Education

Things to do while driving a manual transmission car

Published

1 month ago

February 9, 2023

Ever notice that a lot of teachers are quick to tell you what you’re doing wrong but slow to tell you what you’re doing right? The same thing can happen with a list of “dos and don’ts.” For example, “shift at the right time” and “don’t shift at the wrong time” are both the same piece of advice, but they sound different, don’t they? In this article, we’ll read about the top things to do while driving a manual transmission car. Getting enrolled in a driving school would be the first step to learning to drive. After registering, you can take the help of a driver according to your preference, such as a female driving instructor, to start your learning journey.

To help you get better at driving with a stick shift, here is a list with more “do’s” than “don’t.” If you do the things on the “do” side, your confidence will grow. Look at the “don’t” side as well. You’ll see that there are exceptions to even some of the most common “don’ts.”

These 10 Things to do while driving a manual transmission car

1. Make sure the driver’s seat is set up correctly.

Seat position is even more important in a car with a manual transmission than in one with an automatic transmission. Not only do you have to be able to reach the gas and brake pedals, but you also have to be able to shift and use the clutch with ease. Make sure you can reach the farthest gear without having to stretch and that you can easily press the clutch pedal all the way to the floorboard.

2. Learn how to drive the manual car you’re using.

Each car with a stick shift is a little different. Most gearboxes are set up about the same, but there are some differences. For instance, to find the reverse in some cars, you have to push the gear shifter down. If you’re driving this car for the first time, go through all the gears. You should be able to find the gears on a manual gearbox without having to look down.
It’s also a good idea to find out how “heavy” the clutch is: how hard you have to press the pedal and where the bite point is. It’s worth a few seconds of your time. After you start the car in first gear but before you put your foot on the gas, lift your left foot until you feel the “bite point.” The sound of the engine will change, and the front of the car may rise a little.

3. Change smoothly

There is a difference between changing gears quickly and doing it quickly by jerking or jamming the gear shift. Focus on smoothness, and as you gain experience, your shifts will be both quick and smooth. When you change gears often, your passenger shouldn’t even notice that you’ve done it.

4. Don’t stop pressing the clutch pedal until it touches the floor.

When you change gears, press the clutch pedal all the way down to completely disengage it. When you stop even an inch short of the floorboard, you leave the clutch discs partially engaged and some of the engine’s power is still going to the wheels. This wears out the clutch and transmission more than it needs to. This is one of the top things to do while driving a manual transmission car.

5. Shift when you should

This is something that will get better as you do it more. As you speed up and shift up through the gears, it’s usually best to shift to the next higher gear as soon as it’s available and not let the tachometer get close to the redline. Between 2500 and 3000 RPM is a good range for shifting. If the engine seems to be struggling, you may have shifted too soon. If it’s making a lot of noise, you may have waited too long.
As a general rule (remember that every manual transmission is different), shift to second gear at 10-15 mph, to third gear at 15-20 mph, to fourth gear at around 30 mph, and to fifth gear at about 40 mph. If you have a sixth gear, use it between 55 and 60 mph if you plan to stay at that speed for a while.
When you need to get up to speed quickly, you sometimes have to “wind out” a little in lower gear. This shouldn’t be the norm; it should be an exception.
For slowing down, follow the same rule. If you downshift too soon, your engine will make a lot of noise to let you know. You might need to go up a gear. If you wait too long to shift down, the engine will have to work hard and may stall.

6. Use the engine braking system

When you let off the gas, the vehicle slows down because the engine has forces that slow it down. It can be used instead of or in addition to the brake pedal and the hydraulic brakes.
When you shift into a lower gear and speed up the engine, the engine brakes more. With a manual car, it’s easier to downshift and use the engine brake to its fullest potential. Engine braking not only keeps your brakes from wearing out, but it also gives you more control, especially when slowing down or stopping in a turn or on a slippery surface.
When engine braking, take your foot off the clutch pedal completely so that the clutch is fully engaged.

7. On hills, prefer lower gears

Downhills are a good place to use engine braking in lower gears. It slows the car down, gives you better control, and keeps the hydraulic brakes from working too hard. This is especially important on long downhills, like mountain descents, where stopping and starting can cause the brakes to overheat and fail.
When going uphill, a lower gear gives you better traction and control and helps you keep a steady speed. If your gear is too high, the engine may have trouble keeping up, forcing you to shift quickly and awkwardly to a lower gear.

8. Use lower gears when the weather is bad

When it’s raining, snowing, or icy, the best thing to do is keep your speed steady and don’t brake quickly. You should also keep the clutch engaged as much as possible to improve traction and control. To do this, you can drive in lower gear. Avoid both sudden stops and having to downshift quickly because you are going too slow for your gear.

9. When you park, put your manual car in gear and set the emergency brake.

A car with a stick shift that is in neutral gear can move in some situations. Before you get out of the car, put it in first gear. If you’re facing downhill, it’s fine to use the reverse gear instead.
Set the brake for parking. A car with an automatic transmission in Park is pretty safe, but there is no setting on a manual gear knob that is as safe. This is one of the top things to do while driving a manual transmission car.