What is double clutching?

We shed some light on double clutching, how it works, and if it’s actually useful.

Double clutching is a term you may have heard bandied about among car enthusiasts – but what does it actually mean? Simply put, it’s a driving technique in which the clutch is depressed twice during a single gear change. This technique only applies to manual cars and should not be confused with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Want to know how to do it and why? Here’s everything you need to know about double clutching.

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What is double clutching?

Double clutching is a manual driving technique where the driver depresses the clutch twice during a single gear change to better match engine and gearbox speeds.

In a manual car, the clutch disconnects the engine from the gearbox to allow gear changes. When double clutching, the driver depresses the clutch to take the car out of gear, releases it to allow engine speed to match the transmission, then depresses it again before engaging the next gear.

This technique is especially useful in older gearboxes without synchromesh and aims to smooth shifts by matching rotational speeds. It should not be confused with dual-clutch automatic transmissions, which use two clutches but do not allow manual clutch control.

How to double clutch

The best way to explain the process is breaking it down step-by-step. Keep in mind that the main components here are the engine, clutch, and transmission.

Let’s assume you’re driving along in fourth gear at a steady speed and want to change down a gear, here’s how to do it:

1. Lift off the accelerator.
2. Press the clutch pedal and move the gear lever into neutral.
3. Release the clutch so the engine is disengaged from the gearbox.
4. Match engine speed to the next gear, so when you’re…
   Shifting down: press the accelerator slightly to raise engine speed.
   Shifting up: wait for the engine speed (revs) to drop naturally.
5. Push the clutch pedal down once more.
6. Select the next gear you want.
7. Let the clutch pedal come up smoothly and continue driving.

Why would I need to double clutch?

Double clutching helps make gear changes smoother and can reduce wear and tear on the drivetrain components. It’s especially useful if you’re driving an older manual car or a gearbox with worn synchromesh gears, which comprises a set of small gears that match the speed of the gearbox output shaft to the engine speed.

Why does this matter? The engine, clutch, and gearbox all spin at different speeds. When you change gears, the clutch helps match the engine speed to the gearbox speed. In high gears, the gearbox spins faster relative to the engine, and in low gears, the engine spins faster relative to the gearbox.

Modern manual cars have synchromesh gears, which automatically match speeds for smooth shifts, so double clutching isn’t usually necessary. However, it can still help in older cars or worn gearboxes. Enthusiasts also use it in performance driving to make downshifts smoother.

Is double clutching actually useful?

Aside from smoother shifts and reduced wear, double clutching can be helpful in daily driving if you own an older manual car. Rev matching is a component of double clutching which requires you to blip the accelerator pedal when down shifting so that the lower gear engages smoothly. This is especially useful when engaging first gear while the car is still in motion.

Keep in mind that attempting to do this without matching the engine revs to the transmission will cause the car to jerk and can damage the gearbox if done regularly.

While this is not something you regularly experience on your daily commute, matching the gearbox and engine speeds when slowing down through the gears from high speeds will prevent the driven wheels from locking up. It’s a useful skill to have on a track day, and when attempting to come to an emergency stop on a slippery stretch of motorway.

Double clutching FAQs

What is the purpose of double clutching?

The purpose of double clutching is to make gear changes smooth and reduce wear on the transmission.

Is double clutching bad for your car?

No, double clutching isn’t bad. It’s an old technique used to make gear changes smoother and reduce wear in older or worn gearboxes. In modern cars with good synchromesh, it isn’t really needed and can make shifts slightly slower or put extra wear on the clutch.

Is double clutching better?

Double clutching isn’t “better” for modern cars, but it’s useful for older vehicles without synchros, worn transmission, or for performance driving.

Is double clutching faster?

Double clutching isn’t needed for most modern cars, but it can help in certain situations. It’s useful for quick downshifts in performance driving or in older cars with worn gearboxes, letting you shift more smoothly by matching the engine speed to the next gear.

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