General stick shift driving questions...

[joe678]

started driving stick recently and im ok with it but had a couple questions...

1. when coming to a stop in local traffic i usually break, clutch in to prevent stall, then break to complete stop and return the gear (from 2nd/3rd whatever) to neutral at the stop. sounds easy enough, but i know couple ppl who slip it into neutral and ride the break to the stop. which is usually better? (i hardly ever downshift unless im coming to a rolling turn).

2. when im on the highway, i hear sometimes ppl downshift to get more power so they can pass easier or watever. but dont u have to slow down to the designated speed range of that gear to downshift to that gear? or is this mainly used for 5th to 4th and back? i usually dont switch lanes/pass/etc unless i absolutely have to but if i do i normally mash the gas and it picks up pretty well.

edit: 3. also if i downshift to get more power should i have to give it more gas immediately since the rpms jump up already?

tips, advice appreciated... tia

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: joe678
started driving stick recently and im ok with it but had a couple questions...

1. when coming to a stop in local traffic i usually break, clutch in to prevent stall, then break to complete stop and return the gear (from 2nd/3rd whatever) to neutral at the stop. sounds easy enough, but i know couple ppl who slip it into neutral and ride the break to the stop. which is usually better? (i hardly ever downshift unless im coming to a rolling turn).

I let the engine brake until I fall to about 7-10 mph, or about 900 rpm. Then I hit the clutch and brake until I stop. I then put it in 1st gear.


2. when im on the highway, i hear sometimes ppl downshift to get more power so they can pass easier or watever. but dont u have to slow down to the designated speed range of that gear to downshift to that gear? or is this mainly used for 5th to 4th and back? i usually dont switch lanes/pass/etc unless i absolutely have to but if i do i normally mash the gas and it picks up pretty well.

tips, advice appreciated... tia

I only downshift to 4th when I really need torque. My car's max torque is at 3000 rpm. I shift at 3200. If I'm going up a steep hill at about 50 or so, I'll put it back into 4th to beable to accelerate up the hill.

 

[Instan00dles]

I know when I am riding my bike and I am about to pass someone I downshift so I am in the bikes power band. If I am traveling 100km/h@ 5000rpm it will take a few extra seconds to rev up into my powerband before I really start to accelerate. So when I am about to pass I will be @ about 6000-6500rpm and the bike will accelerate like a bat outta hell. It is easier to pick up speed when you are in your vehicles power band which is usually just before red line so you downshift to up the revs so you accelerate and pass faster.

 

[NutBucket]

I usually just lift off the gas when coming to a stop. When I get down to about 1k rpm, then I drop it into neutral and stop completely. If I have to stop more quickly, I just drop it into neutral and brake.

As for downshifting, I can do about 90 in 3rd so if I really need to speed up, say from 60, then I'll drop into 3rd, punch it, and go back to 5th once I'm up to speed. Usually tho, a drop to 4th is all that's required. My car's power steadily increases from about 3k to 5.5k, so that downshifting works well.

Downshifting technique is really more a matter of the car/motor. Each car is different so you have to figure out what works best.

 

[Maverick]

Originally posted by: joe678
started driving stick recently and im ok with it but had a couple questions...

1. when coming to a stop in local traffic i usually break, clutch in to prevent stall, then break to complete stop and return the gear (from 2nd/3rd whatever) to neutral at the stop. sounds easy enough, but i know couple ppl who slip it into neutral and ride the break to the stop. which is usually better? (i hardly ever downshift unless im coming to a rolling turn).

I too started recently and I think the best method for this is what Chaotic42 described. Brake till you're within 7-10 mph and just above 1000 rpm, then clutch in and brake to a stop. Once stopped, put the gear in 1st. I don't think its legal to sit in neutral. When moving you're always supposed to be in gear in case your brakes fail.

As for the other question, the "designated speed" of the gears is only the range of the gear when its below 3500 rpm. To get the power you need for passing, you want to push the odometer past 3500 so ignore the designated speed of the gear. Downshift so that your current speed revs the engine higher in a lower gear, then use the resulting torque to accelerate.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Lesson of the day
------------

"Break" is not the same as "brake."

 

[WinkOsmosis]

I hardly ever downshift to accelerate, mainly because I seldom drive at all anymore, and only drive on the highway maybe once a week. But what I do is clutch, shift into the lower gear, and rev up the engine to match the gear... if you just shift into it while your engine's rpm is falling, the car will lurch forward and decelerate until you get on the gas again.

