Breaking

[vaxick]

Hmmm...I was always told by my father and others that if you hit just the break pedal in a manual before hitting the clutch the car will stall. While driving tonight I accidentally hit the break pedal without applying my foot to the clutch and to my surprise the car did not stall. So now I'm rather curious to learn why it did not stall the engine. Any ideas why or is this just a unique feature with TDI's?

 

[cage]

You can leave the clutch alone and brake until the engine speed gets to idle (1,000 rpm) then push the clutch in. The engine will only stall if you keep braking and the engine goes below idle speed. That goes for all manual cars.

 

[dieseldorf]

Braking ?

vaxick, it's only going to stall at very low RPMs.

 

[bjmarler]

Braking ?

Try it in 1st gear, and you will probably stall.

 

[cage]

Braking ?

Has nothing to do with which gear you are in it is the rpm.

 

[madrean]

I hope you're not pushing in the clutch EVERY time you brake... man.. poor clutch..

 

[kowached]

Poor clutch? More like poor brakes. Leaving the car in gear while slowing down/braking (engine compression braking) has got to take a heck of a load off of the brakes, but I understand your point too.

I'm in agreement with everyone else here, don't touch the clutch until your engine RPM is around 1000.

 

[compu_85]

Plus, when you engine break, you get better fule millage: the engine uses little or no fule when engine breaking, which is a lot less than at idle.

Like other's have said, keep it un gear until the RPMs drop to around 1000. Then take it into neutral.

-Jason

 

[vaxick]

Wow, I guess I learned a good lesson last night then

 

[dieseldorf]

Braking ?

guys, it's brake, not break.

I've never really thought much about this topic but paid attention to my driving while I was on the road today. I suspect most of us brake

much of the time with the car in gear as we slow down...it's completely normal. I only depress the clutch as I approach my stop.

 

[mgwerks]

Braking ?

Plus, it also makes sense from a "wear and tear" perspective. It is cheaper and easier to replace brakes than clutches...

 

[vaxick]

Braking ?

guys, it's brake, not break.

I've never really thought much about this topic but paid attention to my driving while I was on the road today. I suspect most of us brake

much of the time with the car in gear as we slow down...it's completely normal. I only depress the clutch as I approach my stop.

Haha sorry, it was like 4 am when I posted this

Anyways, my dad always told me you need to hit the clutch before you press the brake, but I guess he was wrong. It's so nice to know this now though as I'm sure it's going to make driving a manual a little simpler.

 

[Bob_Fout]

Braking ?

I've noticed if I need to slow down and think I'll have to downshift once I need to get going again, I'll apply the brakes and push the clutch in, in aticipation of having to shift. If I'm just slowing down for a bit, I'll just apply the brakes.

 

[ymz]

Depends on the weather !!

If you're driving on icy, snow-covered roads, you could stall the engine if you brake while in gear... the driving wheels could lose contact with the surface, and the brakes will cause them to stop - you'll be sliding.... the engine will certainly stall!!

Just my 2 cents' worth...

 

[cage]

That's more of a sliding issue than a stalling issue. On slippery roads you want to disconnect the drivetrain from the wheels so that the brakes can do what they do best. That's a whole other can of worms though.

 

[ymz]

>>That's more of a sliding issue than a stalling issue<<

True... semantics... I was just replying to his statement that he was told "that if you hit just the break pedal in a manual before hitting the clutch the car will stall. "

All the best,

 

[oilcan_boyd]

Plus, when you engine break, you get better fule millage: the engine uses little or no fule when engine breaking, which is a lot less than at idle.

Like other's have said, keep it un gear until the RPMs drop to around 1000. Then take it into neutral.

-Jason

You should always run down through the gears.
In some states it is illegal to coast in neutral.