Slow Acceleration with Low RPM Launch
 

When I launch (dump the clutch) at around 1000 rpm from a standstill it takes about a second of "pedal to the medal" before the car gives any significant amount of acceleration (maybe 2mph/second). Is this because it's just running at very low rpms, or is it something more? Do I have a "Dead pedal" and need to reset the ECU by pushing the gas pedal up and down 20 times (method explained here http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39480)?

Is this normal? I'm currently running 91 octane from Costco. It was significantly worse when I was using 87 octane for 3 or so tanks in a row for reasons already explained in other discussions.

Is this a serious question? Because taking off at 1k rpm is too low, let alone "launching"

Dumping the clutch from idle speed won't really get you anywhere very fast, lol.

I'm not really sure what more you're expecting out of a 2.0L NA engine at idle speed. Our engines love to rev!

I'm not sure how you even "dump the clutch" at 1000 RPM. I think I'd have to practice that. My diesel truck has pretty good acceleration at 1K RPM but then again it's a 7.3L engine and redlines at 3800 RPM.

"Is this because it's just running at very low rpms,"

You have answered my question. Thank you very much. When I said "launching" I meant accelerating from a standstill. I don't like the feeling of slowly letting off the clutch until about 6 mph when accelerating from a stop, like I normally do. I have tried revving to ~1250 rpm at a standstill and then quickly letting go of the clutch fully while pressing the gas pedal slightly more. This method typically results in a very slow acceleration, taking about 4 seconds to cross a one way street. If this is normal then I am fine with it.

So what you're saying is, you don't like driving properly? Maybe you should have bought the automatic...

Seriously, how long is it taking you to feather the clutch? There is a difference between "dumping" the clutch like you describe (aka, just letting it go and slamming it into gear) and quickly feathering it. It's something that shouldn't take more than a full second once you're even somewhat adept at it.

If you're legitimately just popping the clutch all over the place then you will eventually break something, or piss off your passengers, who will wonder why you can't drive properly. If you are seriously so lazy that you can't even bother to properly feather the clutch, do both yourself and the car a favor and go trade it for an automatic. You'll both be much happier.

you are not driving correctly. need to find someone to tutor your driving technique. and do not put 87 octane. although it is not going to have any immediate damage besides retarded timing (= more fuel consumption and less power and bunching of knocking) , but it just not right.

It's not normal, how are you able to safely enter traffic if the car is accelerating so slowly? Rev it out more, try around 3k or so and feather out the clutch a bit longer, maybe a full 1-2 seconds. The longer feather is healthier than a quick slip at very low RPMs. If you still don't like revving it out try to roll on the throttle more as you release the clutch.

It's not as if I'm popping in the clutch every single time I drive (I see how my OP could sound as if that's the ONLY way I accelerate from a standstill). Normally I do feather the clutch, which results in a fairly smooth ride, not the jerky ride I was prone to create in the 2 weeks of learning.

I popped in the clutch to accelerate from a standstill several times, recorded the response of the car, and posted it online to ask if this was normal. When I had the 87 octane gas, the throttle would sometimes cut out when pushing the gas pedal all the way down even, myself believing this occurred because the computer detected a possible "knock".

I was testing if there were better ways to accelerate from a standstill than feathering the clutch, because it ever so slightly wears out several components.

Maybe it's me being overly sensitive, but it sounds like you already have some sort of grudge towards me.

This is what I do normally. My OP didn't reflect what I was trying to say.

Your first post made it seem like you were launching the car from a standstill at 1k RPM, which is odd considering you'd just stall the car if you popped the clutch at that RPM.

There isn't enough torque at low RPMs in this engine to do what you want to do.

That, and your choice of words was very poor to convey your thoughts in the first post.

When launching a car like this, you need to slip the clutch a lot to maximize engine torque transfer to the wheels.
When accelerating, same concept. You shift at a RPM (usually close to redline) to maximize available torque.

-alex

No worries, if thats the case then it just sounds like your original post describes you under revving and stalling the engine.

Is this your first manual transmission car? It's a pretty easy car to get going from a standstill.