should you change into 1st gear when slowing down in a car and what would happen if i did?

Answer 1

Oh dear oh dear no no no if you do that you will have a disasterous calamity , I had only been driving a few months and was taking my dear Grand mama to her chiropadist for her monthly gout check up . due to the dissposistion of her joints being locked in a spread eagle position she was sat in the front of my pristine Model T ( Andrea ) and both legs resting on the dash board with the windshield folded down .
Traffic lights had only just been invented and where a bit different than todays no amber light just red and green go or stop . a small dog ran in front of us and grandmama yelled lights . for me to stop without thinking I rammed my crash box into first gear . the car skidded and came to a gear crunching stop . Grandmama shot straight forwards on to the bonnet legs akimbo only to be bought to a sudden stop herself by my shiny Ford hood ornament . she slumped forward and hung from the front of my motor, upside down smiling strangely . It took us four hours to get her off that hood ornament (she struggled so much .) And when I looked at my gear box I had invented the first all metal Rubic cube ... No no no second gear avoid sudden stops and grandma's ...lol Vortash

Answer 2

Usually lower gears are used when you want to pull a really heavy load, or if you are descending a steep hill. In addition, many cars have an option for putting a car into overdrive, which allows you to save fuel by running the car in a higher gear at a low engine speed. So choosing D3 is probably the option if you are just in stop and go traffic. D4 is also drive, but the 4th gear would be an overdrive gear for highway cruising.

Answer 3

First I'm going to assume your talking about a manual transmission, because if you have an automatic, you definitely should not be shifting it into low every time you slow down. On the manual trans car under normal driving conditions, you should only shift into first when your almost at a stop if you are going to be moving away again within a couple seconds (like a stop sign). If your coming to a red light, shift into neutral until you're getting ready to go again. Sitting in gear while stopped will wear out the throw out bearing prematurely. Shifting into first while moving above 10 mph or so will wear the first gear syncro prematurely.

Answer 4

Downshifting when coming to a stop is known as engine braking and causes excess wear on the clutch and flywheel. You should always use brakes instead of engine braking simply because it is cheaper to replace brake pads than it is to replace the clutch and/or the flywheel. The best thing to do when coming to a stop light/stop sign is to push in the clutch and put the car into neutral and coast to a stop. You can hold in the clutch and keep the car in whatever gear but that will cause excess wear on clutch bearings over time. You should only put the car into first gear once you have come to a complete stop otherwise you will probably grind the clutch (which you will notice if you try). Hope this helps.

Answer 5

I only use first gear for setting off or when I am crawling in traffic jams. It all depends on your car though. First gear is generally used for when you are going really, really slow ie 0-5mph (in my car anyway) Mechaniclly if you were to change from speed, straight into first, Im not sure what would happen although Im sure it is not good for your engine and it would make a pretty loud embarrasing lurching noise!!

Answer 6

If you are traveling fast and put your car into first (in a manual) you may over-rev your motor, especially, bigger v8 motors and break a con-rod, or a crankshaft, but i don't see a need to down shift in an auto, unless pulling a huge trailer or coming down a hill.
Another thing, are you talking about a 1 gear or a granny/L gear? most people consider those to be a first gear, especially when pulling a lot, or in my '76 Chev 1-ton flatbed, i have to use it to start off, because it is a larger truck with a small 350 motor.

Answer 7

Actually, there is no need to change to first gear when your slowing down. You can stay in second gear or if you are in 3 gear you can change to 2 gear. 1 gear is only used to get the car in motion. If you were to change to first gear most likely your car will slow alot down

Answer 8

No, you can come to a halt in 2nd every time. As for using the engine to brake by coming down the gears, I've always done this and it was the way i was taught to drive. In 30+ years, I have never burned out a clutch using this method so maybe I'm doing something right?

Answer 9

I generally only use first gear for starting off from stop, but it depends on road conditions. First gear is the strongest so any change to it cab be quite dranatic if yoy are miving at any speed say 10 mph

Answer 10

NO. Stay in a higher gear and dip the clutch as you slow down to prevent stalling the engine. Then select the right gear to move away. Trying to get first on the move can lead to jerky driving.