Knowing how to drive a manual transmission makes driving much more pleasant. However, some elements must be known before hitting the road and giving it a try. For your own safety as well as to avoid premature repairs of your car, here are some tips to help you out!
Before you even turn the ignition, be certain that your foot is pushed on the clutch pedal and your gear lever is in the “neutral” position. If you push on the clutch pedal while your gear shift if not in neutral you risk damaging the transmission. Try making this a habit if you're looking to improve the life of your vehicle.
The only way to perfect this is with practice since every transmission is different. To avoid stalling the engine, most beginners are tempted to press the accelerator before releasing the clutch. This technique can be extremely harmful for the transmission gears in the long run as it causes them to unnecessarily rub against each other.
Do not wait until your engine reaches 4000 revolutions / minute to make your shift. It will cause damage as well as use an unnecessary amount of gas. Try shifting around 2500-3000 revolutions / minute to maintain good condition to your vehicle.
The compression engine is used as a way to slow your vehicle down without the use of your brakes. It works by downgrading your speed which increases the revolution of your engine thus slowing your car down. However if you abuse this trick it can be significantly harmful to the car leading to expensive repairs. You have a break pedal, so use it!
The only time you should rest your foot on the clutch pedal is when it's needed. Applying simply a small amount of pressure could affect the gears of your transmission. This applies to the gear knob as well. Do not touch unless necessary.
Once at your destination, keep your foot on the clutch pedal and place your gear lever in either first or reverse if you're on a downward slope. This is beneficial as it will stall your car if you ever forget to put the handbrake on. Keep in mind that although it will save your car from rolling away, it does cause damage, so make sure to always put the handbrake on!
Access Driving School will gladly provide a road course with manual transmission for any student's looking to give it a try!
