Only for days rather than months, and gently. A slipping clutch generates heat that can crack or blue the flywheel, turning a clutch job into a clutch and flywheel job, and it can leave you stranded with little further warning. Drive it gently straight to a specialist and avoid hard acceleration, hills and heavy loads.
What happens if I keep driving on it?
Slipping means the friction plate is no longer gripping the flywheel fully, so the energy turns into heat. That heat wears the plate faster and can damage the flywheel face. Once the flywheel is damaged, it has to be replaced along with the clutch, which adds significantly to the bill.
Slipping also tends to get worse quickly. A clutch that only slips in fifth under hard acceleration this week may slip in third pulling away next week — and eventually it will not drive the car at all.
How should I drive it until it is fixed?
Keep journeys short and gentle. Avoid hard acceleration, steep hills, towing and heavy loads, which are exactly the conditions that make it slip. Change up early and do not ride the clutch in traffic.
If you smell burning, the clutch is overheating — let it cool down before continuing.
Is it definitely the clutch?
Revs rising without the car accelerating is very typical of a worn clutch, but oil contamination from a leaking seal can also cause slipping. We road test the car and inspect it before quoting, and tell you honestly whether the flywheel needs replacing once it is measured.