What on earth is a gear's designated speed? I generally stay between 2k and 3k rpm in normal driving.

 

[joe678]

Originally posted by: NuclearFusi0n1
Lesson of the day
------------

"Break" is not the same as "brake."

hehe...didnt even realize that...

 

[hungrypete]

1. i tend to roll to a stop in nuetral, its just less wear and tear on your drivetrain. remember that if your brakes ever fail you can downshift to reduce speed tho

2. yes most people shift when passing, its unlikely that you will ever damage your vehicle doing this. as a rule of thumb, if you are at mid rpm, dont downshift more than one gear.


hehe when i was learning to drive a stick i was a bit timid about downshifting, then my dad hopped in my old s-10 and showed me that you can throw it in FIRST at 60 MPH without blowing the motor (boy it made some noise tho!) manual trannies are typically very tough cookies

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
I hardly ever downshift to accelerate, mainly because I seldom drive at all anymore, and only drive on the highway maybe once a week. But what I do is clutch, shift into the lower gear, and rev up the engine to match the gear... if you just shift into it while your engine's rpm is falling, the car will lurch forward and decelerate until you get on the gas again.

What on earth is a gear's designated speed? I generally stay between 2k and 3k rpm in normal driving.

In the manual, they have recommended shift points and max speed (redline) for that speed.

 

[no0b]

When I wanna stop I will either put it into neutral and coast or I will just let go of the gas and let the engine brake. When I have to I will brake.

When I accelarate I will down shift a gear or to in order to get the rpm's to about 5-6000

 

[joe678]

Originally posted by: Shiva112

Originally posted by: joe678
started driving stick recently and im ok with it but had a couple questions...

1. when coming to a stop in local traffic i usually break, clutch in to prevent stall, then break to complete stop and return the gear (from 2nd/3rd whatever) to neutral at the stop. sounds easy enough, but i know couple ppl who slip it into neutral and ride the break to the stop. which is usually better? (i hardly ever downshift unless im coming to a rolling turn).

I too started recently and I think the best method for this is what Chaotic42 described. Brake till you're within 7-10 mph and just above 1000 rpm, then clutch in and brake to a stop. Once stopped, put the gear in 1st. I don't think its legal to sit in neutral. When moving you're always supposed to be in gear in case your brakes fail.

As for the other question, the "designated speed" of the gears is only the range of the gear when its below 3500 rpm. To get the power you need for passing, you want to push the odometer past 3500 so ignore the designated speed of the gear. Downshift so that your current speed revs the engine higher in a lower gear, then use the resulting torque to accelerate.

yea that i how i normally come to a stop too...i was just wondering tho if it was beneficial to do it the other way since you wouldnt be riding the clutch as long...

 

[slikmunks]

Originally posted by: no0b
When I wanna stop I will either put it into neutral and coast or I will just let go of the gas and let the engine brake. When I have to I will brake.

that's what i do...

as for #2... if i'm just trying to pass someone, i'll go from 5th to 4th... if i'm really in a rush and i'm squeezing out of a gap to get into the open road, i'll clutch blip the gas up to around 6000 rpm's drop to 3rd, and just go... because of the streetport, that's right around where my powerband is... from around 5.5k all the way up to 8.5k

 

[Stallion]

Go out and run the dog piss out of your car to know where you can down shift to. Take it to 10K, side step the clutch, lay about 40 feet of rubber. When the tach says 8K bang second gear. note your cars speed.. When you get to 8k again, bang third. Again noting speed of car...

When tach reads 8K again bang 4th again keep an eye on your speed. The once again bang 5th ,if you have an over drive tranny.



So now if your bombing along at 85mph at 3500rpm , in 5th gear(pretend you have some 4:88 gears) , and you feel the need to drop it down a gear , so you can catch up to the girl in the corvette with her top un-buttoned to her navel. Just remember what your max speed was in a particular gear. If you could do 70 in 3rd at 8K. then there is no sence in going to 3rd because your already past the shift point for that gear/speed so just drop it to 4th and lay on the loud pedal till it's time to shift up again.



All numbers are bogus and are just there to make the senario look cool, just use your own figures.

 

[blahblah99]

1) I usually just pop it in neutral and coast to a stop. Save some gas and wear and tear on the drivetrain

2) Depending on how fast I am driving in the gear... usually I just downshift a gear if I want to pass someone.

