Frequently asked questions:
Q: When waiting for a traffic light to change should I have the transmission in neutral or in 1st gear and ready to go?
A: Neutral. If you’re rear-ended or your tired leg involuntarily releases the clutch pedal, it will be impossible for the transmission to accidentally engage and propel you forward unexpectedly. Also, when you’re in neutral, you don’t have to keep your left foot on the clutch pedal—your leg won’t get as tired and you’ll reduce wear and tear to the release bearing.
In addition, remain alert while waiting, watch the rearview mirrors and the crosswalk traffic lights, and you should have ample time to prepare to move.
For additional information please refer to MEDIA print article, “Drive Smart, Drive Green”by Jody Ness.
Q: Is it okay to shift gears when driving through an intersection?
A: Although intersections are generally considered to be zones of higher risk, there are no regulations regarding shifting gears while driving through them.
However, it’s best to keep your task load to a minimum while driving through an intersection because there are other things to be aware of, which will be covered during instruction.
NOTE: It’s illegal to change gears while driving over level railway crossings in many jurisdictions.
Q: Should I downshift when I stop my car?
A: No.
In the old days of four-wheel drum brakes, cars were difficult to stop, so downshifting while braking was common to help brake and equalize the load to all wheels. Gearing down also helped reduce “brake fading.”
Today’s braking technology is highly advanced. Many vehicles have anti-lock systems with well-ventilated discs on all four wheels that require no assistance from the powertrain.
Braking causes your vehicle’s weight to shift forward, making it front-end heavy. As a result your front wheels may be doing 60% - 70% of the braking—almost twice as much as the rear wheels! Since most of today’s vehicles are front-wheel-drive, downshifting will distort the braking balance by shifting even more weight to the front.
CAUTION: Using gears instead of the brakes to slow your vehicle may cause severe damage to your powertrain. Braking with brakes is not only more effective, it’s a lot smarter…and cheaper!
Q: How long should a clutch last?
A: Driven correctly you can expect your clutch to last between 200,000km to 400,000km or more depending on your driving environment; less if you constantly drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic; more if you do a lot of freeway driving.
Poor driving habits can substantially reduce these estimates. In many cases drivers use the clutch pedal more than five times as often as they should!
At worst, a clutch may last days or even minutes!! This happens most when learning without qualified instruction and supervision.
Q: Which gear should I leave the car in when I park?
A: If the engine is left idling for a few seconds (as when you’re dropping a letter in a mailbox) then you must leave your car in neutral, handbrake on.
NOTE: Unnecessary idling is bad for the environment, wastes gas and causes heavy wear-and-tear to your fuel injectors.
When parking overnight, leave your car in 1st or reverse. Check your owner’s manual for manufacturer’s recommendations.
Q: Can I start in 2nd gear?
A: Although most starts are done in 1st gear, you can start in 2nd gear.
When starting on a steep downgrade, let your car roll a bit to gather speed and engage 2nd gear. In low-traction conditions, some drivers prefer to reduce torque to the drive wheels by using second gear to start moving.
Q: Is it okay to skip gears when I shift?
A: In most cases you should shift sequentially, but sometimes you may want to skip gears.
For example, in a short acceleration lane you may use 3rd gear to merge onto the freeway and once up to speed go directly to 5th, bypassing 4th altogether.
Similarly, if you approach an intersection to turn with a green light without conflicts in 4th gear, brake to slow down and, as you reach turning speed, depress the clutch and shift to 2nd. Be sure to fully release the clutch pedal smoothly before reaching the turn, otherwise you’ll corner in zero-wheel-drive!
On the other hand, if you’re traveling at 100kph and decide to shift to 2nd gear, you’ll be shifting outside of that gear’s operating range. Even if you drive within a gear’s normal range, always match engine and transmission rpm before releasing the clutch pedal.
Q: How slow can I go before the engine will stall?
A: Most vehicles can slow down completely in 1st and often 2nd gears until the engine reaches idle-speed and not stall. It’ll then crawl along at idle unless it’s carrying a heavy load. However, if you try to brake below this speed without depressing the clutch, the engine will lug and eventually stall because it’s being forced to carry a load while operating below idle speed.
Q: What does “riding the clutch” mean?
A: Keeping your foot on the clutch pedal longer than necessary for smooth gear engagement or resting it on the clutch pedal is “riding the clutch.” This is one of the most common sources of clutch wear-and-tear.
On the other hand, don’t hesitate to pause at the “friction point” to smoothly engage the clutch. That’s what the clutch is for! It protects your engine, gearbox and CV joints.
Q: What causes the clutch to wear out prematurely?
A: Heat caused by friction applied too frequently or incorrectly.
The clutch disc is made from the same material as brake linings. This allows grip between the engine and the gearbox. Like brakes, the clutch has a finite lifespan determined by how you drive. An extreme example is drag racing which can eat up clutches galore!
Q: What engine RPM should I be shifting up at?
A: It depends on your vehicle and your power requirements at that moment.
Each shift is a compromise between power and economy. Higher rpm yield more power. Lower rpm yield economy.
Under most normal traffic and load conditions, most 4-cylinder engines will give you a good compromise between 2500rpm - 3000rpm.
Q: Can I start my car’s engine while it’s in gear?
A: Yes, as long as the clutch is depressed fully. If you stall in traffic, it’s a quicker start than shifting to neutral. On the other hand, at the beginning of your drive to be on the safe side, start in neutral to avoid mishaps that may be caused if your soles are slippery, your seat’s not in a securely locked-in position, or your not concentrating totally on your driving.
Q: Can I brake without depressing the clutch?
A: Yes, as long as you drive within the speed range of a gear you may brake and accelerate back up to speed as often as you wish without depressing the clutch. Because the changes in speed require no gear changes, depressing the clutch will reduce your control and complicate matters!
Q: Why do I need to downshift when turning?
A: Since most turns are completed at low speeds, your vehicle should be driven in a gear that corresponds with that speed—usually 2nd when not required to stop; 1st when you are.
Prepare for the turn by shifting down prior to turning, not during the turn. If you approach the turn in the correct gear your won’t have to to shift down just for the sake of shifting!
Q: How do I move in very slow bumper-to-bumper traffic?
A: Above 5 - 6kph in most vehicles you can simply play with the accelerator without using the brake or the clutch. Below idle speed you need to maintain engine speed slightly above idle with the accelerator while controlling the speed with the clutch pedal. Some vehicles have a “creeper gear” that enables you to drive at even slower speeds without depressing the clutch.
Q: How can I keep my car from rolling backwards when starting on a hill?
A: You can momentarily hold your vehicle with your clutch on slight grades by releasing it to the friction point before releasing the brake pedal.
On steeper grades you can use the parking brake until you secure the vehicle in position with the clutch and gas pedals.
Q: What does the clutch actually do?
A: The clutch pedal engages and disengages the engine and the gearbox. When it’s depressed, your power train is disengaged (which is the same as being in neutral).
At high speeds your car will coast long distances even if the clutch is depressed. At parking speeds it will stop almost immediately when your depress the clutch pedal.
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