It’s a fact of life that your clutch won’t last forever, no matter how well you take care of your vehicle. At some point, you’ll need to have a clutch replacement carried out by a mechanic. However, it can be difficult to plan for this if you don’t know roughly when it’s going to need changing – so how long should a clutch last if you’re taking good care of it?
How many miles does a clutch last?
Naturally, no two clutches are exactly the same. While they may have the same design and fit into the same types of car, a lot of the variation in how long a clutch lasts depends on the driver and the maintenance routine. Generally speaking, most clutches will last for around 60,000 miles – but this can vary from as little as 30,000 miles to as much as 100,000 miles.
This can depend on many factors, and not all of them are possible to control. For example, if you live and drive in a city, it’s likely that you’ll be doing a lot of stopping and starting at traffic lights, which will naturally wear your clutch down more than smooth, continuous driving on a motorway.
Additionally, warm weather can cause your clutch to wear down faster, meaning you’ll need to get it replaced sooner. Whether you’re experiencing a heatwave or you live in a naturally warm climate, it could reduce the life expectancy of your clutch system. Factors such as this might not be brought up when you get your vehicle’s MOT, so it’s worthwhile being familiar with how environmental factors can affect the longevity of your vehicle’s components.
The lifespan of your clutch can also be affected by the materials used to make it, and whether it is a wet clutch or a dry clutch. A dry clutch relies on friction between the air and the clutch plates, while a wet clutch is lubricated and uses friction between the lubricant and the clutch plates.
These factors can also have an impact on other things too, such as cost and maintenance needs, so if you’re considering getting a different clutch next time you need a replacement, it’s best to speak to a mechanic who can advise you on the best choice for your requirements.
How to make your clutch last longer
Although some variables are out of your control, there are several things you can do as the driver of your vehicle to help you get more life out of your clutch before it needs to be replaced.
Do not:
- Ride the clutch
Many drivers get into bad habits as time moves on from when they passed their test – one of which is riding the clutch. This is where you’re pressing the clutch and the accelerator at the same time, and it puts strain on the clutch that can make it wear out quicker. Instead, try to fully release the clutch before you put pressure on the accelerator.
- Use your clutch as a foot rest
Some cars have the added luxury of a foot rest to the left of the clutch pedal where you can put your foot when you’re not using the clutch. Many vehicles don’t have this feature, though, which means that some drivers can get into the bad habit of resting their foot on the clutch. This can have the effect of keeping the clutch slightly depressed all the time, which naturally wears it out.
Do:
- Put your vehicle into neutral when you stop
It’s natural when you stop at a junction to keep your foot on the clutch ready for when you need to pull away again. This allows you to pull away smoothly as soon as you see an opportunity, which avoids holding up any traffic behind you. However, if you’re going to be waiting a long time, it’s best to put your car into neutral and take your foot off the clutch. Otherwise, you’ll be wearing it out the whole time you’re stationary.
This doesn’t just apply to junctions and traffic lights. Level crossings and traffic jams are also scenarios where you might be at a standstill for a few minutes, so it’s worth putting your vehicle into neutral to save your clutch. Parking is another great example. Although leaving your vehicle in gear may reduce the risk of rolling if you’re parked on a hill, in the vast majority of cases, it’s best to leave your car in neutral.
- Get your car serviced regularly
Finally, one of the most important things you can do to improve the longevity of your clutch is to keep up with vehicle maintenance. Getting your car serviced regularly will mean that your clutch’s operation is checked regularly, and any issues can be spotted early, and highlighted to you in order to prevent any further unnecessary wear.
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