Have I been shifting wrong my whole life?

austin316

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2001
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In my car, when I'm coming to a stop light, I put the car in neutral and press the brake.

Is this bad for my car?
 

Zanix

Diamond Member
Feb 11, 2003
5,568
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81
Pushing the gas and the clutch down all the way at the same time is bad.
 

Doctorweir

Golden Member
Sep 20, 2000
1,689
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Automatic: wrong (well, you could while standing not to have to brake all the time..)
Stick-shift: right (if not 500m away from traffic light still)
 

Bozono

Banned
Aug 17, 2005
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Originally posted by: austin316
In my car, when I'm coming to a stop light, I put the car in neutral and press the brake.

Is this bad for my car?


:confused:

What else are you gonna do?
 

Zanix

Diamond Member
Feb 11, 2003
5,568
12
81
Originally posted by: Bozono
Originally posted by: austin316
In my car, when I'm coming to a stop light, I put the car in neutral and press the brake.

Is this bad for my car?


:confused:

What else are you gonna do?

Not push the break and see what happens? :confused:
 

cecco

Senior member
Jan 27, 2005
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I was always taught to downshift. That way the car would always be in gear in case i had to manuver.
 

Phoenix86

Lifer
May 21, 2003
14,644
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81
Originally posted by: cecco
I was always taught to downshift. That way the car would always be in gear in case i had to manuver.

Pressing clutch=use.

When at a complete stop it's better for wear and tear to only use the break while the trasnmission is in neutral.

However, in some countries in Europe I think they require you to be engaged in gear at a stop. Not 100% sure on that.
 

ITJunkie

Platinum Member
Apr 17, 2003
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www.techange.com
Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Originally posted by: cecco
I was always taught to downshift. That way the car would always be in gear in case i had to manuver.

Pressing clutch=use.

When at a complete stop it's better for wear and tear to only use the break while the trasnmission is in neutral.

However, in some countries in Europe I think they require you to be engaged in gear at a stop. Not 100% sure on that.

That's the way I always did it. Down-shifted to ease wear on the brakes and idle in neutral to spare the clutch.
 

AndrewR

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,157
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Originally posted by: ITJunkie
Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Originally posted by: cecco
I was always taught to downshift. That way the car would always be in gear in case i had to manuver.

Pressing clutch=use.

When at a complete stop it's better for wear and tear to only use the break while the trasnmission is in neutral.

However, in some countries in Europe I think they require you to be engaged in gear at a stop. Not 100% sure on that.

That's the way I always did it. Down-shifted to ease wear on the brakes and idle in neutral to spare the clutch.

I used to think that way, too, but what's cheaper to replace: brake pads or a clutch (regarding downshifting)? I don't down-shift anymore. :)

 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: AndrewR
Originally posted by: ITJunkie

That's the way I always did it. Down-shifted to ease wear on the brakes and idle in neutral to spare the clutch.

I used to think that way, too, but what's cheaper to replace: brake pads or a clutch (regarding downshifting)? I don't down-shift anymore. :)

You oughta get 100k+ miles out of your clutch either way, so it's a non-issue for me. Besides, if you revmatch when you downshift, your clutch wear is so near zero it makes little difference. And you SHOULD revmatch when you downshift.
 

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
11,465
1
0
1. Engage clutch
2. Step on the brake
3. Once stopped shift into first
4. When light changes, gas and go
 

austin316

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2001
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I have a manual transmission.

I to clarify, if I know I will have to stop ahead, I currently just put the car in neutral (say I'm going 35mph) and then press the brake to gradually slow down to a stop.

so not downshifting, that doesn't hurt, right?
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
14
81
fobot.com
i think most people downshift

you are just wearing your brakes faster doing it that way

i don't believe the transmission cares either way
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
I would try to get in the habit of staying in gear.

It would be nice if you were in the appropriate gear incase you had to accelerate quickly to avoid an accident.
 

AccruedExpenditure

Diamond Member
May 12, 2001
6,960
7
81
Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
1. Engage clutch
2. Step on the brake
3. Once stopped shift into first
4. When light changes, gas and go

This is terrible for your clutch... you can't stay in first without the clutch engaged when you're at a full stop...
 

vital

Platinum Member
Sep 28, 2000
2,534
1
81
it is illegal to drive in neutral because if you get in an accident and lose control or pass out, your car won't stop from rolling down a hill.
 

KentState

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2001
8,397
393
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Originally posted by: AccruedExpenditure
Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
1. Engage clutch
2. Step on the brake
3. Once stopped shift into first
4. When light changes, gas and go

This is terrible for your clutch... you can't stay in first without the clutch engaged when you're at a full stop...

What are you talking about? If the clutch is engaged at a full stop, the car will stall. Pushing the clutch pedal disengages the clutch, but wears on the throwout bearing.

Generally, I will remain in my current gear and slow down with the brakes. Before the engine starts to bogg, I will put it in neutral or go into first if I will need to accelerate again.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: Chryso
Downshifting will cause your RPMs to go up which will use more gas.

A modern fuel-injected engine uses zero gas while engine braking...regardless of the RPM. Unless you touch the gas pedal, downshifting actually uses less fuel than letting the engine idle all the way to a stop...and it stops you faster, too.
 

JMWarren

Golden Member
Nov 6, 2003
1,201
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If the clutch peddle is fully in (disengaged) the only wear that will occur is the throwout bearing. (ok a little wear on the clutch system, dampner etc but so little it's not worth accounting for)

Shifting to neutral negates this wear.

/End Thread