How bad is using launch control on your car regularly?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,158
Likes: 400
From: Ft Lauderdale, Florida
How bad is using launch control on your car regularly?
I went to the track the other day and one of the guys there was saying you shouldnt use the launch control feature and if you have an extended warranty and something breaks they will not cover the repair. Any truth to this? I have a 2018 z06 2lz auto and dont even know how to turn it on nor do I plan on using it anytime soon but I was curious?
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,279
Likes: 8,555
From: Rochester, NY
He is wrong, if something breaks while using it the warranty will cover it. He may have been thinking of the Nissan GTR. Not sure what year it was but Nissan would not cover repairs as a result of using launch control and discouraged it's use.
No such issues with the Corvette.
No such issues with the Corvette.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 691
Likes: 196
From: Virginia
33 runs
not a pro by no means but I utilized launch control on just about all 33 of my runs at the drag way. I did not buy a sports car just to look at it in the garage. They built features and I will utilize that technology. Broken parts - who cares. Bumper to bumper pays to fix. I will say this though- be careful from some advice that is often given on these forums. Launch control was a topic just the other day and someone stated they used it twice, was not impressed because he could not figure it out and told the OP he would be better off not using it. Now ask yourself how much expertise does this individual have just using the system twice. Just my 2 cents
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
Just don't do like the one guy did on Youtube claiming he blew the rear end using launch control. You MUST let the RPM stabilize, particularly with the manual, before launching. This individual went to full throttle and released the clutch before the ECM stabilized RPM and entered launch control mode so he basically did a full throttle clutch drop and when you do that things happen that usually aren't good.
Launch isn't difficult to use but you do have to follow the instructions explicitly. For an automatic the brake must be pushed down with far more force than you are likely to ever use in normal driving and the accelerator must be quickly pushed to its full throttle position and held there; these are driving behaviors most don't often do so it will feel odd to do so.
Will it wear out the car more quickly, sure compared to someone who just slowly cruises with no rapid starts or stops and to make your car last even longer properly "embalm" it with preservatives and then never drive it or even open the door. The same is true that a heavy duty pickup that is constantly pulling a heavy high drag trailer will have more rapid wear than one that doesn't however GM builds them to have a reasonable life under normal anticipated use.
If you plan for your C7 to be your only car for the next 30 years then maybe don't use launch control very often but otherwise don't worry.
Launch isn't difficult to use but you do have to follow the instructions explicitly. For an automatic the brake must be pushed down with far more force than you are likely to ever use in normal driving and the accelerator must be quickly pushed to its full throttle position and held there; these are driving behaviors most don't often do so it will feel odd to do so.
Will it wear out the car more quickly, sure compared to someone who just slowly cruises with no rapid starts or stops and to make your car last even longer properly "embalm" it with preservatives and then never drive it or even open the door. The same is true that a heavy duty pickup that is constantly pulling a heavy high drag trailer will have more rapid wear than one that doesn't however GM builds them to have a reasonable life under normal anticipated use.
If you plan for your C7 to be your only car for the next 30 years then maybe don't use launch control very often but otherwise don't worry.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 780
Likes: 176
From: MV CA
Just don't do like the one guy did on Youtube claiming he blew the rear end using launch control. You MUST let the RPM stabilize, particularly with the manual, before launching. This individual went to full throttle and released the clutch before the ECM stabilized RPM and entered launch control mode so he basically did a full throttle clutch drop and when you do that things happen that usually aren't good.
Launch isn't difficult to use but you do have to follow the instructions explicitly. For an automatic the brake must be pushed down with far more force than you are likely to ever use in normal driving and the accelerator must be quickly pushed to its full throttle position and held there; these are driving behaviors most don't often do so it will feel odd to do so.
Will it wear out the car more quickly, sure compared to someone who just slowly cruises with no rapid starts or stops and to make your car last even longer properly "embalm" it with preservatives and then never drive it or even open the door. The same is true that a heavy duty pickup that is constantly pulling a heavy high drag trailer will have more rapid wear than one that doesn't however GM builds them to have a reasonable life under normal anticipated use.
If you plan for your C7 to be your only car for the next 30 years then maybe don't use launch control very often but otherwise don't worry.
Launch isn't difficult to use but you do have to follow the instructions explicitly. For an automatic the brake must be pushed down with far more force than you are likely to ever use in normal driving and the accelerator must be quickly pushed to its full throttle position and held there; these are driving behaviors most don't often do so it will feel odd to do so.
Will it wear out the car more quickly, sure compared to someone who just slowly cruises with no rapid starts or stops and to make your car last even longer properly "embalm" it with preservatives and then never drive it or even open the door. The same is true that a heavy duty pickup that is constantly pulling a heavy high drag trailer will have more rapid wear than one that doesn't however GM builds them to have a reasonable life under normal anticipated use.
If you plan for your C7 to be your only car for the next 30 years then maybe don't use launch control very often but otherwise don't worry.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,746
Likes: 916
With an auto, I wouldn't sweat it at all. With an M7, I've seen a couple videos where the car didn't fair so well...but GM installed it for you to use it so it's like asking whether or not you should use any other option that was installed.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,063
Likes: 9,827
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
not a pro by no means but I utilized launch control on just about all 33 of my runs at the drag way. I did not buy a sports car just to look at it in the garage. They built features and I will utilize that technology. Broken parts - who cares. Bumper to bumper pays to fix. I will say this though- be careful from some advice that is often given on these forums. Launch control was a topic just the other day and someone stated they used it twice, was not impressed because he could not figure it out and told the OP he would be better off not using it. Now ask yourself how much expertise does this individual have just using the system twice. Just my 2 cents
Pro
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 691
Likes: 196
From: Virginia
383vette
now that I am home from my Afghanistan deployment, I just put a new set of MT ET SS DRAGS on my rear (same ones I have now). I have perfected the LC and run consistent 10.7 or 10.8. The couple of times out of 33 runs I did not engage launch control, I heard terrible screeching and had a burnt clutch smell. I assume the regular launch failure was on my part. I did keep the rpms around 3500 and gradually released the clutch. Either way, it was rough. Any pointers on just a regular launch ? Thanks