Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown: Nissan Micra 1.6L

[ME_Andy]

What's the secret for those of you who've had a clutch last over 200k miles? Clutch in when idling?

[Mustang Dave]

Originally Posted by ME_Andy

What's the secret for those of you who've had a clutch last over 200k miles? Clutch in when idling?

No. Don't let it slip any more than necessary when taking off from a stop and rev-match on upshifts and downshifts. Control your speed with the throttle; not the clutch. (or the brakes).

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by ME_Andy

What's the secret for those of you who've had a clutch last over 200k miles? Clutch in when idling?

There's no secret, as such. You just kind of pay attention to your driving.

Oh, and no rally starts.

[basjoos]

Clutch lining material is similar to brake pad lining material, and just like when using the brakes, you wear off some of the lining each time you slip the clutch. I consider both of these materials to be slow use consumables when operating the car. The secret to long clutch life is to minimize the amount you slip the clutch, the same as you get long brake life by minimizing the amount you use the brakes. When coasting or idling at a stop, I will usually keep the clutch pedal pressed down unless the coast or light is over a minute and then I will release the clutch pedal with the gears in neutral.

[elhigh]

Don't hold the clutch in while idling. Shift to neutral and let it out.

The thrust bearing doesn't get regular lubrication, it's lubricated by a couple of teaspoons' worth of grease and that's it. Holding it in subjects it to unnecessary wear.

When engaging, keep slippage to a minimum. To get started, I goose the throttle a tiny bit to speed the engine, then engage as the revs drop back to idle. The extra kinetic energy is enough to get the vehicle moving, and I let the engine and tranny match up without any extra loading beyond that. Then I add gas.

Your mileage may vary. Too small an engine and that method might not work. It sure doesn't with the Honda, yipes.

[MetroMPG]

Learn clutchless shifting!

( Then replace your synchros instead of your clutch disc? )

[elhigh]

^^Bad Metro! Bad!

[MetroMPG]

Sorry!

Back to the original topic, here's some more grist for the mill:

Of 60 Mitsu Mirage 1.2L owners tracking fuel economy on MirageForum.com, the manual drivers are beating the CVT drivers, despite the CVT's better EPA ratings:

• CVT (27 cars): 42.1 MPG (US) = 5.6 L/100 km
• 5-spd (33 cars): 44.2 MPG (US) = 5.3 L/100 km

Source.

The CVT is EPA rated 40 mpg (US) combined. The 5-speed is rated at 37.

Note: there's one hard core hypermiler/EcoModder member -- 3dplane -- in the 5-speed group skewing the result (he's averaging 63 mpg US), but even when you omit his results, the manuals are still ahead.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Learn clutchless shifting!

( Then replace your synchros instead of your clutch disc? )

Did Baby Prelude (Roheryn) just need synchros? After my third clutch replacement, I started shifting using just the accelerator, not the clutch, until one day I could not shift, and then she was towed because I "abandoned" her.

I really feel like there are not any skills that I can master to 100%. Walking? No, trip for no reason. Breathing? No, sometimes try to inhale or exhale twice in a row. Drinking water? That one can be life-threatening.

I will skip the story, but some things are not worth the time to achieve 100%

[Cobb]

I tend to operate the clutch similar to how an auto does. I relie on it slipping for smooth launches, then release and floor the throttle. If I am out at 3 am I just release the clutch at idle and roll off. If I am in rush hour I release at 3 grand and go.

I havent worn out a clutch myself, but many Ive replaced are because of either an engine oil seal leak, tranny seal leak or just because you are inside that part of the vehicle replacing a throwout bearing, flywheel or pressure plate.

Now pressure plates with broken springs and flywheels with chewed up starter gears is another story.