Originally Posted by
douglas4
I am kind to my clutch. But it feels like it has a slight slip in first other than that its fine.
Doug - the next time you get on the interstate and are running 70 - 75 mph (or faster), whomp the throttle all the way to the floor. After you are able to pull your head back forward off the headrest, watch the tach and listen. If your clutch doesn't slip under that condition, you're good for a while. I say that speed because your engine makes close to the maximum torque from about 3,700 - 4,500 rpm. It hits max about 4,000 rpm. This max torque is where it would slip and 5th has the most mechanical advantage to put maximum stress on the clutch.
My truck would slip pulling my trailer(s) when I'd be cruise controlling on the interstate and start pulling a decent hill. Then I noticed if I whomped it hard enough empty in 6th gear it would slip. This was before the 1,000 lb-ft clutch.
My son's G35 slipped in the same way ... but much easier and in most gears. But it was much more worn out than my truck's had been. I made him drive it like that for a month or two. I told him, if you can learn how to launch the car being real easy on your worn out clutch and can do it without slipping, then you're proficient at clutch driving. He got better QUICKLY. Then I put a new clutch in his car and he was good to go and thoroughly understands what it is that wears out a clutch.
Lastly - I can understand your concern about your car being owned by a former owner. My wife can drive a manual transmission very well. Yet she slips the clutch WAY more than I do.
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View my fuel log 2020 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 42.4 mpg (US) ... 18.0 km/L ... 5.6 L/100 km ... 50.9 mpg (Imp)