[AT] OT, sort of: Harm in keeping clutch engaged while stopped?

[Phil Auten]

I usually do as you, Dean. Mainly because it's always easier on my left 
leg. :o)

Phil

At 05:52 PM 07/21/2004, you wrote:
>Gang, I've always believed you should shift into neutral and release the 
>clutch on a manual transmission any time you're just sitting there idling, 
>rather than holding the clutch in.  My dad always did it that way, I 
>learned to drive the tractor and the truck that way, and so for lots of 
>years I've been driving my cars that way.
>
>But my wife noticed me doing that the other day and asked why, and I 
>couldn't really come up with a reason other than "it just feels like there 
>ought to be less wear and tear that way."  As I think about it, I don't 
>see where it would heat anything up or cause any more wear on the clutch 
>disks, which would already be disengaged.  Maybe add some unnecessary 
>strain on the linkage and springs and bearings or whatever, but would it 
>be enough to make a difference in the service life of the clutch?  I've 
>never worked on one, so I don't have a good mental image of what I'm 
>talking about.
>
>I saw a website that said holding the clutch in at a stoplight is 
>dangerous because if you get rear-ended your foot will slip off and the 
>car will lurch forward, but I was thinking there's some mechanical or 
>service-life issue.  Any smarter views out there?
>
>Thanks--
>
>Dean Vinson  --  Dayton Ohio