Manual Transmission Shifting Tips

While the majority of the vehicles sold in America (nearly 84 percent, according to a Consumer's Union study) are automatic transmissions, manual transmissions still remain popular with select driving groups. Manual transmissions can offer more driving control and better fuel economy, and, if they are taken care of, they can last much longer than automatic transmissions.

Don't Ride the Clutch

  • When you depress the clutch in a manual transmission vehicle, you are controlling a restrictive plate. This restrictive plate (often called a "clutch plate") is cutting off contact with your flywheel and driveshaft, essentially depriving the drive wheels of power. Clutches are wearable items; they are bound to go out eventually (usually around 100,000 miles), because of the rubbing and friction incurred while operating the clutch. "Riding the clutch" or using it too much can be damaging to the clutch system and increase the risk of premature failure. It can also damage your flywheel. The trick to operating a clutch successfully is to use it as little as possible (although you should never shift without using it). If your vehicle is stopped, pop the transmission into neutral rather than staying in gear with the clutch depressed or partially depressed. At take-offs, release the clutch as quickly as possible; the more revving you are doing while releasing the clutch, the more damage you are causing to the system.

Choose Second Gear at Low Speeds

  • Stop and go driving can be aggravating for drivers and abusive on vehicles. Stop and go driving while operating a manual transmission is even trickier. A common problem with this type of driving is known as "lurching." Lurching is when you are driving a manual transmission car at a low speed and it surges forward then slows down constantly. The best way to avoid lurching is to operate your transmission in second gear when driving at low speeds or when in a stop-and-go situation. In first gear, the vehicle is geared high, giving a rush of power to the drive wheels. This rush of power is excellent for taking off, but horrible for steady, low-speed driving. Driving in second gear will lower the gearing enough to give you ample power and keep a steady pace.

Lower RPM Equals Better Fuel Economy

  • One benefit of driving a manual transmission is having the ability to control your own gearing and your engine rpm (Revolutions per Minute). Automatic transmissions utilize computers and electronics to decide when to shift. Unfortunately, many drivers of manual transmissions take advantage of the control they have and rev their engines much higher than they should be. Engine rpm is a determinant of how fast the engine is spinning; the faster it is spinning, the more fuel it is using. To increase fuel economy with a manual transmission, shift between 2000 and 3000 rpm. Shifting higher may produce more peak engine horsepower, but it also increases fuel consumption.