New Manual transmission drivers Q&A

[ricky6791]

In driving a manual transmission I've read every where you need to release the clutch slowly but from trying it over and over it seems like I can't get it to do a smooth start. I have started to get the habit of releasing the clutch to the friction point and holding there then applying gas to get the car moving then fully releasing the clutch once it feels smooth. This method helps make it less jerky and this method takes around 2-3 seconds. Is this ok to do? Will it harm any thing in the clutch or transmission?

[Xanatos]

Originally Posted by ricky6791

In driving a manual transmission I've read every where you need to release the clutch slowly but from trying it over and over it seems like I can't get it to do a smooth start. I have started to get the habit of releasing the clutch to the friction point and holding there then applying gas to get the car moving then fully releasing the clutch once it feels smooth. This method helps make it less jerky and this method takes around 2-3 seconds. Is this ok to do? Will it harm any thing in the clutch or transmission?

It'll show some wear on the clutch but you can just mark it down as wear and tear of driving MT.

[ArKiTeCkT]

DOWNSHIFTING

Situation 1
Is it better to coast on neutral when coming to a stop? Or am I wearing the clutch?

Situation 2
Should I downshift from 5-4-3-neutral.

UP SHIFTING

Situation 3
Going from 1st gear to 2nd gear....
1. Fully let off the gas
2. Clutch in
3. Shift to 2nd gear
4. Let go of the clutch slowly and when it connects let go of the clutch fully.
5. Press the gas

Doing this method seems too jerky at times.

Situation 4
Going from 1st gear to 2nd gear....
1. Fully let off the gas
2. Clutch in
3. Shift to 2nd gear
4. While slowly letting go of the clutch and at the same time I slowly press the gas to try and match the speed of the transmission. Once it connects I fully release the clutch.(this happens within 1-2 second)

I find this method to be more smoother(I feel like its an automatic) than situation 3. However, am I wearing out the clutch by pressing the gas while slowly letting go of the clutch to upshift?

[Foobar]

Originally Posted by ArKiTeCkT

DOWNSHIFTING

Situation 1
Is it better to coast on neutral when coming to a stop? Or am I wearing the clutch?

Situation 2
Should I downshift from 5-4-3-neutral.

UP SHIFTING

Situation 3
Going from 1st gear to 2nd gear....
1. Fully let off the gas
2. Clutch in
3. Shift to 2nd gear
4. Let go of the clutch slowly and when it connects let go of the clutch fully.
5. Press the gas

Doing this method seems too jerky at times.

Situation 4
Going from 1st gear to 2nd gear....
1. Fully let off the gas
2. Clutch in
3. Shift to 2nd gear
4. While slowly letting go of the clutch and at the same time I slowly press the gas to try and match the speed of the transmission. Once it connects I fully release the clutch.(this happens within 1-2 second)

I find this method to be more smoother(I feel like its an automatic) than situation 3. However, am I wearing out the clutch by pressing the gas while slowly letting go of the clutch to upshift?

If you properly match your revs, you won't be wearing out your clutch as much as you would just releasing the clutch without gas.

[D.Scrye]

Bump.

I was wondering- I have a tendency to shift and let the clutch in really quickly, sometimes. Is it bad to let the clutch back in without letting revs drop substantially? It tends to jerk when I do this. I am not too concerned about the clutch; I just have no desire to trash the tranny or synchros. Also, every once in a while, when I change between first and second or second and third, the transmission seems to resist my efforts, a bit. Any idea what I am doing to my poor gearbox?

[PMPB]

Good lord, some of the advice on here is really bizarre. Some people seem to think the clutch cannot ever be slipped because you're wearing it out.... Guess what, the clutch is a consumable.

Don'ts:
1. Let the clutch out slowly at high revs. For example, holding the clutch on the biting point at 3500rpm for several seconds would be bad. You'll smell it.
2. Slam the shifter from 1st to 2nd. Because we have a large gap in ratios between 1 and 2, it's better to give the synchros a bit more time to work, just slow that shift down, just a fraction, and feather the clutch slightly to avoid badly jerking. Trust me, jerking badly (forward/backward rocking from letting clutch out too fast) is just as bad a little slip to help the engine RPM slow down to match the drivetrain speed.
3. This engine likes a little RPM. The 'diesel' noise it makes below 2000rpm during acceleration isn't bad, it just loading + DI pounding fuel into the cylinders, but it's not great either. I aim to shift around 2500rpm, and expect to be back in gear at no lower than 1900rpm.

It's not possible to always start moving with the clutch in 1st before applying ANY gas, also the rpms will dip below the 600rpm idle (which our engine HATE). Anybody who says that's the normal way to drive, lives in a rural area where they have all day to go somewhere and no traffic.

