Shift Secrets

[bdub85]

I'll usually go from 4th to 6th when I'm getting on a highway.

[Brndn704]

If you're driving normally, like say you shift at 3500 RPMs without rev matching, then yes it is putting stress on the engine. Say you're in 4th gear, and you're at 3500 RPMs. You switch to 6th gear, now your RPM's are closer to 2K or so. Which if you do this constantly you are in fact putting strain on both the engine and transmission.

But hell, don't listen to me. I'll just drive by you and your car while you're replacing a clutch and wondering why you're engine isn't holding up to performance specs.

[SkullWorks]

seriously guys read what he posted, I don't frivolously back down from statements I have made...but when I do...I drink Dos red bulls...

Seriously though what is posted in the thread he linked and I quoted makes good sense, don't read it if you don't want to but don't argue against an explanation you haven't even heard.

Trust me Im an asshole for a living.

[Mikem53]

its fine to skip a gear when appropriate.. just dont skip a gear and then get on it..
its never a good to lug an engine..

[BlaineWasHere]

I rev match every shift. Driving is to easy otherwise. What else do I have to do while I'm tooling around? Brake and steer? I could train my dog to do that.

[FR-anco89]

just shift though the gears... its more fun and you don't have to worry about any of this. the gas you save is marginal if at all... when you rev-match you're increasing throttle anyways which is using up gas essentially at neutral instead of moving you. when up- shifting when coasting it doesn't really matter. As long as you don't have a high gear at low speeds then accelerating then the stress is not out of operating parameters. matching engine speed with gear speed is always the less stress on the engine. but if you want to be more fuel efficient then wait till the engine speed drops low enough before you downshift to minimize stress

[shawnperolis]

Gear shifts in this car are amazing, you're doing yourself a disservice by skipping gears.

[sho220]

If you're gonna skip gears why not just buy an auto? If it's because of a problem with 2nd gear, why not just get it fixed? If you're worried about the difference in gas consumption, well...there are more important things to worry about...

I guess I'm just confused on why someone would buy a manual transmission sports car and then try to drive it like an auto trans econo-car...

[GNS]

The shift from 1st to 2nd is one of the most fun parts of shifting, the action of pulling back on the shifter and feeling it slide through the gates and snick into place is very satisfying. Why would you want to avoid doing it?

[BlaineWasHere]

Originally Posted by sho220

If you're gonna skip gears why not just buy an auto? If it's because of a problem with 2nd gear, why not just get it fixed? If you're worried about the difference in gas consumption, well...there are more important things to worry about...

I guess I'm just confused on why someone would buy a manual transmission sports car and then try to drive it like an auto trans econo-car...

You wanna pay for my gas? I drive 500 miles a week so an extra I can squeeze out is great.

Plus when I use 3rd all the way up to 70 on the highway you still want my to pointlessly and quickly shift into 4th and 5th before 6th.

I'll get run over by cars that actually have power if I use all the gears getting on the freeway. I'm already getting my doors blown off by Kia Optimas and Dodge Caravans.

[raul]

When skipping gears, say for example, from 1st to 3rd, make it a point to go through the motion of pushing the gear stick to 2nd, then 3rd, and then engage the clutch. Going from 1st to 3rd has to slow down the synchro too quickly. If you are skipping gears and go 1-2-3 quickly, instead of 1-3, so the synchro will adjust speed smoother and cause less wear.

[FR-anco89]

Originally Posted by BlaineWasHere

You wanna pay for my gas? I drive 500 miles a week so an extra I can squeeze out is great.

Plus when I use 3rd all the way up to 70 on the highway you still want my to pointlessly and quickly shift into 4th and 5th before 6th.

I'll get run over by cars that actually have power if I use all the gears getting on the freeway.

oh come on man! you won't get run over..lol
you're more lightly to get run over by skipping a gear and then having to accelerate quickly to make the gap and miss it from lack of power/torque
if a prius can get on the highway safely then you can do it shifting though gears.

If you want to drive economically from time to time thats fine, just be easy on the throttle and keep revs low (obviously high enough to avoid choking out your car) and you'll be fine.

easiest way to make sure you're not wasting gas is; set your display to instant MPG and try to keep it up

[Rayme]

I skip gears all the time. If you do a hard acceleration and reach speed limit in 2nd gear why bother going 3rd and 4th?

[BlaineWasHere]

Originally Posted by FR-anco89

oh come on man! you won't get run over..lol
you're more lightly to get run over by skipping a gear and then having to accelerate quickly to make the gap and miss it from lack of power/torque
if a prius can get on the highway safely then you can do it shifting though gears.

What gap are you talking about? 4 lanes of freeway traffic moving 55-75 MPH and I have 100 feet from a dead stop at the meter lights. Some ramps have plenty of space after the meter lights but some have hardly any space like the one I get on every morning from my house.