Tips on driving manual?
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Originally Posted by 20civic01
when i lived in Colorado, i used engine braking a lot to slow down going through the mountains. you can burn your brakes up pretty good if you're constantly riding them in downgrades. this was probably on older cars, but i've heard stories of people's brakes glowing red after riding them down a steep downgrade.
I almost crashed an old lady when my car failed to brake a few months ago. Had been going downhill for apprixmately 20+ miles, most of the time slowing down due to traffic.
When I got to the end of the hill, just three miles off of it, I found some traffic up ahead. Started braking when I was reaching the traffic, but my car said "Hey, I am NOT braking, no matter WHAT you do, so **** off!".
Good thing I have quick reflexes... and that it's a Civic (I just wuv the Vic's response to quick jerks and veers).
No brakes = bad
Quick reflexes = good
Originally Posted by jackburton
Never skip upshifting, it will wear out synchros. Skipping a gear down shifting is fine as long you rev match. There is a way to skip a gear upshifting but it is not really owrth it, just use each gear. You should also try and stay in the highest gear possible to conserve gas. As for "engine braking" in a civic, if the grade is steep enough you will have to or the ***** gonna hit the fan, does not matter that our cars only weigh 2600lbs.
Originally Posted by ragingSPAM
going from lets say 2-4 gear isnt a problem...or 3rd to 5th...the synchros will not wear out as long as the clutch is depressed...
also do not ride your clutch in half way or so...if you are stopped at a light or a stop sign it is ok to have your clutch pressed all the way with the car in gear because when the clutch is pressed all the way its not skidding like a brake pad on the flywheel but its spinning with the flywheel causing no wear on the clutch plate...dont be an idiot and while on a hill go up and down and up and down with your clutch halfway tryin to balance it out cuz ur just using ur $400 clutch as a brake pad while u render your $30 brake pads useless...when u engine brake tap the gas to match revs of the gear your going into and do not let the clutch do the braking while the gear engages because u will be wearing at it very badly and its harsh on you engine components
also do not ride your clutch in half way or so...if you are stopped at a light or a stop sign it is ok to have your clutch pressed all the way with the car in gear because when the clutch is pressed all the way its not skidding like a brake pad on the flywheel but its spinning with the flywheel causing no wear on the clutch plate...dont be an idiot and while on a hill go up and down and up and down with your clutch halfway tryin to balance it out cuz ur just using ur $400 clutch as a brake pad while u render your $30 brake pads useless...when u engine brake tap the gas to match revs of the gear your going into and do not let the clutch do the braking while the gear engages because u will be wearing at it very badly and its harsh on you engine components
Saving a clutch instead of pressing the brake makes sense to me now though...
And by the way... what are synchros?
Last edited by ramcosca; Sep 14, 2005 at 02:23 PM.
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SYNCHROS R SO U DONT HAVE TO REV MATCH WHEN U SHFT. THEY START SPINNING TO GET EVERYTHING GOING THE SAME SPEED. (SEARCH IT. THIS IS A GENERAL DEF AND NOT A REALLY CLEAR ONE)
Do yall push the clutch in all the way when u shift/start from a stop or do u just push it in 1/2 way.
Benifets/bad things. thanks
Do yall push the clutch in all the way when u shift/start from a stop or do u just push it in 1/2 way.
Benifets/bad things. thanks
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Rep Power: 0 when ur at a stop in nuetral and the brake on when u shift into 1st should u push the clutch in all the way when u shift and start letting it out or is it ok to push it in 1/2 way and then start to drive?
In addition, when u shift gears (1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5) should u push the clutch in all the way (2 the floor) or just 1/2 way?
Is this ok for the clutch/gears and does it cause any excess wear and tear?
In addition, when u shift gears (1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5) should u push the clutch in all the way (2 the floor) or just 1/2 way?
Is this ok for the clutch/gears and does it cause any excess wear and tear?
Yeah for 99.9% people out there you should always push the clutch all the way in when you use the clutch.
If you are a robot with perfect timing and eye/hand cordination then you only need to use the clutch to put it into first and when you do that, PUSH IT ALL THE WAY IN!
