Some general questions about driving a stick shift.....

[imhotepmp]

I sort of new to it and had some questions that i feel need answered. I have a 92 Accord in case that helps.
Here it goes:
1.Starting up:is it better to start up in first gear w/brake or in neutral(which is what i do).

2.I was taught that you should shift ~3000 rpm. I do notice the engine gets pretty loud in all gears above this point, but my redline is at 6500 rpm. Other than higher gas consumption are there any detrimental effects to the engine?The reason i ask is that my acceleration is pretty lousy if i shift at 3000. But if i keep it in a lower gear longer shouldnt the my acceleration increase(since the gear is lower and more powerful)

3.What is speed shifting? Ive heard this in several magazines and have no clue to its meaning.

4.This next question is kinda hard to explain. It has to do with downshifting. I notice sometimes when i try to do downshift its difficult to do, like theres something preventing from going into gear. I think it may be because the car may be going too fast for the gear. For example, it happens when im going around 25mph in 3rd and want to shift into second. I usually just apply more force and itll go. Is this bad for the clutch and/or gears?

And think that about covers it. Sorry if these may seem elementary. thanks for all that respond.

Imhotep MP

 

[abc]

1. neutral
2. u can @ 3000RPM but ur a better smooth operator if you can make an habit of engaging w/ as little rpm as you can get by with... deftunless you're purposely peeling out, then rev.

 

[fastz28]

<< 3.What is speed shifting? Ive heard this in several magazines and have no clue to its meaning. >>



AKA power shifting - shift without lifting you foot off the gas pedal. Gotta do it quick.

 

[rmblam]

1) It is suggested to start the vehicle with the clutch pushed in, regardless of gear, to take the extra gearing strain off of the starter motor. Either in neutral or with the clutch in are good; although, some vehicles will not even start unless the clutch is pushed in.

2) Each vehicle has a "sweet spot" for shifting during normal driving. I never paid attention to a particular RPM with mine. Lower gears should help with acceleration unless the engine power is limited. No need to wind it out unless you are in a hurry...

3) Speed shifting is done by accelerating fast in a gear, then letting off of the gas a tad while jamming the shifter into the next gear (without touching the clutch pedal - This is what we learned anyway). By letting off of the gas it lets a little slack in the tranny so you can slip change gears. Doing this risks shifter fork and gear damage. I don't recommend it as it is a shifting trick for racing. Buy a racercar.

4) yes, you're right. You can apply pressure to the shifter to get the gear in. It will wind up to speed and the shifter will pop into gear. Ever hear that wind-up whine? For longevity you might want to avoid forcing the downshift, but we never had any issues with doing it.


Easy on that clutch

 

[PistachioByAzul]

1. Personal preference I guess, I always start in 1st

2. Yeah, that's what they say, but basically if you just drive the car enough you'll adapt to the ideal shiftpoints.

3. There's a point at which you can shift gears without using the clutch, but I doubt it's good for the transmission, plus it's pretty useless.

4. That means the RPMs are too high to downshift. You could ride the clutch for a little before you drop it into 2.

 

[Zenmervolt]

3) Speed shifting is when you don't lift off the throttle between upshifts, and you basically slam the clutch back in. Very hard on componants, but the car accelerates faster.

4) Forcing things is never good. Sounds to me like your synchros may be getting old. Try double clutching and see if that improves things.

ZV

 

[UltraQuiet]

Use of the clutch is optional.

 

[fastz28]

<< Try double clutching and see if that improves things. >>



He doesn't know speed shifting, you might want to explain double clutch to him, too.

 

[Rahminator]

1. It's safer to start up in neutral because if you're in gear and you start up and you forget to press clutch and there's someone walking in front of your car... well... it aint gonna be pretty. My 2000 Jetta won't start up unless you press clutch so it doesn't matter if you're in gear or not and above scenario could never happen.
2. Bah, who says you gotta shift at 3000 rpm? Do it whenever you feel like it so if you're in a racing mood shift at high rpm and for normal driving do it at rpm that doen't strain the engine.
3. I'm not sure.
4. Never happened to me

 

[JupiterJones]

Shifting will become automatic. Just get by until it does. My last standard was a 5.0 Mustang, and it had so much torque that I had a lot of leeway as to when I shifted. I could stay in 3rd as I went thru a turn lane and then by simply accelerating get up to highway speed quickly. This often got down to 10-15 mph. Don't force the stick into gear. When downshifting, if it doesn't want to go into 2nd, go into 3rd for a second and then quickly to 2nd. Same for 2nd and 1st. This will help to get everything up to speed.

 

[N8Magic]

Double clutching:

1. Put clutch in, shift in to first, let clutch out, accelerate.
2. When you get to desired revs, push in clutch.
3. Select neutral, let clutch out, give a little smack on the gas.
4. Put clutch in, select second gear, let clutch out, accelerate.

... and so on, doing this for every gear. Some big trucks require this, but cars generally don't need it unless the synchros are trashed.

 

[Medea]

Start the car up with foot on the clutch. It is the better way to start up.

