PDK behavior at stop-light
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PDK behavior at stop-light
This is for all of the experts on Porsche PDK out there. Those that really know how this transmission works. I've noticed that my 911 when stopped at a stoplight, wants to move the second that I start to release the brake just as an automatic transmission does(all other DCTs I've driven wont move when releasing the brake until accelerator is applied). The traditional automatic applies torque to the wheels at all times when in gear, even when stopped, via the use of the torque converter. The clutching mechanism used to apply torque between the spinning flywheel and the stationary transmission being the fluid. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but the PDK does not have a torque converter. So the question is, are the PDK clutches actually engaged-ever so slightly as to distribute constant torque to the wheels as an automatic does? If the clutches are slightly engages, does this cause wear? I guess the other possibility would be to have a brake pedal sensor so smart that as you reduce brake pedal force, the PDK activate the clutches and off you go.
I'll let the experts explain the behavior of this beast. Let's hear it from those who actually know.
Thanks all.
I'll let the experts explain the behavior of this beast. Let's hear it from those who actually know.
Thanks all.
Last edited by ThrustNormal; Feb 13, 2026 at 09:47 PM.
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This is for all of the experts on Porsche PDK out there. Those that really know how this transmission works. I've noticed that my 911 when stopped at a stoplight, wants to move the second that I start to release the brake just as an automatic transmission does(all other DCTs I've driven wont move when releasing the brake until accelerator is applied). The traditional automatic applies torque to the wheels at all times when in gear, even when stopped, via the use of the torque converter. The clutching mechanism used to apply torque between the spinning flywheel and the stationary transmission being the fluid. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but the PDK does not have a torque converter. So the question is, are the PDK clutches actually engaged-ever so slightly as to distribute constant torque to the wheels as an automatic does? If the clutches are slightly engages, does this cause wear? I guess the other possibility would be to have a brake pedal sensor so smart that as you reduce brake pedal force, the PDK activate the clutches and off you go.
I'll let the experts explain the behavior of this beast. Let's hear it from those who actually know.
Thanks all.
I'll let the experts explain the behavior of this beast. Let's hear it from those who actually know.
Thanks all.
Also clutch wear happens if you try to hold hill position with light throttle instead of brake.
Random hint: to avoid roll forward you can force hold by tapping the brake twice. Also useful to prevent rollback on gentle hills where hold didnt engage by itself.
Last edited by ashraf997; Feb 13, 2026 at 11:08 PM.
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I didnt have creep issues with GT3s or my GT4 RS. My 26 992.2 GTS doesnt exhibit creep either. Older 911s had creep as did Caymans. My 24 McLaren Artura required quite a bit of pedal pressure to keep it stationary.
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I'd be curious what the 1,3,5,7 Clutch Pressure is under the following three conditions: 1.) Idling in Neutral, 0% Throttle, 2,) Idling in Gear, at 0 mph, 0% Throttle, with the Foot Brake Applied, 3.) Idling in Gear, at 0+ mph, 0% Throttle, with the Foot Brake Released. Also what if any changes in the oil temperature at the inlet to the Oil/Water Transmission Oil Cooler can be seen.
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My car is a 2025 C2 and it does creep when you lift off the brake. I actually prefer this feature to having to feather the throttle to slowly move forward or backward, especiaslly in tight quarters. Below is something that I found in some technical info on PDK from when it was introduced in 2009.
Crawling
To ensure that the PDK transmission behaves in the same way as a Tiptronic transmission when driving off, clutch 1 is already slightly engaged so that the transmission becomes positively engaged and must be held by the brake. Another advantage of this measure is that the vehicle drives off very comfortably and generally smoothly when only a light load is applied. Driving off at a higher load results in higher drive off power.
Stationary decoupling
When the vehicle comes to a stop, the clutch is generally opened as long as the brake is applied.
Obviously, this would mean that as long as your foot is on the brake the clutch is disengaged and no wear is occurring. Since it is generally bad practice to sit stopped without the brake applied anyway, I don't see the wear issue as a problem.
BTW, if one is determined to be at rest without brake application, the easiest thing to do is pull both paddles at once and engage neutral. No creep...
Crawling
To ensure that the PDK transmission behaves in the same way as a Tiptronic transmission when driving off, clutch 1 is already slightly engaged so that the transmission becomes positively engaged and must be held by the brake. Another advantage of this measure is that the vehicle drives off very comfortably and generally smoothly when only a light load is applied. Driving off at a higher load results in higher drive off power.
