Will this hurt the clutch?

[hate2work]

Two days ago our 20 yo son traded in his old automatic Mustang for an 08 GT Mustang 5 speed. Since he didn't know how to drive a stick, I had to drive it home for him. So we got it home and I took him out for about an hour and showed him the finer points of driving a manual transmission, and I gotta say he caught on pretty fast.

He drove it to work yesterday, and when he came home he told me that he discovered that starting out in second gear was a lot easier than starting out in first, much less jerky, etc.

I told him that my gut feeling was that was not a good thing, but I would ask our mechanic tomorrow.

What do you guys think? I took it for a drive this morning and did a couple starts in second gear, and he's right, it IS much smoother/easier. Didn't seem like the clutch was slipping at all.

Will this hurt anything if he continues starting out in second gear?

 

[aquariuscsm]

I occasionally do that as well. My car`s 1st gear almost feels like a granny gear.

 

[92saturnsl2]

If the engine has the torque such that you don't have to slip the clutch excessively when starting out, you'll be just fine.

 

[demarpaint]

I'd use first gear unless it is a truck with no load and a granny gear for first. Taking off in second can glaze or burn the clutch depending on how its geared. Using first is better for the clutch in a car.

 

[Dave Hess]

No damage done. I the engine has enough torque and will not cause any harm.

 

[FL_Rob]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I'd use first gear unless it is a truck with no load and a granny gear for first. Taking off in second can glaze or burn the clutch depending on how its geared. Using first is better for the clutch in a car.

+1

 

[Eddie]

Yes. Learn to drive it properly using the first gear.

 

[fdcg27]

Depends upon how short second is, and how much torque is available.
Not a good idea in any Honda, or my BMW, but probably okay if second is pretty short and the engine has decent low end torque.
I remember driving a CJ-5 years ago, inline six and four speed, and you could easily start from rest in third!

 

[The_Jeff]

If it's jerky he's doing it wrong or the car needs some mechanical work.

A sticky throttle body or bad motor mount would be my first guess.

As long as he's still learning, the "muscle memory" has not yet taken hold, now is the time to learn it absolutely perfectly. Get back to practicing in 1st gear.

Yeah the car probably has lots of power and a blip of the throttle makes it go nuts. One can still learn. I'd go with the classic, "lift the clutch at idle, until the engine speed starts to drop" method. Done successfully, he'll be creeping along at 2 MPH at 700 RPM with the clutch completely engaged.

 

[mechtech2]

The clutch disc, flywheel , and pressure plate will wear more with your son's technique.
It has to - more slippage.
Start in first.

 

[antonmnster]

First gear is there for a reason.

It makes total sense that it would be smoother in second, but it certainly will wear the friction material off far faster. Ever wonder why one driver gets 30,000 miles out of a clutch and another can get 200,000 with the same model?

Just remember: the clutch pedal has TWO positions, up and down. The only way to not wear one out prematurely is to not slip it.

He needs to keep working on it. It takes time to get it right!

 

[Volvo_ST1]

If you can accelerate from a dead stop in second gear without the engine straining or without having to ride the clutch, no harm done. I'm pretty sure the Mustang can do it.

I sometimes take off in second. I can launch in third without the engine bucking on a level surface, but I have to be very gentle with the clutch.

 

[adamjeeps]

Even if the car has the torque to start in 2nd with no excess clutch wear, he should still learn to drive the car like it was meant to be driven. I mean, your not gonna win any stoplight races this way!!

 

[hate2work]

Seems like the answers are a mixed bag, some say no harm and others say it will cause premature wear, so...

Well, the car definitely has plenty of torque, that's for sure. So does that alone mean no harm will come to the clutch, etc? I will talk with him about the responses here, and as well about what our mechanic says when I ask him tomorrow

 

[tom slick]

What about the wear saved from from 1-2 shift?

I've had "abused" clutches last well over 100k miles and "not abused" clutches last less than 100k.

I don't think he's hurting anything unless his technique is bad.

 

[dtt004]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
Yes. Learn to drive it properly using the first gear.


lol. almost all cars today have horrible electronic throttle control. they are too desensitized, so when you dab it in, nothing happens. dab it in more, then things suddenly wake up real fast. try it in any modern car, you'll see what I mean. Mechanical throttles are relegated to the past now, although I prefer their feeling. It's simply direct, no surprises.

Anyways, bad ETC It makes it tougher to go off in first gear, especially with the torque provided from the engine and the gear ratio as well. Starting off in second simply gives you more traction. That's why in the owner's manual, they will always recommend starting in second when in less-than-optimal traction conditions.

 

[SEMI_287]

It's the second time he's ever drove stick. He needs more practice that's all.

 

[hate2work]

Originally Posted By: dtt004
lol. almost all cars today have horrible electronic throttle control. they are too desensitized, so when you dab it in, nothing happens. dab it in more, then things suddenly wake up real fast. try it in any modern car, you'll see what I mean. Mechanical throttles are relegated to the past now, although I prefer their feeling. It's simply direct, no surprises.

Anyways, bad ETC It makes it tougher to go off in first gear, especially with the torque provided from the engine and the gear ratio as well. Starting off in second simply gives you more traction. That's why in the owner's manual, they will always recommend starting in second when in less-than-optimal traction conditions.



Ha! I hadn't thought about the ETC til you posted this, that's exactly how this car behaves. And no doubt why he's having trouble taking off in first gear. Thanks for posting this info

 

[widman]

Starting in 2nd will cause more wear. It will also lug the engine, causing low hydrodynamic lubrication and more need for boundary lubrication from rods pushing against bearings bearings without the proper oil film.

There is little or no clutch wear from 1st to 2nd or any other consecutive gears.

 

[dishdude]

A 20 year old driving a 5 speed Mustang GT, that clutch is going to see a lot worse abuse than starting out in second!