CLUTCH USAGE

Just bought a F430 (F1 transmission) last week, does anybody know if driving in 'AUTO' mode is good or bad for clutch life? I know I should just shift with the paddles BUT I live in Southern
California and traffic here sucks. It seems to shift smoother in AUTO mode, but does that equate to more or less clutch wear?

 

Frequent question - many versions of this answer but applies to F1 transmission generally http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/612-599/509417-599-clutch-life.html

 

Gee, not sure, but not using the clutch is bad for transmission life.

 

typically auto mode is believed to wear the clutch out faster, however on the newer models (430 forward) it may have less impact as the software controlling slippage is more accurate

 

The key word is "believed"

 

from my understanding, the "smooth" feeling is when you are wearing the clutch more. However, my understanding is that going forward isnt bad, its reversing that kills the clutch.

I am at 23k miles on my car, 55% clutch left.

 

But are you driving in the auto mode?

 

Indeed it is. I recall at a tech session back in 2000 at FoS that Sidney, the head tech at the time, said they were noticing much more accelerated clutch wear on 355s that were driven mostly in the auto mode. In the example he used, they had replaced a clutch at around 7,000 miles, and said the owner of the 355 was letting his wife drive it almost exclusively, and she always used the automatic mode.

I don't know if anything has changed in the software on the later cars to lessen the impact. When I asked about it when I got my Scud last year, FoS said not to worry about it. (my GF uses the auto mode when she drives it ).

It isn't a concern on the dual clutch cars.

 

Manual only for me!

 

Think about what it's doing to get smooth shifts, it's slipping the clutch, engaging and disengaging is when clutch wear occurs. Even running in wet/snow modes wears the clutch faster as there is more slip for smoothness. I have avoided auto mode completely, 35k miles on my 430, 53% clutch wear.

John.

 

Have had my 575M F1 for nearly 8 years and have never used Auto once. Those who use an F1 Ferrari like a 3 pedal with one pedal missing are usually pretty happy. Drive it exactly like you drive with a manual transmission. Those who confuse it with a car with an automatic transmission will likely be disappointed.

 

What smooth shifts?

Auto and manual operate the clutch the same, the only difference is the computer decides when to shift.

 

That would reflect the overall usage of the car by a driver predisposed to use auto mode, not due to a computer function.

 

Surely it's not as simple as on/off? The computer must have some scope to vary the speed in which the clutch is fully engaged? i performed an unscientific test of running the car in wet mode for a while, the way the clutch is engaged felt different to sport or race mode, it felt like it was coming in slower and smoother, after my test i used 3% clutch running for 1000 miles in wet vs 1% running in sport. With over 30k miles on my car now using only sport or race clutch wear has been pretty consistent. Auto mode is trying to mimic an autobox and surely in doing so is bringing the clutch in/out in a smoother slower fashion that it would be when not attemtping to shift smoothly?

I can only go on my experience of the different modes which do not all feel the same in how the clutch is operated.

John.

 

You better tell Magnetti Marelli because they don't know that.

 

Thanks for contributing to this thread Brian...great info as always!

 

Thanks for all the input! One more quick question, a few drivers stated they would go into neutral when slowing down (as opposed to downshifting). I've done this for years on manual trans cars (911,308 etc) when getting off the freeway (brakes are cheap compared to clutches and synchros). How does this work with the F1 trans? Do I just do the double pull of the paddles? If so, what gear will appear next? I'd hate to run up against the rev limiter if it goes into first when still going at a good clip.

 

Both paddles back will put you into neutral. If you need to get back into gear while coasting, pull either the upshift or downshift paddle, the F1 system will give you the highest gear that will keep the engine running smoothly. The owners manual has more information on this.

 

Chuck- You have figured out the smart way to drive an F1 Ferrari is just like you would a 3 pedal, except one pedal is missing. Even though either paddle will get you back into gear from neutral, as a technique, I use the downshift paddle because the gear you get will be too high and your hand/finger will already be in place for a downshift to a usable gear.

 

Which years of 430 have the double clutch?

 

Thanks! I knew you guys would have the right answer.

 

All 430s have a dual disc clutch. 360s have a single disc.

 

3-pedal with 28,000+ miles, original clutch. I coast to stops in neutral.
Manual transmission is the best, IMHO for me personally


Sent by incredibly fast electrons

 

F1 with 25,000 miles, original clutch. 90% of the time when approaching a stop sign there is a car in front of me so I just downshift until I am in 1st gear. If approaching a traffic light I sometimes coast up if I am the first car at the light.

 

Bottom line………….

Unless you plan to daily drive your car you should measure your clutch life by years, not miles.

Clutch disc wear is not the only reason the clutch has to be replaced.

In my case the pressure plate “fingers” got weak with a few of them broken over time. The disc still had plenty of material.

Probably one of the reasons you read about 10+ year old cars with only 7K-10K miles needing a new clutch.

The weak springs on the pressure plate caused my car to occasionally select neutral when up or down shifting.



As for shifting to neutral & coasting..........This means your foot is off the gas

If your still moving & want to go back into gear the right "upshift" paddle will select a higher gear.

The left "down shift" paddle will select a lower gear. It will NEVER drop it into a gear so low that it hits the rev limiter

When doing this I always put it back into gear just as I come to a stop with my foot on the brake. The logic is the transmission is still in motion & the gears will mesh.

Ever have to "pump" the clutch pedal to get the shifter to move into 1st on your old car? Even with syncros the gears in the tranny still need to be close to line up.



When stopped, in neutral or in gear, a F1 car ALWAYS has the clutch depressed & the throw-out bearing under load. Only in motion is the throw-out bearing relaxed

When you open the driver's door the F1 motor pressurizes the system so the transmission is ready. Especially useful if you shut it off in gear. The starter motor engaging is triggered by the clutch & brake switch position.