Unnoticed driving habits that cost you: How your clutch could be wearing out early

Under optimum conditions, a clutch should last about 62,000 miles before it begins to gradually wear out. The longevity of this component largely hinges on the driver's behavior on the road. Regrettably, drivers often acclimate to the initial signs of clutch wear, thus they fail to notice them in good time.

Karsten Graef, of TÜV SÜD, an organization that conducts inspections and technical tests in Germany, mentions that stepping on the clutch pedal while waiting at a red light, results in unnecessary wear on the thrust bearing and the clutch pressure plate. Mechanics hold the same view.

"With the clutch pedal pressed down, the components are subjected to increased pressure," explains Adam Lehnort, an expert from ProfiAuto. Simultaneously, he points out a detail that may put drivers at ease. "The issue is that, considering the entire clutch assembly during its operation, these values are so minimal that we shouldn't worry too much about whether we have the clutch pedal pressed down at a stop or not."

However, there is a specific behavior that can be especially detrimental to the clutch.

"Without a doubt, half-clutch driving, keeping the foot on standby, or popping the clutch, i.e., revving the engine to high RPM and quickly releasing the clutch pedal, has a far greater effect on the condition of the clutch," Lehnort reveals.

If we notice that we consistently keep our left foot on the clutch while driving, we should monitor the functioning of the system. A noisy clutch operation is usually caused by the clutch actuator, typically coupled with the thrust bearing. This noise is usually noticeable during gear changes. If we can discern it from the engine noise, that's a cause for concern. Fixing such damage involves disconnecting the engine and gearbox, which won't come cheap.