Please for give the newb question but I've never had a clutch go out on any car I've had before. I've got 24,000 miles with my share of hard launches. This morning I noticed in 3rd, 4th, and 5th gears -- if i'm fully in gear, no clutch engagement and I stomp on the gas, the revs shoot up before dropping back down and then accelerating. This is clutch slippage correct?

Well it doesn't do it in 1st gear. I didn't have a chance to try 2nd. I would think it would slip most in 1st being that the most torque is produced in first. Anyone know why it would not do this in 1st gear? Are there any adjustments I can make short of replacing the clutch?

 

Well, I would say that the higher the gear the more slippage you will have. It's easier for the engine to turn the wheels on lower gears, thus less strain on the clutch. Just compare it to a bicycle, if you are high in gears it's much heavier to pedal it. Probably there are a lot of more detailed and technical explanations for this

 

good analogy. I guess that's why i'm not an engineer.

 

Hey Trees, my car is doing the same exact thing right now with 26k. Only slipping in the high gears when you lug on it. Like the guy above said it has to do with gear ratios. Bottom line is its time for a new clutch.

 

Definitely time for a new clutch. On my miata, when in 4th or 5th and hit the gas, revs would climb but speed wouldn't. Continually got worse, took it in and the clutch was completely fried.