pads lasting the life of the car, so you may as well use them for something.