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Driving a vehicle that has a dual-clutch transmission is not difficult after you learn the process, but you have to take your time to avoid making harmful mistakes. Because not all drivers understand dual-clutch transmissions fully, people often engage in risky behavior, resulting in expensive repairs. Learning a thing or two about the harmful driving habits of dual-clutch transmission vehicles can save you a lot of money in the future.

Once again, Engineering Explained helps drivers understand why their habits might harm their transmission.

For example, if you have noticed a delay when you try to shift gears, learning about the cause will help you to avoid the problem. You will find that there are habits that will slowly destroy your vehicle without your knowledge. Once you know which of your driving habits might be harming your car, you will know how what to avoid them and keep your vehicle running at peak performance.

  1. History of the 7-speed M Double-Clutch Transmission (DCT) DCT comes from BMW’s Motorsports, where on the race track, every tenth of a second is critical for the win. Debuted first in the M3 Coupe, Sedan, and Convertible, the Performance Option 7-Speed Double-Clutch Transmission is currently priced at $2,900 and is available for the new M.
  2. Feb 08, 2021 A dual-clutch transmission is basically a manual transmission that's controlled by a computer. However, with no pedal and little work required of the driver, it's technically a type of automatic transmission. Can you drive a dual clutch like an automatic? You can't drive a dual clutch just like you would an automatic.
  3. A transmission can usually be pulled out of gear and into neutral without significant difficulty, and then the operator can match revs, clutch and engage gear in the same manner as previously described. The first declutching is simply to ease taking the transmission out of gear.
Double clutch transmission truck

Switching to Neutral when Stopping

When coming to a stop, drivers will often put a dual-clutch transmission car in neutral because they think that doing so protects the transmission.

Engineers had solved this issue before it might have become an issue. In dual-clutch transmission, when you apply a certain amount of pressure to the brakes, and the car slows down enough, both clutches will disengage automatically, which means the car will be in neutral even though you did not shift to neutral. As the clutches are designed to disengage on their own while you slow down enough, leaving your vehicle in drive will not be harmful.

If you opt to switch gears because you think that you are preventing your vehicle from incurring damage, or saving fuel, you are not really doing much. The transmission already took care of the issue without the need to shift gears. If your primary goal is to save fuel, turn your vehicle off at a red light if you know it will be a while before you get moving again.

Transmission

Taking your Foot off the Brake when on an Incline

If you drive a vehicle that has a dual-clutch transmission, learning to handle inclines safely and effectively is one of the biggest obstacles to overcome. When you are behind the wheel of an automatic vehicle, the spinning of the torque converter will hold the car in place, preventing it from rolling. As for dual-clutch vehicles, the clutch pack itself attempts to hold the vehicle in place. However, the force needed to maintain the position of your vehicle will put even more stress on the clutch – it will heat up and start slipping. Over time, this behavior will cause damage to the clutch, and you will be facing steep maintenance fees by the time you notice any signs of trouble.

Using your brakes at each incline will work wonders in protecting the health of your vehicle. When you use brakes, the clutch is disengaged. By taking the pressure off the clutch, you will reduce the amount of heat, wear, and stress that is applied.

When it comes to dual-clutch transmission vehicles, there are various types of clutches that behave differently when put under pressure. The rule of thumb tells us that multi-plate and wet clutches absorb more heat than other types, while dry clutches tend to be lighter and more efficient.

Inching Forward in Traffic or While Towing

Double Clutch Transmission Truck

Like most people, you have spent your fair share of time stuck in traffic during rush hour or in bad weather on the freeway. Slowly inching forward in a dual-clutch vehicle is a bad idea. By having your foot on the brake and slowly creeping forward, your first gear clutch is not fully engaged, which means there’s more wear on the transmission.

It is important to know that the clutch is designed to handle such driving behavior. Even so, avoiding this type of driving as much as possible will prolong the longevity of the transmission. To prolong the life of your clutch, you will want to wait for a larger gap in traffic before you take your foot off the brake to move forward. Only moving when you have sufficient room will allow your vehicle to switch to first gear, lessening the stress on the engine.

Downshifting while Holding the Accelerator Pedal and Upshifting while Holding the Brake

The way that you switch gears will play a role in your ability to control your car or truck. Without giving it much thought, people sometimes downshift while accelerating and upshift with a foot on the brake. Shifting gears at the wrong time will NOT cause damage, but it willaffect your performance – you will experience a delay in shifting. With at least two transmission shafts (one for odd and the other for even gears), a dual-clutch transmission will always preselect the gear to which you intend to shift.

When you are speeding up – engaging the accelerator pedal – the dual-clutch transmission will preselect a higher gear. If you are engaging the brake and slowing down, the transmission will preselect a lower gear.

If you apply the brake before shifting up, you will experience a delay in shifting. This delay is a result of the vehicle preselecting a lower gear based on your usage of the brake. Since the correct gear was not preselected, it will take some time for the vehicle to select the correct gear.

There is another likely scenario where you might experience a lag in shifting gears: When you approach a red light and the light turns green before you have enough time to stop. To maintain the flow of traffic, you will need to accelerate, but it might take some time before the vehicle shifts into gear because both of your clutches might be disengaged if you slowed down enough, as we already explained earlier.

Double Clutch Transmission

Double Clutch Transmission Explained

Launching the Vehicle

In an attempt to launch a vehicle quickly, people often hold the gas and brake pedals at the same time for too long. If you do that, the heat and tension that is generated will transfer to the clutch and cause damage. Luckily, some vehicles have systems in place to prevent damage from launching your vehicle the wrong way. As the speed of the engine increases, the vehicle will disengage the transmission if you are not moving forward. However, unless you know whether your car or truck offers this level of protection, you will not want to take the risk.

Dual Clutch Transmission For Sale

Final Thoughts

Double-clutch Transmission

As with any investment, you must always do everything that you can to prevent problems with your vehicle. If you plan to purchase a vehicle with a dual-clutch transmission, or if you already own one, knowing how to avoid bad driving habits will considerably increase the longevity of your transmission and your vehicle.