Filters, car fluids, batteries or tires. All these elements of your vehicle have a programmed durability that should be monitored. Doing this instead of waiting for something to stop working can save you more than one breakdown and, therefore, an unforeseen financial outlay. Complying with the repair and replacement deadlines indicated by the manufacturer in the maintenance manual also provides a guarantee of safety, comfort and efficiency for the vehicle's occupants.
The clutch is one of the most sensitive and important elements of manual transmission vehicles, since it is responsible for bringing the engine's power to the wheels. Its useful life is relatively short, but drivers can increase it with a series of good practices. The clutch is also one of the most expensive elements to replace, especially if it is dual-mass, which is why it requires special attention during periodic inspections in the workshop.
Luckily, there is a simple test that you can do on your own to check if your vehicle's clutch meets the conditions for correct operation. This is a quick test that allows you to know what the state of the clutch is at a given time and that should be carried out, especially if you are thinking of purchasing a second-hand car.
The test consists of starting the vehicle and, without stopping the engine, stopping it on a flat area with sufficient safety space. Next, depress the clutch pedal, engage the highest gear and release it suddenly. If the clutch is good, it will stall immediately. Otherwise, the clutch would slip, a failure that indicates that it is reaching the end of its useful life.
If when we accelerate, the car's engine revs too much without gaining the expected speed, it means that the clutch is slipping and is no longer capable of transmitting the engine's power to the wheels. Given this indication, you should contact your trusted workshop before the clutch fails completely, as a large part of the car's horsepower would be lost in that friction.
The cost of replacing a clutch will depend on whether it is normal or dual-mass (these are more expensive) and the power of the car: the higher the power, the larger and more expensive the discs will be. In the best of cases, the repair will not go below 700 euros, hence the importance of trying to extend the useful life of the clutch as much as possible.
A clutch can be used for 200,000 kilometers or even more, if we avoid a series of vices such as, for example, pressing the accelerator and clutch at the same time, driving with the foot resting on the left pedal, starting at full speed after stopping without stopping the engine or going up steep hills abruptly.
