Gas prices fluctuate wildly and can rise to astronomical heights with almost no notice. Driving a manual transmission can be a lifesaver when you are trying to avoid surprises at the pump. By knowing a little bit more about how to drive a 5-speed manual transmission more efficiently, you'll save money at the pump and cut down on regular maintenance costs as well.
Find the right gear for the right role. Each gear has a specific role in your car's transmission, and knowing which gear is used for what situation will save you gas and will cut down on wear and tear on your engine. Though it is possible to move from a dead stop in second gear, first gear is the most fuel efficient for that role. Similarly, while it is possible to cruise the highways in fourth gear, fifth gear allows your vehicle to travel at high speeds with more efficiency. Third or fourth gear might be more efficient for city driving, since fifth gear is not as responsive to the needs for acceleration changes or downshifting.
Know how to downshift. Many people who drive manual transmissions take the car out of gear when approaching a stop light or intersection and apply the brakes. Instead, shift into a lower gear while taking your foot off the accelerator; though the tachometer (that gauge that measures the revolutions per minute (RPM) of the engine) will spike up, this is actually energy that is transferred to your engine from your motion and does not use up any more gasoline than taking the vehicle out of gear. The vehicle will slow, saving your brakes and allowing you to remain in control of your car in case an emergency comes up.
Know when to be "Neutral." Taking the car out of gear (that is, putting it in neutral) can be a great gas saver. When on a downhill, take the vehicle out of gear and allow your vehicle to coast, maintaining speed as you glide along. Unlike downshifting, the point of going into neutral is to maintain the correct speed while using gravity to supplement your car's motion. For instance, if there is a windy road on your way to work or home (and there are no stops), then taking the car out of gear allows it to maintain the correct speed without using any more gas than idling at a standstill would consume.
Watch the tachometer. The tachometer measures how hard your engine is working by keeping track of the revolutions per minute (RPM) of the crankshaft (the part of the engine which translates the engine's combustion into forward and backward movement). Low RPMs, in general, are good for gas mileage because it means your engine is working less because less gasoline is being pumped into it. On the other hand, if you put the car into the wrong low gear (say, putting the car into third gear when you should be in first), your engine will consume more gasoline at lower RPMs than it would if you were in the correct gear with a higher RPM. If your engine "shudders" or seems sluggish, change gears, because you are wasting gasoline. If the engine is "revving" very high (that is 4,000 RPMs or higher) you are also wasting gasoline as more gasoline is pumped into the engine to increase the speed of the car beyond its maximum efficiency (typically around 55 to 65 mph, but may vary depending on your vehicle).
