Jerky starts in stop-and-go traffic

[Kjeles]

The clutch on a Mk3, petrol, manual shift, acted up yesterday while stuck in stop-and-go rush hour traffic. The clutch has been fine before and after, but in the stop-and-go traffic, the van started shaking (jerking) when releasing the clutch in first gear on a slight uphill. It appeared to be a situation of intermettent slip-and-grip by the clutch -- not an engine problem. The shaking could be avoided, though, by increasing the rpm of the engine a bit when releasing the clutch, whereby the van started moving in a normal manner.

What might this trouble indicate?

Worn clutch plate?
Burnt/glazed flywheel and/or pressure plate?
Worn release mechanism?
Oil on the clutch?

What do you think?

[gotgcoalman]

1 and 4 would be prime suspects

[dumper]

Oil on clutch or worn clutch as gotgoalman says also if you stirip it down you may have to get the flywheel machined if worn

[VMH]

I have a similar problem with my mk5 diesel.
It judders for the first half dozen, or so pull aways then is generally ok, but sometimes it continues juddering a little and sometimes it is perfectly ok from the start.
If this is oil on the clutch would that be a leaking crank seal? I have not looked for a while but i'm sure there is no oil dripping from the bell housing.

[dumper]

It can be from the engine or gearbox I’ve had the camshaft end cover behind the flywheel leak before and a leaking rockerbox leak oil into the bellhouseing get onto the clutch I had one of my vans only start judering after a long run it turned out to be a new clutch and flywheel skim as it was perfectly dry come oil the only real why to be sure is to remove the gearbox and inspected all the components one van at work turned out to be the pilot bearing in the end of the crankshaft

[gotgcoalman]

I have a similar problem with my mk5 diesel.
It judders for the first half dozen, or so pull aways then is generally ok, but sometimes it continues juddering a little and sometimes it is perfectly ok from the start.
If this is oil on the clutch would that be a leaking crank seal? I have not looked for a while but i'm sure there is no oil dripping from the bell housing.

no oil drip because it's on the friction plate and being absorbed/burnt off during driving?

also on the mk5 the stupid clutch release arm could cause it