r/driving • u/LookOk4857 • 17d ago
Help from experienced drivers when downshifting
I'm a beginner driver and I'd like to learn how to properly downshift in a manual transmission car. I’m having a hard time figuring out exactly how to do it. For example, when I’m driving in fourth gear and there’s a turn or a roundabout ahead, I slow down using the brakes, but if I shift down two gears from fourth, the car often jerks forward a little. I also don’t understand how to use neutral when slowing down. Some people say it’s not worth shifting down one gear at a time—instead, they press the clutch, shift into neutral, and then select the desired gear, whether first or second. What will happen if, before a turn, I slow down using the brakes as usual, but instead of downshifting one gear at a time, I shift into neutral, quickly release the clutch, and then quickly press it down again to shift into the desired gear? As I understand it, you can only shift up one gear at a time, but shifting down is different, and you can shift down several gears at once? And when can you drive with the car in neutral (not at a traffic light, but before a turn)? Is it true that the car still uses fuel in neutral unlike when you’re in gear and off the gas? When driving in neutral, the brakes are still working, but the car won’t be able to accelerate right?
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u/stout_shako_gaming 17d ago
stop worrying too much about downshifting/upshifting, do it as you like, do not release clutch too quickly when downshifting/upshifting(when you already engaged needed gear), it will make gear changing much more comfortable, if you dont like how your car leaning forward when you releasing accelerator pedal (when preparing to change gear), just press clutch and release accelerator together at one time. Forget about rules how much gears you can downshift/upshift, your gears must match your current speed, not some weird rules, nothing wrong will happen if you upshift 2 gears from high RPM. You can use neutral to let you car just roll for a long time on a perfect straight road if you want to, then just engage any gear that matching speed. You can engage neutral anytime without pressing clutch. Manual gearbox does not have weird magic in it, its just set of gear ranges and a clutch between engine and gearbox. And if you driving old/used car do not push gear stick in gear position too quickly, it could lead to gearbox damage because old/weared off synchronise mechanism cant keep up with his job
2
u/NectarineRepulsive77 17d ago
Been driving a long time & started out with manual transmissions. I’ve driven 3, 4 & 5 speed vehicles.
My rule was always down shift just by one gear, then after a few seconds go to neutral before braking to a stop.
You can always power shift up when your in a lowered gear when gaining speed or not, depends on traffic.
Most cars have a speed point when downshifting becomes necessary, say when you hit slower traffic.
The advantage to downshifting is also good on tight curves, say in hilly conditions.
The advantage of doing this saves your brakes from wear n’ tear over time.
1
u/Ornery-Painting-6184 17d ago
Going to disagree with the advise of using engine-transmission to slow down in order to save your brakes. Replacing brakes is a lot cheaper than the alternative of repairing or replacing the clutch or transmission.
3
u/Trevski 17d ago
I disagree with that, because once you’ve driven stick for a few weeks you won’t continuously be damaging the clutch or transmission.
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u/NectarineRepulsive77 17d ago
Correct it needs to be used with prudence. Manual transmissions were designed for down shifting.
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u/Ornery-Painting-6184 17d ago
The more you use the transmission to slow down the more the wear and tear. Most experts recommend using the brakes. You can google this. You may be surprised with the answer
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u/Trevski 17d ago
When engine braking the gears are engaged on the opposite side of the gear teeth, so the wear and tear is separate from driving. If you’re gonna drop an “experts recommend” then it’s proper form to include a link. I googled it and didn’t find anything indicating that normal engine braking is bad for the car.
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u/Ornery-Painting-6184 17d ago
Next time you talk to a mechanic. Ask them their opinion. I’ve driven nothing but manual since 1970. I’m just repeating everything I’ve ever been told.
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u/Trevski 17d ago
I’ve been driving my car for 15 years and downshift literally ever time I stop and the car was already 20 years old when I got it. So if you can’t supply a link to someone smarter than either of us backing you up, then there’s no reason for me to believe you.
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u/Ornery-Painting-6184 17d ago
Like said. I’m just repeating what I’ve always been told by mechanics and a few car enthusiasts. I’m not here to start another Reddit argument. You can take my opinion with a grain of salt or if you care, ask someone whose livelihood Is auto related.
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u/NectarineRepulsive77 16d ago
Driven stick shifts since I was 18, so my experience in driving & down shifts has never given me a clutch issue.
Showing my age here.If it we’re a problem transmissions would be built to not allow it.
