Driving a car in London has a number of peculiarities that should be taken into account to avoid unpleasant situations. To begin with, driving is done on the left side of the road throughout Great Britain. It is worth noting that driving in the capital of the country can be called comfortable, due to the fact that the city authorities listen to citizens and take into account their needs. On the roads of London you will find a lot of navigation tips, excellent markings and will be warned about traffic jams, road works and so on. However, there are a number of specific differences that relate to parking regulations, horns, speeding violations and even driving while tired.
Driving style in London
Like any capital city, London, unfortunately, is not devoid of traffic jams. For example, the M25 ring road is called a “parking lot” by locals. However, despite the many narrow streets, difficulty with parking and others, Londoners are very polite on the road. If you get lost, drive slower than others or forget to change lanes (here you just need to signal and you will be allowed to maneuver), no one will honk at you and express their own indignation. Moreover, on narrow roads there are special islands to separate from oncoming cars, in the city speed limits go up to 30 miles per hour, and overtaking is generally considered a mauveton.
Such careful driving is also due to the fact that most roads do not have a curb, respectively, in case of something, a motorist has nowhere to turn and an emergency situation is unlikely to be avoided. That is why Londoners are attentive to signs and markings.
The advantage of driving mechanically in city conditions
Why do motorists prefer mechanics for driving in city conditions? First of all, you need to understand that a manual transmission is, first of all, full control over the car. Besides, for novice drivers, mechanics is an excellent assistant in developing their own driving style. This is how you can learn to feel the car. In addition, it is on mechanics you will get increased dynamism of acceleration.
If you learn to use manual transmission correctly, you can save on fuel even in city traffic. In addition to this format of savings, consider that a manual transmission wears out much slower than an automatic, which will also save your finances. And, of course, another important plus is the ability to tow the car if it breaks down. Take into account that this is not always possible with an automatic transmission car.
A few words about driving with an automatic transmission
Of course, automatic transmission also has advantages. The choice of this or that gearbox depends on individual preferences and tasks for which a person buys a car. The main advantage of driving on an automatic is the ability to concentrate less on driving and quick adaptability on the road. It is because of this that driving in a dense stream will not cause additional anxiety (for example, you will have almost no chance to stall at the most inopportune moment). In addition, in this case, the box itself selects the speed, as well as the transition of steps is carried out without loss of engine power.
Clutch cylinder: why is it important?
When we talk about a manual transmission, it is worth paying attention to the clutch, since the serviceability of this part affects the starting of the engine on a stationary car, gear shifting, smoothness of starting from a place.
Briefly, the main task of the clutch is to disconnect the engine (it is important to clarify that we are talking about short periods of time) from the transmission and correctly connect in the opposite direction during shifting to another gear. In addition, this mechanism protects the transmission from unnecessary overloads and dampens engine vibrations.
In the set of the clutch there is a clutch master cylinder. What is it for? The part is designed to transfer the force that the driver exerts on the pedal to the fork, which turns off the clutch by pressing the bearing against the basket spring. In fact, it is this part that is one of the 2 cylinders that provide the functions of the hydraulic drive.
Malfunction of the clutch cylinder, what to pay attention to?
There are several characteristic signs that signal the breakdown of this part.
- An uncharacteristic noise appears when squeezing the clutch pedal.
- You may notice that the clutch slips.
- If the car starts to jerk characteristically when moving from a place – this may indicate a breakdown.
- Pay attention to the pedal. If after pressing the pedal did not return to the place – it is worth contacting the service.
- Listen to the sounds: a crunching noise during gear shifting indicates a problem.
- And the last sign is the smell of burning oil in the passenger compartment.
The clutch cylinder is quite durable and rarely breaks. Most often breakdowns occur due to banal wear of rubber seals and untimely replacement. Thus, dirt particles that have penetrated inside, will easily damage the mirror of the cylinder. This will lead to scratches and brake fluid leakage.
Sources of information:
Information on replacing the сlutch master cylinder – www.buycarparts.co.uk
How to drive in London? – www.discoverwalks.com
