Clutch break in Help!

[Deleted member 69311]

This is my first manual car so it’s also my first time dealing with a new clutch.

I’m getting my car back tomorrow with my new OEM clutch + flywheel installed. I have a retreat I’m going to, that’s about 2 hours of highway driving.

I know proper break in procedure is 500 miles of stop and go, clutch engaged/disengaged around the city driving.

Is it dumb for me to take my car on this 2 hour trip with a brand new clutch? Are there any dangers of doing this?

This is my only vehicle so my other option is renting a car.

Sponsored

 

[NGOT8R]

Yes, the preferred way is lots of starting and stopping with upshifting and downshifting. I think you’ll be fine on the highway though. If you think about it, a brand new car from the dealership can have as few as 3 miles on the odometer and people run em hard off the rip, especially on test drives.

I’m just coming out of break-in on my aftermarket clutch now. I have a little over 800 miles on it so far and I think I’m going to call it good right there. I plan to visit the drag strip with it next week to see how well the new clutch performs compared to the factory one.

 

[SheepDog]

This is my first manual car so it’s also my first time dealing with a new clutch.

I’m getting my car back tomorrow with my new OEM clutch + flywheel installed. I have a retreat I’m going to, that’s about 2 hours of highway driving.

I know proper break in procedure is 500 miles of stop and go, clutch engaged/disengaged around the city driving.

Is it dumb for me to take my car on this 2 hour trip with a brand new clutch? Are there any dangers of doing this?

This is my only vehicle so my other option is renting a car.

Don't even worry about it. The OEM clutch is forgiving and designed for regular driving. While you are driving on the highway, just upshift and downshift periodically to engage/disengage the clutch. Don't beat the crap out of it but don't baby it either, you want the friction material and the flywheel surfaces to mate as quickly as possible, but if you are too hard on it, it can cause glazing and hotspots. Conversely if you are too easy on it, this can also cause glazing as this prolongs the break-in or mating of the surfaces and can cause slipping or chattering issues.

 

[Cory S]

I used to break all my clutch jobs in within 1 day on the streets. Miles has nothing to do with it. it’s heat cycles combined with engaging/disengaging.

 

[ice445]

The car will be just fine as above. If you installed an aftermarket clutch it might be a different story, but just drive the car as you normally would. Highway miles are a pause on the break in, and that's about it. Unless you're flooring it in 6th to pass or some weird shit like that...

 

[KingKona]

Just drive it, it's fine.

I do, though, wonder how you already needed a new clutch.

 

[Deleted member 69311]

Just drive it, it's fine.

I do, though, wonder how you already needed a new clutch.

I posted an update on my other thread about the dealership telling me that my clutch was aftermarket and that it had a gap between the crank tone ring and it caused it to slip off I guess, and misalign, causing my car to go into limp mode and misfire. They told me the aftermarket clutch doesn’t fit right and wouldn’t go back on so they had to order a whole new kit. I asked them if I can keep the old clutch, so I’ll post a picture of it on that thread when I get my car back. But it’s funny… I drove my car on that clutch for a whole year and never had any issues.

(https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/did-a-pull-crank-sensor-went-out.186294/)

 

[KingKona]

I posted an update on my other thread about the dealership telling me that my clutch was aftermarket and that it had a gap between the crank tone ring and it caused it to slip off I guess, and misalign, causing my car to go into limp mode and misfire. They told me the aftermarket clutch doesn’t fit right and wouldn’t go back on so they had to order a whole new kit. I asked them if I can keep the old clutch, so I’ll post a picture of it on that thread when I get my car back. But it’s funny… I drove my car on that clutch for a whole year and never had any issues.

(https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/did-a-pull-crank-sensor-went-out.186294/)

I can't imagine how much money you throw at your car.

I bet your dealership service department loves you!!

 

[HKusp]

Don't mind him. He's got all the answers for everyone.

Sponsored