When you have the car in neutral (stick in center) do you need to hold the clutch in to rev? Does it hurt anything if you don't?

 

Well, I'll be the first to say free revving isn't good in general, especially not real high, or sustained. I don't know the honest answer to your question though. I would have to think having the clutch in would be best. Revving the clutch out shouldn't do anything I wouldn't think, but it could possibly cause something bad to happen to the synchros. Doing it once or twice certainly won't do anything.

 

yeah, not hi rev, like 2-4k rmp rev only. I guess i'll clutch in just to be save

 

The answer is 'no'. But like Rob said, I wouldn't make a habit of it.

 

clutch in and stick in middle = same thing......you're in neutral

 

It's true that the car is in neutral (defined as the engine not being connected to the drive wheels) in both situations, but it's a slightly different kind of neutral. With the stick in neutral, the gears in the transmission aren't engaged. With the clutch in, the engine isn't connected to the gearbox. This is why double-clutching works as it does. With the stick in neutral but the clutch pedal out, the engine output shaft is connected to the transmission input shaft, so blipping the throttle actually speeds up the transmission input shaft along with the engine.

I'm not arguing for or against double-clutching in the Z, I'm just using this to demonstrate the point that clutch-in and gearstick in neutral both disconnect the engine from the drive wheels, but they do it in different ways.

Having said that, I can't see that revving a bit with the clutch pedal out and the stick in neutral could do all that much harm, although I don't think that I would make a practice of it outside the possible context of a double-clutching downshift.

Gary

 

you're right gary......of course there is a difference between the two....i understand that....i was just putting it in simple terms .......cuz the question was that if there's a difference between reving in neutral(stick in middle) and reving with clutch in and if it'll hurt anything......afaik....if you have your foot down the clutch and rev it.....of course not letting go........i don't see how it'll hurt anything really........if you don't take it too high

by the way........where's the rev limiter when the car is neutral???

 

I figured that you probably knew the difference, but I wanted to add a bit more detail for anyone else reading this thread that might not be aware of the difference.

As for the rev limiter, I've never tried revving in neutral. Can you go past redline in neutral?

Gary

 

i don't think you can touch redline in neutral(never tried it myself......just guessing).......usually cutoff is before that in neutral........can someone correct me