Re: changing gears, the primary rule is to get out of first gear as fast as possible. First gear is to get the car moving and then go to second. It's a common mistake that newbies on standards strain first gear by going too far or too long before switching.

Forget the rpm stuff. Just change after you've started moving. You'll find that you'll be able to hear the gears getting strained. After a while, you shouldn't hear any strain because you'll be switching gears before any strain occurs.

 

[imhotepmp]

<< Start the car up with foot on the clutch. It is the better way to start up.

Re: changing gears, the primary rule is to get out of first gear as fast as possible. First gear is to get the car moving and then go to second. It's a common mistake that newbies on standards strain first gear by going too far or too long before switching.

Forget the rpm stuff. Just change after you've started moving. You'll find that you'll be able to hear the gears getting strained. After a while, you shouldn't hear any strain because you'll be switching gears before any strain occurs. >>



Sorry should of mentioned this with the post, but i have to push in the clutch to start it. I thought this was for all cars.

Also, thanks for the responses! So double clutching is is basically allowing the car to sit in neutral for a time and then shifting in gear? Does this allow things to get in sync better?

Imhotep MP

 

[Medea]

BTW, I should've said the engine gets strained if you go too far or too long in first gear - not the gear.

<So double clutching is is basically allowing the car to sit in neutral for a time and then shifting in gear? Does this allow things to get in sync better?>

I'm not sure what you're asking - not familiar with the term "double clutching". If you're sitting in neutral, you've got to shift into one of your gears to get moving, right? For example, if you're stopped on a hill or even a slightly downward slope and you're in neutral, you can put your gear in second, let your foot off the brake and clutch and keep going without having to go through first gear.

 

[Mill]

How would the engine get strained by going to far in first gear? The engine would not be anymore strained at 3k rpms in first or in second.

 

[Medea]

<How would the engine get strained by going to far in first gear? The engine would not be anymore strained at 3k rpms in first or in second.

Because first gear is meant to get the car moving - then you switch to second or third gear. It's not meant to be a "cruising" gear, i.e., just driving along in first gear. It's one of the first things you learn when driving a standard.

 

[Siddhartha]

1. I start my car in neutral. Though I have seen people start their car in first gear. I always thought doing that put more strain on the car but I could be wrong.
2. Depends on your car and traffic. If you shift at too low of an engine speed you will lug your engine. With my car the higher the rpm I shift the faster my car goes.
3. I have no idea.
4. Yes your transmission will resist down shifting when the car is going too fast.

 

[Mill]

But how would it strain the engine anymore than any other gear?

 

[puffpio]

<< Double clutching: 1. Put clutch in, shift in to first, let clutch out, accelerate. 2. When you get to desired revs, push in clutch. 3. Select neutral, let clutch out, give a little smack on the gas. 4. Put clutch in, select second gear, let clutch out, accelerate. ... and so on, doing this for every gear. Some big trucks require this, but cars generally don't need it unless the synchros are trashed. >>



Pretty correct except for one thing : Double clutching is for DOWNshifting.

For example, when you downshift from 4 to 3 the revs will increase, which is why you blip the throttle in neutral before you engage 3.

If you blip in neutral before upshifting it will just take longer for the engine speed to match the tranny speed once the clutch is engaged

 

[PistachioByAzul]

pio!pio!, by any chance are you a Maison Ikkoku fan?

 

[vi edit]

<< But how would it strain the engine anymore than any other gear? >>



I don't know about anyone else, by 1st gear in my VR6 is whining pretty good at 3200 RPM's while 4th gear at 3200 RPM's is quiet as can be.

 

[BruNgoLD]

engine would strain if gears are spinning fast..
so if you are in 1st going 30, with rpms at say, 5k, then you would be straining your engine more than if you were going 30 in 3rd, rpms at 2k..

for some reason i thought that was somewhat obvious...
or am i missing what this is about?

 

[vi edit]

All I'm saying is that my car sounds like it's working a hell of a lot harder @ 3200 RPM's in first gear than it does @ 3200 RPM's in 4th or 5th gears.

 

[Perknose]

<< All I'm saying is that my car sounds like it's working a hell of a lot harder @ 3200 RPM's in first gear than it does @ 3200 RPM's in 4th or 5th gears. >>

That's because first gear, the acutal gear itself, is physically LARGER, leading to far more gear whine at any equivalent rpm. Reverse gear is usually an even physically larger gear than first (geared lower, giving a numerically higher ratio), which is why you hear gear whine even sooner, faster and louder in reverse.

 

[Perknose]

<< Because first gear is meant to get the car moving - then you switch to second or third gear. It's not meant to be a "cruising" gear, i.e., just driving along in first gear. It's one of the first things you learn when driving a standard. >>

That's not nearly as true as it used to be, your information (and your teacher) are just a bit outdated.

Back in the day, up until about the mid sixties or so, when four speed manuals with synchro on all gears first became more widely available in American cars , all American factory standard shift transmissions (OK, except for the pitiful few Borg Warner T-10's) were three speed units, and did not have any synchro on first gear.

You couldn't downshift into first while moving without the cumbersome and tricky process of double clutching. In those days and in our country, first was indeed not a driving gear. These days, though? Less so.