The trick to understanding if your car's clutch is leaving you

When it comes to cars and engines, the clutch is one of the most important and at the same time most expensive car components to replace.
For this reason it is important to manage it as best as possible so as not to wear it out too soon and incur a huge expense.
A clutch can last a short time, like 60,000 kilometers but also a long time, up to over 300,000 kilometers.
It all depends on the way you drive.
There are ways to better manage it and extend its life.
But how can we understand in advance if the clutch is leaving us and needs to be replaced? There is a very simple yet effective method, here's what it is.
Here's how to understand if your car's clutch is about to break According to the newspaper El Motor, there is a very simple method to understand the state of wear of a clutch.
All you need to do is go to flat, obstacle-free terrain.
At that point, from a standstill, engage the highest gear, fifth or sixth or even seventh.
At this point the engine should automatically turn off when we release the clutch to try to walk.
According to El Motor, if this doesn't happen then you should worry because it is likely that the clutch is in its final phase of life and could leave you stranded at any moment.
Then there are other ways to understand the wear status of the clutch.
Another warning sign is difficulty engaging the gear.
If we notice that some gears, especially the low ones, begin to engage with greater difficulty, it could be a sign of wear.
How to maximize the life of a clutch There are measures that can be taken while driving to maximize the life of a clutch.
Here are the ones: don't hold it down for too long or when it's not necessary; at traffic lights it is preferable to keep the car stopped in neutral rather than with the gear engaged and the clutch depressed; do not put pressure on the gearbox while parking; avoid keeping your foot on the clutch when not needed, even without squeezing it; every 2 years and a certain number of kilometers change the clutch oil.
These are small tricks that can limit clutch wear and extend its life.
How much does it cost to change a clutch Changing the clutch involves a significant expense.
This is a very complex component of the car that requires time.
Spare parts, depending on the parts to be replaced, can range from 150 to 600 euros.
Labor must then be added to this price.
It usually takes 4 to 8 hours to disassemble and replace a clutch.
For an average cost of 40 euros per hour for labor alone, a mechanic could ask for between 160 and 320 euros.
In short, in total, a huge expense that certainly exceeds 500 euros.
That is why it is important to prolong its life to the maximum.
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