Driving manual cars has its unique charm and is often favoured by experienced drivers. While once considered necessary for anyone learning to drive a vehicle, things changed with the rise of automatic vehicles. However, for those interested in mastering manual car driving, we’ve assembled a list of dos and don’ts of driving a manual transmission car.
Manual Transmission Dos
Practise the following techniques when driving a manual transmission car.
Ensure Proper Driver’s Seat Adjustment
Positioning the driver’s seat correctly is crucial in a manual transmission vehicle. You should not only be able to reach the accelerator and brake pedals but also comfortably engage the clutch and shift gears. Confirm that you can reach the furthest gear without stretching and easily depress the clutch pedal fully.
Get Acquainted with the Manual Car
Each manual transmission car has its unique characteristics. While most gearboxes share a similar setup, there can be differences. For instance, some cars require you to push the gear shifter down to access reverse. Familiarise yourself with the gear layout by shifting through all gears before driving. Additionally, assess the clutch’s pressure and locate its ‘bite point’ by raising your left foot in first gear before applying throttle—this will change the engine sound and may slightly lift the front end.
Practice Finding the Bite Point
The ‘bite point’ refers to the point at which the clutch engages with the engine. Practice finding this point smoothly to prevent stalling and ensure seamless gear changes.
Shift Gears Smoothly
Strive for smooth gear changes rather than abrupt ones. With practice, your shifts will become both swift and seamless. Aim to make gear changes so subtle that your passengers hardly notice. Moreover, abrupt braking can harm your manual car transmission.
Fully Depress the Clutch Pedal
When shifting gears, ensure complete disengagement of the clutch by pressing the pedal all the way down. Even a slight gap between the pedal and the floorboard leaves the clutch partially engaged, leading to unnecessary wear on both the clutch and transmission.
Shift at the Right Time
Manual gear shift impacts acceleration in a different manner. Your gear shift timings improve with experience. As you accelerate, shift to the next higher gear when available, avoiding redlining the tachometer (RPM metre). While there may be instances where you need to rev higher in a lower gear for quick acceleration, this should be the exception rather than the rule. Similarly, when slowing down, downshift at appropriate times to avoid engine strain or stalling.
Use Engine Braking
Engine braking occurs when you release the throttle, allowing internal engine forces to slow the vehicle. It can supplement or replace conventional braking methods, providing added control, especially during turns or on slippery surfaces.
Engine braking is easier for manual vehicles compared to automatic ones. Remember to keep your foot off the clutch pedal to fully engage the clutch when applying engine brakes.
Prefer Lower Gears on Inclines
Utilising lower gears is beneficial, especially when descending hills, as it enhances control and reduces strain on hydraulic brakes. This is crucial during extended descents to prevent brake overheating and potential failure. Lower gears also improve traction and stability when ascending slopes, preventing the engine from struggling and necessitating abrupt gear shifts.
Prefer Lower Gears in Adverse Weather
When driving in the rain or icy conditions, maintaining a steady speed and traction is essential to avoid sudden braking. Engaging the clutch as much as possible increases control, achievable by driving in lower gears. This practice minimises the need for abrupt braking and hurried downshifts, enhancing safety on slippery roads.
Engage Gear and Apply Emergency Brake When Parking
When parking your manual transmission vehicle, particularly on inclines, always engage a gear—usually first or reverse—and set the emergency brake. This is among the common manual transmission driving tips. It prevents the vehicles from rolling down. If facing downhill, use the reverse gear. While automatic vehicles have a Park mode for secure parking, manual cars don’t.
Master Starting on Uphills with the Emergency Brake
Starting from a stop on an uphill can be challenging but you can use the emergency brake as an aid. It is one of the key manual transmission driving tips. With the emergency brake engaged, shift into first gear, depress the clutch and prepare to accelerate. Gradually release the clutch to the bite point while releasing the emergency brake and applying the throttle. If the car stalls or rolls backwards, apply the brake and retry. Here are the tips to drive on an uphill safely.
Practice Essential Manual Transmission Skills
When learning to drive a manual car don’t wait for stressful situations to practise critical manual transmission skills like starting on inclines or parallel parking. Find a quiet area to hone these techniques and build confidence.
