what things can you do to prolong the life of a f1 clutch

There's a lot of controversy (?fact) about this. I do that too, but I read somewhere on here that that is not a factor in clutch wear. Personally, I think high rpm downshifts burn it up as does burnouts.

 

When you are standing still at the lights your clutch is disengaged, no need to put it in neutral. The actuators disengage the clutch the same as you would do when you depress the clutch in a manual car. Every time you take off in first gear, with your F1, as soon as you touch the accelerator, it feathers (slips) the clutch, just like you would do in a manual car. I believe the wear problem arises predominantly when you drive your F1 a lot in heavy traffic and you are constantly stopping and starting in first gear.
The electronic throttle matches the revs for the downshifts not the clutch.
The clutch can be adjusted from a lazy slip to a quick bite, obviously that has a bearing on the clutch wear, but also on the driving comfort.
Burnouts definitely don't help.
Ciao
Brenden

 

Reversing is another thing that effects the clutch life. Keep it in 1st at the lights, no reason to go to neutral as another poster noted.

 

Most clutch wear actually starts at the moment of take-off from a standing start. Crisp starts are best. Try and leave some room between you and the car in front of you so you can accelerate positively (different than quickly or fast) rather than lugging the car out of the dead stop..

 

Reversing is not bad. It's reversing uphill that causes problems. Treat it like a motorcycle - you'd never park a motorcycle with its front in such a way that you would have to back your way out. You don't do that in an F1 gearbox either.

Keep your foot on the brake at the stoplight. As was previously posted, the clutch is disengaged. There is constant communication between the electronics in the car and the clutch isn't going to wear at a stoplight. The programming is smarter than that.

 

I have 72 % of clutch life after 7 Miles of hard hi speed highway use and 4 trk days,no L.C,s and I always go to N in red lights I am careful when going up in parking lots,ramp etc.When starting from 0 miles after a light I feel when then clutch is engaging and I a good with the gas pedal,never use full engine power in 1st gear.
I use the car hard and with the above tips my clutch life is very good.

 

This is correct. The clutch never fully engages in reverse so it can wear out your clutch quickly.

Partially correct. Reverse is BAD, no question about that. Reverse up hill is TERRIBLE.

This is exactly correct. Combine this with the comments about traffic and you have the major problem area. When in traffic remember that it is a clutch. It is not an automatic, there is no viscous coupling. SO when in traffic bumping the throttle, then touching the brake, then throttle again will kill the clutch. In traffic let a space open, hit the throttle to engage the clutch then don't touch the brake until you stop. The brake will cause the clutch to disengage.

Two more things:
Auto mode does not cause accelerated wear. The same program engage and disengages the clutch. It just shifts at lower RPM.

Low traction mode is BAD. It is the button that looks like a car skidding. When you push the button the car starts in 2nd and feathers the clutch more to limit torque to the wheels. Both cause excessive clutch slipping and wear.

And the issue of N at stops has been covered well so I will leave it alone. No impact but somewhat dangerous.

 

Easy enough - don't drive tentatively.

Everything you do, reversing, starting from a stop, driving around parking lots, do "positively". The majority of clutch wear, as has been mentioned, is slow speed and starts from a stop, whether in forward or reverse. Always take off in 1st, never in 2nd.

Remember the car is a true manual, just with a computer that's trying to out-think you. Treat it like a Carrera GT or other aggressive clutch....take off deliberately, and don't ride the clutch.

 

Don't abuse downshifts, so when going to a stoplight or the like just put it in N and just brake.

 

I have a stupid question.

When you say reverse, are you referring to simply pulling out of your garage in reverse?

Thanks,

 

Some reverse is necessary, such as backing out of a garage or a parking spot. As has been mentioned here, while in reverse, the clutch is constantly slipping. The point is to minimize as much as possible. The clutch will wear eventually. Driving techniques must be modified to accommodate this unique system.

 

I can tell that the clutch slips quite a bit less with the ASR off. Somebody told me that the clutch life is extended about 30% with the ASR off. I think sport mode is similar as well.

I know that if I try a fast start with the ASR on (default mode) the clutch slips like crazy to keep the tires from breaking loose. I am not trying to break them loose, but I can get going much faster with the ASR off, as the clutch slips less. I just have to be very careful with the gas pedal to keep tire traction.

 

There have been numerous postings on this subject and one thing I gleaned about reversing is to try and do it in deliberate bursts of throttle....kinda a "blip and glide", as opposed to a long accelerator application..

My driveway set up is such that I have a relatively long (150 yds) flat reverse I have to do to get to the road in front of the house. I hit the throttle once to get it moving out of the garage, glide, hit is again about 15 yds later, and continue to the road...probably do this 3 - 4 times. Then shift into first and keep revs around 1500 - 2000 (road is a long downward slope).

 

I think you should drive the car as you normally would do so and not think about it. Apparently you need to avoid backing up a hill but otherwise don't worry about it.

When it wears out just get it replaced. Excess worry takes away the enjoyment of ownership, IMHO.

Best..

 

You should have bought a six speed manual but the best way to prolong the life is to not drive it at all or maybe a thousand miles in five years like most do, lol.

 

I absolutely love my six speed.

 

That's what "AUTO" mode is for, not that I have any experience

No....excess time in the shop reduces the enjoyment

 

I was just having some fun with my previous post, but truly I love my six speed too and would never consider an F1 no matter what. Too bad about the 458.

 

Here's what you should do:


Drive the car.

Stop worrying about the clutch

Don't worry about the depreciation

Stop caring about how much insurance it costs.

Just drive the car because that's what it's for and why you bought it in the first place.