Anybody who's ever had the side cover off a transmission knows what the synchronizers look like...and they are usually made of soft metal. The question is this:
If I shift without the clutch - not a full throttle gear bang, but a nice, easy, slow gear change - am I wearing out the synchros?
To further define what I'm talking about; when I shift, I ease off the gas and lightly pull it out of first gear, let the engine RPM drop about 500-750, and pull back into second gear. I can usually pull this off without any grind and only a little jerk when it hits the next gear.

Why - you ask - not just use the damn clutch...that's why it's there?! Cause I got this POS Kia that I need to drive for 6 more months while I'm in Korea and I don't want to change a friggin front-wheel-drive clutch. After May, it'll be someone else's problem.

So, back to the question: Am I gonna eat up the tranny while trying to save the clutch?

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Tom Mac
81 Z-28 T-Top 406/T-10 (http://www.nastyz28.com/2gcog/members/bigtommac.jpg) (in work)
88 S-10 Blazer 4x4 4.3/700R4
Keep on Camaroing!

s long as you're not banging it thru the gears, I don't see why you'd wear the clutch out. I've seen clutches last 70+K miles (not KM).

You probably are more than likely doing more damage than anything else. The clutch should last 6 years or more in a Kia if driven properly. I wouldnt worry about it lasting 6 months. I would however worry about hurting the synchros. I;m sure one bad clutchless shift is all it would take to do some damage.

I had a mazda 323 that I only used the clutch to get the car going, the rest of the time I shifted without the clutch. I had the car for 4 years with no problems. How do you think semi truck drivers save thier clutches, they shift by rpm, if they shifted with the clutch all the time there would be some pissed off mechanics because they would be doing clutch R+R every month on all the trucks.

Is the clutch already slipping? If not, just use it. Try for minimal slippage (i.e. quick engagement). Take the car out of gear, and don't have your foot on it, unless you are going to use it within 5 seconds (a rule I've always followed).

Six months of clutchless shifting, and I guarantee you that Kia trans won't be happy.

I currently have 124K miles on my '95 Accord EX clutch, and no signs of slipping. I expect to get another 25-50K out of it. And this is my commuter- driven in the city traffic everyday.

Unless it's already going south, fear not.

Todd

Not using the clutch isn't going to harm the syncros. They do what they're supposed to regardless if the clutch in engaged or not. They work off the NEXT GEAR.

As long as you aren't having trouble shifting into the next gear, it will be fine. It's the gears you have to worry about. http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/smile.gif

I did that for 184K miles on a T-5 in my '94 S10 with the 4.3L. About 100K miles of that was highway use. I never had to replace the clutch nor the gearbox.

I do it now on my '83 C10 with an M20. I've had it 2 yrs and NO problems.

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350CID, Vortec 062 heads, Magnum 268, Performer Intake, Holley 650 DP, 3.42 rear w/ Auburn posi, 2000 Stall/TC