Maintain Focus on the Road
Despite the various controls inside the manual transmission cabin, prioritise your attention on traffic and the road ahead. While occasional glances at instruments like the speedometer are necessary, keep them brief to maintain focus on the road.
Manual Transmission Don’ts
Steer clear of the following driving behaviours when driving manual vehicles.
Don’t Keep Your Foot on the Clutch Pedal
The clutch should either be fully engaged or disengaged, without any resting pressure. Exceptions, like slipping the clutch for a smooth start, exist but refrain from keeping your foot lightly touching the clutch while driving. Even slight pressure can cause unnecessary wear.
After releasing the clutch pedal, place your left foot on the floorboard. Avoid riding the clutch. Ensure your seating position allows for comfortable full depression of the clutch pedal and resting of your left foot when not in use. Keeping your foot on the clutch for too long can result in clutch damage. Here is how to drive a manual car with a broken clutch.
Don’t Rest Your Hand on the Gear Shift Knob
While changing manual gears, only engage the gear lever when needed. However, resting your hand on the shift lever, even lightly, causes wear. Keep your hand off the gear lever when not shifting. Hover your hand above the gear lever between shifts or return it to the steering wheel.
Avoid Using the Bite Point to Hold on a Hill
When stopped on an incline, it might be tempting to hold the car in place using only the accelerator and clutch pedals, without applying the brake. While this technique may seem convenient and can provide a feel for throttle and clutch control, it leads to unnecessary wear on the clutch mechanism.
Instead, use the handbrake or parking brake to hold the car in place on hills, reducing strain on the clutch and fostering better driving habits.
Don’t Shift without Disengaging the Clutch
Occasionally, you may forget to press the clutch pedal before shifting gears, and you might find that you can still change gears successfully. However, this practice is rough on the transmission and can lead to premature wear and tear in the gearbox and other related components. Always remember to fully disengage the clutch by pressing the pedal all the way to the floor before shifting gears.
Avoid Coasting Downhill
Coasting downhill by shifting into neutral or depressing the clutch pedal may seem like a way to save fuel, but it’s dangerous and compromises vehicle control. By doing so, you lose the ability to use engine braking. This reduces your control over the car and compromises your ability to react in emergencies.
Don’t Rev the Engine Unnecessarily
Reaching high RPMs in low gears for extended periods strains the gearbox, wastes fuel and encourages abrupt shifting. Exceeding the redline can even damage the engine. While there are situations, such as freeway merging, where higher RPMs may be necessary for quick acceleration, avoid unnecessarily revving the engine to its limits.
Avoid Popping the Clutch from a Standstill
While it may seem exciting to rev the engine and release the clutch abruptly to make a dramatic start, as seen in movies, this practice can lead to unpredictable results in real-life scenarios. The car may jerk or stall, leading to potential hazards. There’s a proper technique for using the clutch to start a moving manual transmission car, but ‘popping’ it from a standstill is not recommended.
FAQs
What are some essential dos for driving a manual transmission car?
Essential manual transmission dos include properly engaging the clutch before shifting gears, practising smooth gear changes and making use of engine braking when descending hills.
How can a manual transmission vehicle start smoothly?
To achieve a smooth start, release the clutch pedal gradually while simultaneously applying gentle pressure on the accelerator pedal.
Is it necessary to use the handbrake when parking a manual transmission car?
Yes, it’s recommended to engage the handbrake when parking to prevent the vehicle from rolling, especially on inclines.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when driving a manual transmission car?
Common mistakes to avoid include resting your foot on the clutch pedal, coasting downhill in neutral and shifting gears without fully disengaging the clutch.
Is it advisable to ride the clutch while driving a manual car?
No, riding the clutch by keeping it partially engaged leads to unnecessary wear and can damage the clutch and transmission components.
Those were some important dos and don’ts of driving a manual transmission car. Make sure to follow them when driving a manual car. Besides, if you’re looking to buy a manual vehicle, go through these used cars for sale in the UAE with a myriad of manual and automatic car transmission options.
Moreover, here are the details pertaining to different types of car transmissions.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more on automatic and manual car driving tips, problems and solutions.
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