When changing gears on a manual, do you release the clutch all the way before applying the gas?

Question

I just bought a manual transmission car and I got 1 hour lesson from a driving school just to understand the basics. The instructor said when in first gear, I have to release the clutch slowly and apply gas at the same time to keep the rev constant. However when changing from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd, he said to release the clutch slowly all the way and THEN apply the gas...is this true? After doing some reading, it seems whenever you need to shift, you should release the clutch and apply some gas at the same time.

Also, how do you rev match? How do you know what the rev should be compared to how fast you're going?

Answer 1

To Take off you need to apply a little gas simultaneously as you slowly relase the clutch pedal

on shifting gears once you're moving this isn't so critical ... the vehicle won't stall or stop... but if not done right or exactly smooth you may get a little lurch or buck out of it until you get the timing and fell of it down...

when it comes time to shift from first to second and so forth you will be cruising along at a semi steady speed then you push ths clutch pedal down move to a new gear and as you begin to release you will add just a very slight pressure more to the gas...

this will sort of feather (smooth out) the transidion from one gear to the next for acceleration...

with practice you will get a feel for this...take a ride with an an experiended manual transmission driver

and have them drive your vehicle while mostly all you do is watch their coordination of clutch shift lever and the gas... it isn't that complex of a dance to learn...

pay attention to how they accelration shift and decekeration shift and come to a stop...

then go to a hill and wath how the brake, clutch and the gas are simultaneously coordinated for starting out on a hill without rolling backward..

My first car was a 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner at 15 but I had learned to drive a manual transmission by 13

hang in there and go practice you'll get it

Walt

Answer 2

Not true. If you do that the car will tend ot jerk you forward in the seat. You need to give it some gas while you release the clutch. Once you get some practice, you will know how much gas to give it. Don't worry, it's like riding a bicycle, once you learn then you'll never forget. It won't take too long either. If you can, find an empty shopping mall parking lot or some other deserted site, then go over there and practice going from 1st to 2nd and 3rd until you get a feel for it.

Answer 3

Yes but "sloooooly' release the clutch while feeding a constant 1,000 rpm's until the the clutch is totally released. Push the gas petal till the tachometer reads 2,000 rpm. Do the same thing till you shift to high gear.

Your driver teacher must own a clutch company because you'll use it up by constantly slipping the clutch.

Answer 4

Changing Gears

Answer 5

It's better to release the clutch almost completely before hitting the gas again so you won't burn the clutch out. Your best bet would be to shift when the r's are between 2 and 25.

Answer 6

It is true ... you have to always maintain some gas because if you don't you are bound to stall the engine , you can play with the clutch allot more frequent , what is critical is maintaining the rpm of the engine , or maintaining the engine alive . Don"t worry about matching your rpm with your car speed , for one is common sense not to over rev your engine unnecessarily , idle engine usually is 600 rpm .and a comfortable top rpm 3500rpm before shifting or some what less you have to practice and feel comfortable .

Answer 7

its hard to explain but easy to show. Well its all about the speed of letting go the clutch while pressing the gas, basically in first gear you let go of clutch very smoothly and slow but when you shift from 4th to 5th you can drop the clutch and press gas, so the higher gear to shift in, less clutch you have to burn.

Answer 8

rev match? you will get the feel for it over time. but for now your ears will tell you when things dont match. he's right about starting out. you will get the feel for that also. it doesnt take long. soon you will be able to take off from a stop sign ,at the top of a steep hill. but try to avoid steep streets for awhile.
when going "up" through the gears? you only need depressing the clutch just enough to allow the trans to "slip" into the next gear.better to be off the gas completely for that moment of change from one gear to the next.most clutchs become fully "disengaged" long before the pedal hits the floor.
rev match I think what your asking . would be more related to down shifting. lets say your going 60 mph in 5th if you try to downshift to 2nd your rear tires will lock up because the engine should be at idle because your foot is off the gas.try to avoid making that mistake.but it happens easier than you might think. when down shifting you want to bring the engine back to near the rpm it was before you " engage" the clutch after making shift to next lower gear.
you will also learn quickly to depress the clutch all the way right before coming to a stop.or the car will stall everytime
gas is way expensive these days. you will sound cool.but no need to add gas during up shift. complicated as to why. but it has to do with ratios of gears, power to weight ratio of vehical and inertia.or speed of car in motion.

all a clutch does is separate the engine from the trans
just long enough to "slip" into the next gear.
"slipping" is what makes it all work like it should.
when your clutch starts to slip without you wanting it to?
its time to replace the old clutch with new. the componets that make a clutch work are very much like brake pads or shoes.so the easier you are on it. the longer it will last.
try to avoid congested freeways untill you have driven it for awhile.stop and go traffic hard on a clutch for inexperienced manule trans drivers.but it can be done without harming anything .once you have the hang of it.
you can where out a clutch in a few hours by resting your foot on it while driving. the only times you should ever touch it? starting and stopping/ up and down normal shifting.
driving with a clutch is the fun way to do it. once you have done it for awhile. you wont even have to think about it.
good luck drive carefully and have fun ...........E

Answer 9

Both of them are about right. They go pretty much in sync. When shifting gears try to be precise and avoid leaving your foot on the clutch too long. It will wear it out and it can be pretty expensive.

And depends if you're driving fast or slow but try to keep the revs at about 2,000-4,000 and you should always be around the powerband and not waste gas. Of course, it depends on the car. In my car you only start getting power after 6,500rpm. :D

Answer 10

NO!! your vehicale will stall, or you will pop the clutch