No doubt, the clutch is one of the most important components of a car. It’s the mechanism responsible for connecting the rotating shafts of a vehicle. Furthermore, the function of the clutch is to transfer power properly from the engine to the wheels.
When it comes to learning how to drive a manual transmission car, two things are important. First, you need to learn how to change gears properly. Apart from that, it’s also essential to understand how to release the clutch smoothly.
Releasing the clutch properly is important because it’ll prevent your car from stalling. That said, for you to release your clutch smoothly, you need to identify where the bite point is. Lift the clutch pedal gently to this point, and then a little bit further before releasing it completely.
Is it okay to release the clutch slowly or quickly? How do I release my clutch smoothly? Why does my car jerk when I release the clutch? As you read through the rest of this article, you’ll find answers to the frequently asked questions above.
Should I Release The Clutch Slowly Or Quickly?
In a manual transmission car, accelerator, clutch, and brake are the panel of the holy trinity. For you to enjoy a smooth driving experience, you need to balance the way you operate the three systems. This brings us to this question – is it okay to release the clutch slowly or quickly?
If you ask many people this question, you’ll most likely get the two options (slowly and quickly) as answers. There are many people out there who believe it’s okay to release the clutch quickly.
However, it’s worth knowing that the best way to release your clutch is slowly. In case you don’t know, there are lots of dangers attached to releasing the clutch too quickly or soon. One of them is that it causes the car to stall or jerk.
Stalling occurs when your car engine stops for several reasons, including when you quickly release the clutch. You need to also understand that stalling can happen when you release the clutch too slowly.
Furthermore, another effect of “releasing your clutch too quickly” is that it could cause overheating of the clutch. Unfortunately, if this happens for too long, it could make the clutch deteriorate, rendering it useless.
Here’s How The Clutch Works
As earlier mentioned, the primary function of the clutch is to transfer power from the engine to the transmission and then to the wheels. For this to happen, the engine has to be on for its flywheel to continue revolving.
From a stationary position, when the 1st gear is engaged, what is next is to release the clutch slowly. At this point, the clutch plates start to engage. The engagement of the plates is what moves the transmission and makes the car move.
If you move the clutch quickly, instead of releasing the clutch slowly as mentioned above, you may end up seriously damaging your car’s transmission.
The bottom line is that it’s better to release your clutch slowly when driving. Releasing the clutch too quickly will most likely cause your engine to stall or jerk. Again, it could cause the clutch to overheat and deteriorate over time. Releasing the clutch too quickly can also damage the transmission system of your car.
In case you don’t know, one of the benefits of releasing your clutch slowly is that it helps to save the amount of fuel needed. Above all, it’ll prevent your car from being damaged.
How Do You Release The Clutch Smoothly?
As previously stated, knowing how to release the clutch smoothly is one of the things you need to get familiar with when learning how to drive a manual transmission car.
It’s pretty simple; for you to release your car clutch smoothly, the very first thing you need is to identify and locate your bite point. So, what exactly does “bite point” mean?
The clutch bite point is the point at which the plates touch and start to transfer engine power to the wheels. One of the benefits of knowing your clutch biting point is that it provides drivers with greater control of their cars. You’ll certainly find this handy when you find yourself driving through a hill.
How To Find The Bite Point?
You can follow the simple and direct steps below to find your clutch biting point.
- First, you need to locate a safe, quiet, and flat area to practice.
- After performing every setup, what’s next is to turn on your engine.
- As soon as the engine is on, release your handbrake.
- Next, you need to depress the clutch.
- After that, put your vehicle in 1st gear.
- Next, gently push your accelerator, checking and ensuring that your RPM is around 1,500.
- Now, slowly take your foot off the clutch pedal. As you continue doing that, you’ll reach a point where your clutch plates will start to touch. That is your bite point! At this point, your transmission will move, and eventually, the car will begin to move.
After locating the bite point, all you need is to gently release the clutch a little bit further. After that, release the clutch all the way as your car starts to pick up speed. After that press the accelerator as you want.
Why Does My Car Jerk When I Release The Clutch?
There are a couple of reasons why your car keeps jerking every time you try releasing the clutch. First, it could be that you’re releasing the clutch too quickly. If not, then it means you’re releasing the clutch too slowly.
For the best result, you need to learn how to identify your bite point. This way, you’ll be able to release your car clutch smoothly and avoid engine jerking.