 

[goog]

Originally posted by: Shiva112

Originally posted by: joe678
started driving stick recently and im ok with it but had a couple questions...

1. when coming to a stop in local traffic i usually break, clutch in to prevent stall, then break to complete stop and return the gear (from 2nd/3rd whatever) to neutral at the stop. sounds easy enough, but i know couple ppl who slip it into neutral and ride the break to the stop. which is usually better? (i hardly ever downshift unless im coming to a rolling turn).

I too started recently and I think the best method for this is what Chaotic42 described. Brake till you're within 7-10 mph and just above 1000 rpm, then clutch in and brake to a stop. Once stopped, put the gear in 1st. I don't think its legal to sit in neutral. When moving you're always supposed to be in gear in case your brakes fail.

As for the other question, the "designated speed" of the gears is only the range of the gear when its below 3500 rpm. To get the power you need for passing, you want to push the odometer past 3500 so ignore the designated speed of the gear. Downshift so that your current speed revs the engine higher in a lower gear, then use the resulting torque to accelerate.

Um, that would be tachometer, odometer is miles driven.

Anyhow, I tend to use both methods when stopping. Either braking and clutching to downshift and prevent stalling, or simply coasting and dropping it into neutral (only under 1000RPM, don't use the tranny as a brake). I use the latter at longer lights and usually flater terrain.

When passing drop down a gear to rev up if you feel the need.

 

[Confused]

You're making me think about how i drive!

#1:
I tend to release the accelerator (gas for you americans!) as i'm getting close to the lights/stopping, stay in the same gear, and brake if i need to slow quicker, then just as the engine's about to stall, dip the clutch and select the appropiate gear for the speed i'm doing. Or something like that! You'd have to ride with me to see exactly!

#2:
Yes, downshifting is the only way to get power, and get past that other vehicle quickly! It all depends on what gear/speed i'm in at the time. Doing about 60 in 5th gear, i'd drop down to probably 3rd (i've only got a 1.4 litre, it is different for all cars) to get some power to 70, then 4th to about 85, then back into 5th.

#3:
Yeah, you will probably have to get the gas on a bit to stop the car jerking and slowing down a little, the more you drive the car, the easier it'll become, and after a while, you won't think about doing this lot, it'll come naturally. I've only been driving just over a year, but i have driven about 5 different cars (for any real distance) and they all have totally different clutches, and they have different power at different speeds. It's all just down to the car and experience

Confused

 

[cavemanmoron]

if you sit at a long light put vehicle in neutral,and take foot off clutch
the throwout bearing will last much longer!
when the traffic starts to move/light starts to change then shift to a forward gear of your choice,{this depends on the vehicles gearing}
Some trucks for instance; if empty, you would normally start in 2nd gear or higher.
Most cars/motocycles you would normally start in 1st gear from a stop.
One neat thing with Standard shift,if the road is very slippery,you can Upshift to another Higher
gear to have the tires spin less, like in snowy or ice conditions!

Keep practicing,you will have it become easier,so you do it automatically without having to think much about it.
Have you ever rode a 10 speed bicycle,{or 12 -15 speed etc.}
same idea..

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: joe678
started driving stick recently and im ok with it but had a couple questions...

1. when coming to a stop in local traffic i usually break, clutch in to prevent stall, then break to complete stop and return the gear (from 2nd/3rd whatever) to neutral at the stop. sounds easy enough, but i know couple ppl who slip it into neutral and ride the break to the stop. which is usually better? (i hardly ever downshift unless im coming to a rolling turn).

2. when im on the highway, i hear sometimes ppl downshift to get more power so they can pass easier or watever. but dont u have to slow down to the designated speed range of that gear to downshift to that gear? or is this mainly used for 5th to 4th and back? i usually dont switch lanes/pass/etc unless i absolutely have to but if i do i normally mash the gas and it picks up pretty well.

edit: 3. also if i downshift to get more power should i have to give it more gas immediately since the rpms jump up already?

tips, advice appreciated... tia

To number one: Your way is better. It saves wear on the brakes (because of engine braking) and it doesn't cause extra wear of any significance to other parts.

As for number two: That depends. All you have to do is make sure that you are travelling at a speed that equates to less than redline for the gear you're downshifting into. In my 914 redline in second gear is about 55 mph, so on the freeway I can do a 5th to 3rd downshift for power without over-revving the engine (normally 4th is sufficient though).