If you are a robot with perfect timing and eye/hand cordination then you only need to use the clutch to put it into first and when you do that, PUSH IT ALL THE WAY IN!
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Originally Posted by Kyle23
SYNCHROS R SO U DONT HAVE TO REV MATCH WHEN U SHFT. THEY START SPINNING TO GET EVERYTHING GOING THE SAME SPEED. (SEARCH IT. THIS IS A GENERAL DEF AND NOT A REALLY CLEAR ONE)
Do yall push the clutch in all the way when u shift/start from a stop or do u just push it in 1/2 way.
Benifets/bad things. thanks
Do yall push the clutch in all the way when u shift/start from a stop or do u just push it in 1/2 way.
Benifets/bad things. thanks
synchros http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission6.htm
thats what they do. no so you don't have to rev match. if you don't rev match then you will burn your clutch!!! man this thread gives me a headache. ok when you drive normally and shift from 3rd to 4th lets say, put the clutch in and shift from 3rd to 4th gear, the revs linger for a split second, and then drop to rev match itself to 4th. so if you wait too long to shift from 3rd to 4th YOU HAVE TO REV MATCH to avoid burned clutchism. lol damn.
EDIT: BTW put the clutch in ALL THE WAY ALL THE TIME
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Rep Power: 0 When I learned how to drive my stick, my first baby, my father told me to press the cluthch all the way everytime I shift. Clutch is a release machanism, it'll loosen if you hold down the clutch in between stops. Since the gears need to be shifted into place, if the clutch is not press down fully, it will be grinding the clutch and then the gears. Make sure not to release the clutch until the gear is completely in.
I was also told to downshift to decelerate. The manual tranmission is meant to do so. If you observe an automatic, you'll notice that the rpm doesn't just drop to idle when you let go of the gas to cruise. Just make sure not to downshift too dramatically. By dramatic meaning from 5th gear going 60mph, and downshifting to 4th without braking whatsoever. I learned all that from my parents, my father has never gotten into an accident and has been driving manual his entire life over in Hong Kong. I think I'll trust him since grewing up, he has always been a smoother driver compared to my crazy uncle who drives an automatic.
I was also told to downshift to decelerate. The manual tranmission is meant to do so. If you observe an automatic, you'll notice that the rpm doesn't just drop to idle when you let go of the gas to cruise. Just make sure not to downshift too dramatically. By dramatic meaning from 5th gear going 60mph, and downshifting to 4th without braking whatsoever. I learned all that from my parents, my father has never gotten into an accident and has been driving manual his entire life over in Hong Kong. I think I'll trust him since grewing up, he has always been a smoother driver compared to my crazy uncle who drives an automatic.
Okay refreshed my memory a bit-
^^Yeah rev matching with the clutch in puts the same strain on the synchros, but saves the clutch. Double clutching saves both the synchros and the clutch. Double clutching is really only needed if you skip gears downshifting because nowadays synchros are pretty tough.
^Your dad is a wise man.
The flywheel is connected to the engine and the clutch is connected to transmission/wheels of the car.
When your foot is off the clutch pedal, the clutch is engaged, and the flywheel and clutch are one so to speak, they spin together at the same speed. When you have the clutch pedal fully depressed the clutch is disengaged, and the clutch and flywheel are not touching, therefore they can move at different speeds. Nothing is wearing when the clutch is fully depressed except maybe a spring or something. The clutch only really wears while it is engaging, while the clutch is rubbing and griping the flywheel. While you let the pedal out, the clutch is engaging, so if you push the pedal in half way where the clutch is engaging, you are holding it right at the only point where it can wear. If you do not push the clutch in all the way then the clutch never come completely off of the flywheel, therefore it rubs and wears. This can also cause more problems if you try to shift while the clutch pedal is barely down and the clutch is near full engagement, because they are some what still connected. The gears grind because of this.
If clutch wear happens while the clutch is trying to grip the flywheel, then clutch wear has to do with the difference in speeds of the clutch and flywheel. Greater difference more wear.