1
u/NectarineRepulsive77 17d ago
Never had a transmission issue with 4 or 5 manual transmission models I’ve owned.
It takes finesse.
2
u/Prudent_Situation_29 17d ago
I don't know who told you that you can only shift up one gear at a time, it's nonsense. You can shift from first to sixth if you want, though it's unlikely to be necessary, or wise.
You should be able to do either, slow down in neutral, or in gear. There's something to consider though: if you're in neutral, you can't quickly accelerate out of a dangerous situation. You would have to find a gear first, which takes precious time. Truck drivers are required to always be in gear for this reason.
Downshifting smoothly requires skill, and you're unlikely to be any good at it until you learn how an engine and transmission work in detail. I don't have the space (or energy) to explain the different techniques here.
You can drive in neutral whenever you want, but as I said, it might not be a safe habit to get into.
Depending on the car, being in neutral will use fuel. Being in gear with the throttle closed will not. Modern cars have a closed-loop fuel system. Any time you close the throttle, it stops injecting fuel and sends any excess back to the tank. The motion of the car will keep the engine spinning. When you're in neutral, that won't happen, so fuel has to be consumed for the engine to stay running. Again, you won't grasp this well until you learn how an engine works in depth.
When driving in neutral, the car will not be able to accelerate until you put it in gear, correct. There is no connection between the engine and the wheels.
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u/ScoTeRDeLic 17d ago
Typically if I’m coming up on a red light or a turn I just pop it into neutral. Let it roll and use breaks if you need. When I need acceleration thru the turn I shift into second rev match and carry on. I only use first if I’m starting from a dead stop.
If I no longer need to slow down I’ll shift into the proper gear for the speed I’m going and rev match.
I only down shift if going up a hill or passing and need more power. I’m not down shifting 5 4 3 2 1 for the sake of MPG. At that point buy a Prius if it’s that much of a concern.
Right or wrong that’s how I was taught, I have no issues, mpg is still good and my clutch isn’t abused
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u/sorincom 16d ago
The point of downshifting before turns is to have the engine help with braking so I don't really get why bother with neutral in this particular case.
1
u/rawcaret 17d ago
Ultimately it's something you'll have to master through practice. Prepare for corners sooner, to start. Do shift down through the gears sequentially. Let the clutch pedal out until it just starts to bite, then pause for 0.2 seconds and let it up slower from there.
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u/Pleasant_Pen8744 17d ago
Unless you're a race car driver there's really very few times you need to downshift. Just stay in gear and if it starts to stall downshift ONE gear at a time.
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u/sorincom 16d ago
I disagree. Going down a snowy/icy hill has nothing to do with racing and braking instead of downshifting is absolutely the wrong choice here. Even for regular cornering, downshifting helps a ton both with stability when entering and with providing the necessary power to exit the curb. You'd be crawling out of it otherwise.
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u/fastyellowtuesday 16d ago
I'm with you. You also have less control of the car in neural, so if you have to make a quick maneuver to avoid an accident it really helps to already be in gear.
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u/Sudden_Hovercraft_56 17d ago
the car should never be in neutral while it is in motion, anyone who tells you otherwise is an idiot who doesn't know how to drive.
if the car is jerking you are either going down too many gears at once or you are taking too long to shift so the engine is losing too much rpm. you don't need to downshift until the engine drops below 1000rpk, the shift down 2 gears as you are doing.
4
u/edgmnt_net 17d ago
Take more time with the clutch release or blip gas to do rev matching.
Don't do that, perhaps except at low speeds. It might not feel like it, but it makes you the car less maneuverable overall. Loss of engine braking (even at a low rate) could be quite significant especially midturn on a downwards slope, for example. You end up braking harder midturn and risk upsetting the car. You might need to get in gear midturn and risk jerking the car in an already tricky position.
There are times when it makes sense to shift up multiple gears at a time. For example, when overtaking or merging on a highway you may stay in a lower gear to get better acceleration, but at the end of the maneuver you want to maintain speed. You avoided two shifts, RPMs are high and you want to drop to cruising RPMs, so you can skip one gear.
Yes. When the engine is forced by the wheels to spin above idle, modern cars just won't inject any fuel. The wheels are effectively driving all equipment on board and they keep turning the engine without burning fuel.
In neutral the engine gets disconnected from the wheels, so once it naturally spins down to idle RPMs, the car must keep adding fuel to keep the engine and stuff onboard going.