Stalling a Car - Movement

[gaffer1986]

I have always wondered what allows cars to carry on moving when stalled at speed.

i.e. going from 1st gear to 4th gear at 10-15mph, clutch up, car stalls but keeps moving. Usually when the car is in gear, clutch up, engine off, stationary, handbrake off... the engine will stop the car rolling down a hill.

Is there a device in the clutch/flywheel that allows the car to roll when the engine is stalled at speed?

I use my car for driving tuition and therefore my poor machine gets stalled on a regular basis.

 

[Sinbad]

Engine compression is not enough to stop a car dead, especially in 4th. So the engine turns as the vehicle rolls, but too slowly to run properly.

 

[gaffer1986]

Thanks for your reply, I can feel the compression of the engine make the car bunny hop when stalling at very slow speed. But when the car is at speed 10 mph+ it seems to make a clunk sound and the car rolls as if the clutch is down. It's as if the clutch disengages itself when you stall at speed.