My clutch is pretty worn from feathering the clutch and gas while doing burn outs during the first few months after i got my car. If you do it "right" you can really smoke the tires while moving a good distance. I would also feather the clutch alot when practice launching, and not dump it really because i did not want to mess up my trans. I rarely rarely ever launch any more, and never do burnouts, i guess you could call it wisdom, but it sure was fun! Its almost worth it LOL!
How did i end up jabbering about burn outs????
^^Yeah rev matching with the clutch in puts the same strain on the synchros, but saves the clutch. Double clutching saves both the synchros and the clutch. Double clutching is really only needed if you skip gears downshifting because nowadays synchros are pretty tough.
^Your dad is a wise man.
The flywheel is connected to the engine and the clutch is connected to transmission/wheels of the car.
When your foot is off the clutch pedal, the clutch is engaged, and the flywheel and clutch are one so to speak, they spin together at the same speed. When you have the clutch pedal fully depressed the clutch is disengaged, and the clutch and flywheel are not touching, therefore they can move at different speeds. Nothing is wearing when the clutch is fully depressed except maybe a spring or something. The clutch only really wears while it is engaging, while the clutch is rubbing and griping the flywheel. While you let the pedal out, the clutch is engaging, so if you push the pedal in half way where the clutch is engaging, you are holding it right at the only point where it can wear. If you do not push the clutch in all the way then the clutch never come completely off of the flywheel, therefore it rubs and wears. This can also cause more problems if you try to shift while the clutch pedal is barely down and the clutch is near full engagement, because they are some what still connected. The gears grind because of this.
If clutch wear happens while the clutch is trying to grip the flywheel, then clutch wear has to do with the difference in speeds of the clutch and flywheel. Greater difference more wear.
My clutch is pretty worn from feathering the clutch and gas while doing burn outs during the first few months after i got my car. If you do it "right" you can really smoke the tires while moving a good distance. I would also feather the clutch alot when practice launching, and not dump it really because i did not want to mess up my trans. I rarely rarely ever launch any more, and never do burnouts, i guess you could call it wisdom, but it sure was fun! Its almost worth it LOL!
How did i end up jabbering about burn outs????
Last edited by jackburton; Sep 15, 2005 at 02:29 AM.
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Rep Power: 261 my brother told me that skip shifting is NOT bad. he said it's just like shifting regularly, and if its so bad, compare it to racing your cars @ drag strips or racing in general, burning out, etc. mind you that he used to be an auto tech. @ autobahn and ASE certified.
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OK guys, i'm from england where we pretty much all drive manuals.
now re the clutch pedal, its got what is called a biting point which is where the clutch plate meets the flywheel, when you move the pedal up and down you are moving the clutchplate to and from the flywheel. Now when changing gear you should always depress the pedal to the floor(just don't put it through it!!). Once you have learned the biting point you will know how far to depress the pedal to change gear ie just past the biting point.
You ask how do you find the biting point, find a flat bit off road, then depress the clutch pedal all the way, put it in first, then slowly bring up the clutch till you feel the car trying to move forward, thats the biting point, takes a bit of practice but once you've got it, your sorted. can be used to pull away up hill and is basically how you prevent clutch burnout. Just dont ride the clutch too much, always use the handbrake when your not moving!
Why??? well its what you use in traffic to move forward slowly, you should be able to move the car with little or no revs, if you have good pedal control.
Does you leg get tired?? of course, now and again, but so does the other one when your breaking and acelerating a lot!!!!
Any Q's just ask
now re the clutch pedal, its got what is called a biting point which is where the clutch plate meets the flywheel, when you move the pedal up and down you are moving the clutchplate to and from the flywheel. Now when changing gear you should always depress the pedal to the floor(just don't put it through it!!). Once you have learned the biting point you will know how far to depress the pedal to change gear ie just past the biting point.
You ask how do you find the biting point, find a flat bit off road, then depress the clutch pedal all the way, put it in first, then slowly bring up the clutch till you feel the car trying to move forward, thats the biting point, takes a bit of practice but once you've got it, your sorted. can be used to pull away up hill and is basically how you prevent clutch burnout. Just dont ride the clutch too much, always use the handbrake when your not moving!
