Let's talk about how to shift gears

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

In order to start driving a car, the driver must learn a few simple steps: start the engine, shift gears, select the correct engine speed, depending on the traffic situation. These are simple actions on which all driving is based.

Driving experience is gained over time, for some it accumulates on an automatic transmission. But, I must say, a manual gearbox is fundamentally different from an automatic transmission in terms of driving style, since the driver’s responsibility also includes such a duty as choosing a gear. How to shift gears will be discussed in this article.

First of all, you need to know at what speed to shift gears. For different engines - in different ways. If the engine is high-torque and has maximum torque “at the bottom”, then in this range, namely, up to 2000 rpm, it is worth changing the gear to an increased one. There are many recommendations and instructions on how to shift gears, but none of them affects all situations. Why? The answer is simple - becausethere can be so many of these situations that it would not be possible to tell them all in a day.

Before changing gear, the car must be accelerated, because the higher the gear, the lower the gear ratio, which means that it is more difficult for the engine to turn the wheels. If this is not done, then in the next gear it will not be possible to accelerate, and by the sound of the engine it will be possible to understand that he is at least uncomfortable. Of course, driving experience comes with practice, but theory is just as important. This means that if the driver does not even know how to shift gears correctly, then he will not be able to put such knowledge into practice.

All accelerations should be done smoothly, without overloads for the engine and jerks for the clutch. When shifting gears, the clutch pedal must be released smoothly, while avoiding regassing.

Many people may think that proper gear shifting is only necessary for a more comfortable ride. Indeed, knowing how to shift gears has a positive effect on the smoothness of the car, but that's not all. Proper gear shifting allows you to select the optimal engine operating modes, which means it will minimize fuel consumption. If the gear is switched earlier than necessary, then part of the gasoline simply will not burn out, but will be thrown into the exhaust pipe, if later, then on the contrary, it will burn too much during acceleration.

If we talk about how to shift gears, then it is worth remembering such a thing asdownshift. There are times when the engine power is not enough, for example, to drive up the hill, then it may stall. To prevent this from happening, you need to shift the gear one or two lower, depending on the situation. Driving for a long time in a gear that is not suitable for the situation can cause the engine to overheat, as well as quickly wear out the piston group and clutch disc.

From the above it follows that if the driver wants to comfortably get to his destination, while saving on fuel, and also spare his "iron horse", he needs to change gears correctly. In principle, it is not difficult, the main thing is practice.