For number three: With modern cars it's not necessary to do so since transmission synchromesh has improved greatly from where it was in the 1960's. However, the downshift will be significantly smoother and will wear parts a lot less if you do rev-match, so I'd recommend matching engine revs to the appropriate level of the selected gear before letting the clutch back out.

ZV

EDIT:

If I have to stop more quickly, I just drop it into neutral and brake.

The car stops the fastest if you leave the clutch engaged while braking because of the contribution of engine braking. As to the person who said that leaving the clutch engaged while braking causes wear on the drivetrain, that's just not true in any kind of significant sense. It's not like the gears all stop spinning when the car is coasting in neutral since all modern street-use trannsmissions are constant mesh. If you go down through each gear individually then you will wear the clutch slightly because any time you disengage/engage the clutch you wear it a bit, but if you just leave it in 5th (or whatever gear you were in) and shift to neutral once the car's down to 10 mph or so you're not wearing anything to any measureable amount.

EDIT again:

1) I usually just pop it in neutral and coast to a stop. Save some gas and wear and tear on the drivetrain

*sigh* If your foot is off the gas pedal, then no matter how fast the engine is spinning it's not using any more gas than at idle in any modern fuel injection system. As for wear on the drivetrain, see above.

EDIT (last time, I promise):

if you sit at a long light put vehicle in neutral,and take foot off clutch the throwout bearing will last much longer!

Considering that the other bearings (like the wheel bearings, etc) tend to last indefinitely and they are in constant motion as opposed to intermittant motion like the throwout bearing, I've never bought into the idea that the throwout bearing needs to be babied like that. Besides, the throwout bearing is something that's generally replaced every 100,000 miles or so when the clutch gets replaced.

 

[Ornery]

I wish to hell you guys would get the damn thing in gear BEFORE the light turns green! God, some bikers are the fvcking worst about this! Jesus, take your time mutherfvcker, we've only been sitting at this GD light for 5 minutes already! :frown: You guys and your 733t manual, "racing" transmissions.

 

[slikmunks]

i put it in gear when the light for the cross-traffic turns yellow... and if i'm in a rush, i take it up to redline in 1st, so you wouldn't have to wait long behind me...

 

[Stallion]

Originally posted by: slikmunks
i put it in gear when the light for the cross-traffic turns yellow... and if i'm in a rush, i take it up to redline in 1st, so you wouldn't have to wait long behind me...

Same here, I see the light turn yellow for the cross traffic, the line loc goes on and the revs come up to about 2000. Man, I need to drive my car more often.

 

[deerslayer]

Originally posted by: hungrypete
1. i tend to roll to a stop in nuetral, its just less wear and tear on your drivetrain. remember that if your brakes ever fail you can downshift to reduce speed tho

2. yes most people shift when passing, its unlikely that you will ever damage your vehicle doing this. as a rule of thumb, if you are at mid rpm, dont downshift more than one gear.


hehe when i was learning to drive a stick i was a bit timid about downshifting, then my dad hopped in my old s-10 and showed me that you can throw it in FIRST at 60 MPH without blowing the motor (boy it made some noise tho!) manual trannies are typically very tough cookies

LMFAO, I bet that was a scream

 

[slikmunks]

Originally posted by: Stallion

Originally posted by: slikmunks
i put it in gear when the light for the cross-traffic turns yellow... and if i'm in a rush, i take it up to redline in 1st, so you wouldn't have to wait long behind me...

Same here, I see the light turn yellow for the cross traffic, the line loc goes on and the revs come up to about 2000. Man, I need to drive my car more often.

yep, need to drive my car more... right now i'm working on getting my grades back up... my parents won't let me drive my rx this quarter... bleh... i know it doesn't make any sense since i paid for the car, i pay for the insurance, and i pay for maintenance and stuff, but then again, they pay my food, rent and tuition... so i don't really have much to say...

 

[joe678]

Originally posted by: Ornery
I wish to hell you guys would get the damn thing in gear BEFORE the light turns green! God, some bikers are the fvcking worst about this! Jesus, take your time mutherfvcker, we've only been sitting at this GD light for 5 minutes already! :frown: You guys and your 733t manual, "racing" transmissions.

ur just mad cause u almost bought a minivan......not everyone drives with a racing mentality...