Normal 1st gear accel would be something like
1. Start releasing clutch (with experience it will be easier to release the clutch to just before the bitting point)
2. Barely touch the gas, the rpms will climb (maybe 800-1100rpm) while you simultaneously hit the biting point.
3. Smoothly apply more throttle while letting out the clutch reasonably slowly. This is where practice will make you better. Too fast and the engine bogs, too slow and the RPM's really climb and you are needlessly wearing the clutch. To have any hope of pulling away from a stop at a good steady speed, your RPM's will be in the 1000+ range and varying (maybe 800-1400, or more) depending if you are going up a hill, if you car is heavily laden, if you are blasting away from somebody about to rear-end you, if you are going down a hill, you may use very little gas, and be able to fully release the clutch quickly.


At the end of the day, you need to remember that the clutch is meant to smoothly transfer the power of the engine to the rest of the drive train. How smooth you want to be, and how quickly you need to increase that power transfer dictates how fast you release the clutch.

DON'Ts
1.The same as you would never drive around with your foot slightly on the brake pedal, don't drive around with your foot slightly on the clutch.
2. Don't hold the car on a steep hill with gas/clutch. That said, if you've creeped up to a stop sign that's on a hill, and you just need to stop for a second before accelerating again (empty intersection), there is no reason you can't just depress the clutch slightly so that it slips for 1/2 a second. Why come to a full stop with the brake pedal, only to have to jump on the gas quickly slipping the clutch to greater degree again. I'd come to full stop if I was waiting for a pedestrian or another vehicle to make its manoeuvre.

[r311music]

This is an awesome thread. I'm hoping to get the 6MT within the next few months. The only manual I know how to use, is on motorcycles. How easy is the transition over to an automobile manual?

[SillySaxon]

I have gotten good at shifting well again (learned on MT but drove auto for years), but something doesn't feel right with this tranny. I have less than 2000 miles on this car and the shifting feels crunchy. The clutch is floored but it crunches into first. However if I hold the clutch and shift into first, back out, then in again I notice it is smooth the second time.

Is this normal? I took it to the dealer and they said everything is fine.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

[vincent201089]

Quick question:

How to put the car back in gear after the car has been in neutral and rpm is at idle? Let say 50mph at 5th/ I neutral, car slowing down, mph dropping, rpm idle/ 35mph now and I wanna put it in 4th to start rolling. Do I need to bring to rpm up to 2000 then shift?

[Foobar]

Originally Posted by vincent201089

Quick question:

How to put the car back in gear after the car has been in neutral and rpm is at idle? Let say 50mph at 5th/ I neutral, car slowing down, mph dropping, rpm idle/ 35mph now and I wanna put it in 4th to start rolling. Do I need to bring to rpm up to 2000 then shift?

Its always smoother and easier on the clutch to rev match based on speed and intended gear.

That said, once you are already in motion, you could also shift in gear and ease out the clutch. It will result in some engine braking and more wear and tear on the clutch.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

[Vincenttam]

This is a great topic. Definitely bookmarking this. Ive been an auto drivier for 5+ years and now starting Manuel is pretty hard for me. My biggest wall atm is that one water gutter at work. Its like a small incavement on the floor and a stop sign right after. So not only do i have to angle it to not scratch my bumper, but i have to do a slight incline crawl to a stop sign, and crawl out again. It's tough and is tall a lot there =(. I can hard accelerate out of it but i rather not...

[alchemy]

The 86 is going to be my first manual car (been driving auto for years).

Just a question:
How do you guys slow down to a stop? Say you're going 70km/hr on the roads and the light ahead turns green, do you:

1. Put the car into neutral, and then stop using brakes like an auto.
2. Downshift, say from 5, to 4, to 3, to 2, to 1, then stop.
3. Say you're in 5th, just start braking till you reach really low speeds where you need to put the clutch in to prevent stalling, then when you're stopped switch to 1st, from 5th.

Is there anything wrong with doing option 3?

[aristo]

If you're in a stretch of road where there is a decent chance that you will need to move the car again, you can stay in the gear you are currently in and slowly apply brakes up til the stop (or down shift one time to open up more potential power if you feel like it)

Some people do the 5-4-3-2-1 downshift to a stop and it's not necessarily wrong.. but I don't personally find it necessary at all

^^^It does seem like it is widely accepted as the proper technique to do when going down a stretch of hill however -- but don't worry too much about that just yet

As for going to neutral and coasting on brakes, I do it occasionally when the road is not busy for no particular reason

There is actually a lot of 'free style' going on when it comes to driving manual, everyone develops different habits and unless it is out right dangerous to you or harmful to the car, no one is necessarily wrong or objectively right -- The 'move' you choose to make really just depends on the situation you are currently in.. or what you 'feel' like doing ;D

Originally Posted by alchemy

The 86 is going to be my first manual car (been driving auto for years).

Just a question:
How do you guys slow down to a stop? Say you're going 70km/hr on the roads and the light ahead turns green, do you:

1. Put the car into neutral, and then stop using brakes like an auto.
2. Downshift, say from 5, to 4, to 3, to 2, to 1, then stop.
3. Say you're in 5th, just start braking till you reach really low speeds where you need to put the clutch in to prevent stalling, then when you're stopped switch to 1st, from 5th.

Is there anything wrong with doing option 3?

[alchemy]

Thanks! Actually haven't picked up my 86 yet - look forward to stalling my way out of the dealership soon :P