Why??? well its what you use in traffic to move forward slowly, you should be able to move the car with little or no revs, if you have good pedal control.
Does you leg get tired?? of course, now and again, but so does the other one when your breaking and acelerating a lot!!!!
Any Q's just ask
^Yeah thats a good way to learn to drive manual, that is how i tought my brother. Let the clutch out and get the car moving with no gas, only use the idle rpms.
It must suck shifting with your left hand, and then coming over here to shift with you re right, and vice versa.
^^To the guy who has a brother in the navy, it will save your sychros a little if you do'nt skip shift, but they re pretty strong so it really doesnt hurt them that bad. It would be a good practice not to do it though, why add any wear when you do not have to even if its not much.
It must suck shifting with your left hand, and then coming over here to shift with you re right, and vice versa.
^^To the guy who has a brother in the navy, it will save your sychros a little if you do'nt skip shift, but they re pretty strong so it really doesnt hurt them that bad. It would be a good practice not to do it though, why add any wear when you do not have to even if its not much.
Last edited by jackburton; Sep 15, 2005 at 02:01 PM.
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Originally Posted by 02cvcEX
my brother told me that skip shifting is NOT bad. he said it's just like shifting regularly, and if its so bad, compare it to racing your cars @ drag strips or racing in general, burning out, etc. mind you that he used to be an auto tech. @ autobahn and ASE certified.
another thing.vvvv
if you rev match with the clutch all the way in (duh) when you downshift, it does not hurt the syncrhos
1. downshifting is ok when you rev match, no harm to syncrhos or clutch. if you don't rev match clutch will burn
2. skip shifting up without double clutch strains synchros.
3. if you skip down shift meaning 5-3 or 4-2 its cool. no synchro damage, or anything.
im bored, ok.
Nah man your wrong if the clutch is disengaged the the gears on the lay shaft are not connected to the engine so when you blip the throttle, the engine speeds up, but not the gears on nor any gears conected to the layshaft. So when you goto downshift, remembering to put the clutch pedal all the way in, the engine may be at "same" speed as the actual gears connected to the tires, but the lay shaft is not, so the synchros will have to speed the layshaft up. The only way not to strain synchros is to double clutch. It may not hurt the synchros while rev matching, but i wanna know how rev matching with the clutch in takes all the strain off of the synchros, if this were true then cars with old crash style gear boxes could rev match with out double clutching. If you skip a gear going down and only rev match you are putting even more strain on your sychros, not as much as if you were to skip when upshifting, but still no nead for it either way.
This bores me, anybody up for a game of basketball?
Shoot the J, shoot IT!
Jordon fades back he shoots, its IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh yeah you feel that, humm yeah feel it.
I have exercised the demons.
This house is clean.
La hoo Lasa-her
This is...Ace...
Tom Ace
What a sports nut huh.
4 times
sorry i must have been a little tired
This bores me, anybody up for a game of basketball?
Shoot the J, shoot IT!
Jordon fades back he shoots, its IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh yeah you feel that, humm yeah feel it.
I have exercised the demons.
This house is clean.
La hoo Lasa-her
This is...Ace...
Tom Ace
What a sports nut huh.
4 times
sorry i must have been a little tired
Last edited by jackburton; Sep 16, 2005 at 03:42 AM.
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Rep Power: 273 what i do is b4 a red light i throw it in neutal and let it fly and now i try to avoid down shifting cuz it dose waste gas but very very little but i conserve what i can and if u really want to save gas turn off a/c and u get better response
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Rep Power: 336 double clutching is when you put the clutch in to get out of gear, let it back out. then put the cluth in again before going into next gear. truck drivers HAVE to do it cause they don't have synchros
heres my tip find a drunk guy who knows how to drive stick and have him teach you. i did that last night to my friends little brother he wanted to learn how to drive stick after i had drank like 8 beers and he got the hang of it in like 2 minutes(i must be a good teacher)