Stationary decoupling
When the vehicle comes to a stop, the clutch is generally opened as long as the brake is applied.
Obviously, this would mean that as long as your foot is on the brake the clutch is disengaged and no wear is occurring. Since it is generally bad practice to sit stopped without the brake applied anyway, I don't see the wear issue as a problem.
BTW, if one is determined to be at rest without brake application, the easiest thing to do is pull both paddles at once and engage neutral. No creep...
Last edited by Mike in CA; Feb 13, 2026 at 11:50 PM.
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I believe your experience is the normal operation of a PDK transmission at a stop light...
- When in Drive (D) and you come to a complete stop, the transmission automatically disengages the designated 1-3-5-7 clutch and will act like in neutral. This should prevent "creeping".
- When you lift your foot off the brake pedal, the system immediately (milliseconds) re-engages the 1-3-5-7 clutch to allowing for "creeping" before applying gas.
- If A/S/S is engaged, the engine shutdowns at stoplights. The engine restarts when the brake is released and re-engages the clutch.
- In Manual Mode (M) the transmission will stay in 1st gear while stopped. This allows immediate acceleration without needing to shift. When decelerating to a stop while in manual, the system will automatically downshift to 1st if you do not do so using the paddles.
- No need to move the gear selector to "N" at a stoplight, as the clutches are already disengaged in "D".
- When in Drive (D) and you come to a complete stop, the transmission automatically disengages the designated 1-3-5-7 clutch and will act like in neutral. This should prevent "creeping".
- When you lift your foot off the brake pedal, the system immediately (milliseconds) re-engages the 1-3-5-7 clutch to allowing for "creeping" before applying gas.
- If A/S/S is engaged, the engine shutdowns at stoplights. The engine restarts when the brake is released and re-engages the clutch.
- In Manual Mode (M) the transmission will stay in 1st gear while stopped. This allows immediate acceleration without needing to shift. When decelerating to a stop while in manual, the system will automatically downshift to 1st if you do not do so using the paddles.
- No need to move the gear selector to "N" at a stoplight, as the clutches are already disengaged in "D".
Last edited by sk911; Feb 14, 2026 at 02:00 AM.
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From: North Bay Area, CA
I believe your experience is the normal operation of a PDK transmission at a stop light...
- When in Drive (D) and you come to a complete stop, the transmission automatically disengages the designated 1-3-5-7 clutch and will act like in neutral. This should prevent "creeping".
- When you lift your foot off the brake pedal, the system immediately (milliseconds) re-engages the 1-3-5-7 clutch to allowing for "creeping" before applying gas.
- If A/S/S is engaged, the engine shutdowns at stoplights. The engine restarts when the brake is released and re-engages the clutch.
- In Manual Mode (M) the transmission will stay in 1st gear while stopped. This allows immediate acceleration without needing to shift. When decelerating to a stop while in manual, the system will automatically downshift to 1st if you do not do so using the paddles.
- No need to move the gear selector to "N" at a stoplight, as the clutches are already disengaged in "D".
- When in Drive (D) and you come to a complete stop, the transmission automatically disengages the designated 1-3-5-7 clutch and will act like in neutral. This should prevent "creeping".
- When you lift your foot off the brake pedal, the system immediately (milliseconds) re-engages the 1-3-5-7 clutch to allowing for "creeping" before applying gas.
- If A/S/S is engaged, the engine shutdowns at stoplights. The engine restarts when the brake is released and re-engages the clutch.
- In Manual Mode (M) the transmission will stay in 1st gear while stopped. This allows immediate acceleration without needing to shift. When decelerating to a stop while in manual, the system will automatically downshift to 1st if you do not do so using the paddles.
- No need to move the gear selector to "N" at a stoplight, as the clutches are already disengaged in "D".
FWIW, the only reason to engage neutral at a stop is if, for some reason, you want to keep the engine running without selecting park, neutral, or using brake application to stop creep. Obviously. the simultaneous pull on the upshift and downshift levers or moving the gear selector will both work to get neutral.
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Remember, the PDK uses wet clutches bathed in cooled fluid to reduce heat and wear, and are designed to last *much* longer than a traditional dry clutch. I wouldnt give a second thought about creeping behavior increasing PDK clutch wear in any way.
Last edited by jlegelis; Feb 14, 2026 at 06:01 PM.
