OT Security at Canary Wharf

[Davey]

I agree with that. I was taught to check it was in neutral, and then leave the clutch alone, just as you say.

[charles]

and I was taught to depress the clutch. If you simply leave it in neutral you are trying to stir up the cold oil in the gearbox and put an extra load on the starter motor/battry.

[Davey]

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. Both arguments have merit, in a cold climate, the depress clutch one would have more effect than in a warm climate.

[Davey]

So you are probably good at hill starts?

[The Medway Handyman]

+1

[The Natural Philosopher]

Its six of one..

Cold clutch release bearings are pretty draggy too..

[Andy Champ]

I heel and toe sometimes on downshifts, especially when the box is cold. I see no need to do it when starting the engine.

If someone tried to sell me that feature on a new car I'd regard it as a reason not to buy it. Along with xenon headlights (hate the sharp cutoff) LED taillights (but only the ones with the cheapskate flickery circuit to re-use the same LEDs for brake and tail) automatic headlamp levelling (I like the manual one, for when I'm following someone down a bouncy road)...

Perhaps I should get a Caterham. Goes well, no wasteful gadgets. Not sure about the crashworthiness though...

Andy

[grimly4]

Not much - the input shaft will turn the layshaft but not the rest of the gearbox. As for the drag of cold oil - not a huge amount involved in the typical car 'box.

[Davey]

I was just describing the technique, not advocating its use under any particular conditions. After living in the US, where headlights are not allowed to cut off, any European lights are good. When you get your Caterham, let me know, I would love a drive of it!

[charles]

[Snip]

obviously a favourite with examiners. My mother, in the late 1920s, took an international test (there was no British test at the time) and that was the hill used. (