MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Tortaruga on June 25, 2013, 01:16:48 pm

Title: Starting the car properly
Post by: Tortaruga on June 25, 2013, 01:16:48 pm
This is stated in the VW gti owners manual:

In a manual car you're supposed to depress the clutch pedal before turning the ignition. It means the starter is cranking the engine only.

It also says that you shouldn't keep the key turned when the engine has fired.


Another point mentioned is that if you've done a hard drive you should let the engine idle for approximately 2 minutes before shutting down.
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: paulw123 on June 25, 2013, 01:20:12 pm
got a habbit of pressing clutch down any way, in case some idiot has left it in gear  :scared:
why do you have to let it stand after a long trip tho?

my neighbour used to let it stand, and then rev it a couple of times?
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: Tortaruga on June 25, 2013, 01:26:56 pm
why do you have to let it stand after a long trip tho?
It's something to do with protecting the turbocharger. Not sure if it applies to diesels.
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: Scottymon on June 25, 2013, 01:44:54 pm
Revving it before switch off in a modern turbo car is the opposite of what you should do, iirc, it harks back to very old cars that would benefit from having some fuel ready to be ignited on next start up. 

I always let the engine idle for about 10 seconds or so before switch off, certainly no spinning the turbo up and then switch off; starving it.
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: Jamie3184 on June 25, 2013, 02:26:01 pm
got a habbit of pressing clutch down any way, in case some idiot has left it in gear  :scared:
why do you have to let it stand after a long trip tho?

my neighbour used to let it stand, and then rev it a couple of times?

On older cars that were turbo charged the turbo would be oil cooled, letting it cool down while in motion would extend the life of the turbo charger rather than turning the car off straight away and having the oil burn and form deposits. This is why may old subaru's and the like that had been modified had turbo timers installed, allowing the car to keep running for a set period without the need to have the key in the ignition or even anyone in the car.

These days cars tend to have water cooled turbo chargers so keeping them running after a really hard work out isn't as important but still very much recommended, i still do it  :happy2:
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: MC71 on June 25, 2013, 02:33:34 pm
This is stated in the VW gti owners manual:

In a manual car you're supposed to depress the clutch pedal before turning the ignition. It means the starter is cranking the engine only.

It also says that you shouldn't keep the key turned when the engine has fired.


Another point mentioned is that if you've done a hard drive you should let the engine idle for approximately 2 minutes before shutting down.

Our Ford SMax hire car in Spain wouldn't start by turning the key alone, you had to depress the clutch first then turn the ignition to start the car, very annoying.

Can't be arsed to wait for my car to cool down after giving it a thrashing, life's to short. Get it in, start up and drive off and get where your going, stop, put the handbrake on, turn the key off and get out. Job done.

 :happy2:
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: GrayMK5GTI on June 25, 2013, 02:36:42 pm
why do you have to let it stand after a long trip tho?
It's something to do with protecting the turbocharger. Not sure if it applies to diesels.

Yes does apply to diesels.
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: Simon_2.0t on June 25, 2013, 03:27:20 pm
I have always started my cars with clutch down, I don't know why, maybe just think is a bit less stress on engine. Plus warming up/cooling down important on turbo cars  :happy2:
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: Kalpsn2000 on June 25, 2013, 03:36:13 pm
I have a DSG now but in my previous manual I got in to the habit of depressing the clutch on startup...cause I had a close call once when it was still in gear :scared: :laugh:
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: petesimcock on June 25, 2013, 05:55:17 pm
I always used to put the clutch down when I had a manual as a precaution. Now I have DSG, I seem to put my foot on the brake.  I suppose it just means I can get into 'D' that little sooner and be on my way
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: rich83 on June 25, 2013, 06:03:44 pm
The mk6 will not start unless you press the clutch down.
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: Saintsteve on June 25, 2013, 06:23:20 pm
The mk6 will not start unless you press the clutch down.

Likewise with my Vw Transporter.. Won't start unless you depress the clutch..
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: homesqueeze on June 25, 2013, 06:28:25 pm
I have always pressed the clutch before starting because a long time ago someone advised me it was a good thing to do. Also as above, in new VWs you have to do it to be able to start anyway.
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: gtipirelli on June 25, 2013, 08:53:53 pm
The wife's A1 will only start with the clutch depressed. 1.4 tfsi model
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: JoeDarKa on June 25, 2013, 09:05:42 pm
I keep the clutch depressed on start up too. I also let it sit for 30secs ish if its been driven hard. Usually take the last mile or 2 quite easy too
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: john87 on June 26, 2013, 12:35:50 pm
The same as many others above, I press the clutch down before I start every time..

My driving instructor taught me it as good practice, takes the load of the gearbox (albeit not a lot) off of the starter motor  :happy2:
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: dmac1969 on June 26, 2013, 09:09:53 pm
The mk6 will not start unless you press the clutch down.
Same with the New 2012 on Beetle I had out for the weekend when it first came out. I always press the clutch down anyway , have done for years. As regards cooling down , by the time I get out the car , unlock and open the garage door then put the car in there , its a couple of mins gone anyway , so job done.
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: bellios on June 26, 2013, 10:08:18 pm
IIRC the idling before shutting off is to stop hot oil being left in the turbo. hot oil cools down and leaves deposits on the turbo causing premature wear. your best off just driving off boost for the last bit of your journey.or at least that what ive always done. :smiley:
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: Frenzy on June 27, 2013, 02:06:38 pm
i always depress the clutch before switching on and after a good run let her idle for a minute or two. the first thing i learnt from reading the manual when i got the car, the 2nd from reading posts on here - makes sense.
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: phil1975 on June 27, 2013, 04:05:10 pm
I have to start my mk6 with clutch down (as previously stated) and I always wait for the revs to drop down before driving off. I always let the car idle before switching off, at the end of the day you can't be harming the car by doing this so prevention is better than cure in my humble opinion.
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: Mertyvw on June 28, 2013, 08:07:57 pm
I get in turn the key wait for all check lights to go and after depress clutch and  turn the key full and let the engine idle of a couple of mins(3-5mins in winter) and im off

When a complete a long journey  i wait a min or two then switch off.
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: rich83 on June 28, 2013, 09:14:11 pm
I start my car...  and drive off as soon as possible.
I stop my car... turn it off and get out.

 :signLOL:
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: Tortaruga on June 28, 2013, 09:18:48 pm
let the engine idle of a couple of mins(3-5mins in winter)
That's not recommended. Even the owners manual says so.
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: Itsagthing on June 28, 2013, 09:53:42 pm
I ALWAYS depress the clutch pedal on my edition dsg before I start it! Lol  :star:
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: bellios on June 29, 2013, 10:34:10 am
the handbook my misses got with her polo must be different to the golf. Start engine (sometimes in gear). give the car absolutely no time to warm up at all before going up to 5k rpm. ride clutch etc etc
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: RifGTi on June 29, 2013, 01:18:49 pm
I used to start with the clutch pedal down but stopped doing it. I probably should start doing it again.

Always let the engine warm up before putting lead on the foot lol. Personally I let it hit 90 degrees before doing anything. I always let the engine the idle at the end of the trip for at least 3mins at least 5-6 after a solid lead foot/ long journey/ Italian tune up
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: beetie on June 29, 2013, 03:46:20 pm
Always start mine with the clutch down.

 for when I stop, I take it easy for the last couple of miles. Although I'm sure the mk5 has a pump that pushes coolant around for a few minutes to help the turbo to cool, once you have switched it Off. Listen for it the next time you leave your car. It will do it every minute or so.
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: Savo on July 01, 2013, 02:54:20 pm
I'm the same as most people, start with the clutch pressed down. I'll let it idle until the revs drop then drive off but wait 5-10 minutes before going into boost to give the engine time to get up to temp.

Always start mine with the clutch down.

 for when I stop, I take it easy for the last couple of miles. Although I'm sure the mk5 has a pump that pushes coolant around for a few minutes to help the turbo to cool, once you have switched it Off. Listen for it the next time you leave your car. It will do it every minute or so.

I do exactly this too just taking it easy for the last bit of the drive. I've heard that noise when turning it off and always wondered what it was.
Title: Re: Starting the car properly
Post by: Kalpsn2000 on July 01, 2013, 03:05:51 pm
I have read that it is better to drive pretty much straight after starting up, although keeping the revs low until it has warmed up, as this will transport the oil around the engine better than leaving it idling.

Any truth to that?