Actually, in modern fuel injected cars, no gas is used when you're in gear and not on the gas pedal since the momentum of the wheels can keep the engine spinning...and that's why a car will stall. Not enough momentum to keep the engine spinning, and not enough (or any) gas to keep the engine spinning. So fuel consumption isn't a problem with engine braking. It's the clutch and transmission wear that's the problem
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Just got my first Manual Trans. any Tips, Tricks, or Care?
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Actually, in modern fuel injected cars, no gas is used when you're in gear and not on the gas pedal since the momentum of the wheels can keep the engine spinning...and that's why a car will stall. Not enough momentum to keep the engine spinning, and not enough (or any) gas to keep the engine spinning. So fuel consumption isn't a problem with engine braking. It's the clutch and transmission wear that's the problem
Only if you've got a fart can on your exhaust...
Erm...that's a sure way to absolutely violate your transmission, and for what real effect other than saying "whoa check it out I don't have to use the clutch!". I think that no-clutch shifting falls under the category of things that can be done but should not really be done. Like crowd surfing.
Personally I heel and toe through all the twisty windy hilly roads around my area. It's a thrill to smoothly drop a gear while braking into a turn and chirp the tires on the way out in a lower gear at higher rpm.
the whole engine braking seemed crazy from the get go, unless it was needed for bad weather. I usually down shift into a turn only if I think I will stall of I will need the extra power. I usually slip the clutch when backing up. It usually not very long, no gas, and I can get quite a bit of speed. I've thought the parking brake was a bit gimicky for hill starts. I mean I'll try it out.
Thanks all
Addon: I'm in bed right now and I have that pinned to the back of the seat feeling. 1st gear just has a huge ammount of power. Whew.
Thanks all
Addon: I'm in bed right now and I have that pinned to the back of the seat feeling. 1st gear just has a huge ammount of power. Whew.
yeah, I've heard of some using the e-brake when trying to learn the friction point of their clutch on a hill...never tried but it seems like it would be helpful. I think I saw it mentioned a little earlier, but rev-matching is your friend, learn to do it correctly to help minimize wear on the clutch when you need downshift...as far as engine braking goes...I wouldn't make a habbit of it. pads are wayyyy cheaper to replaced than a blown tranny
The emergency brake and starting on a steep hill does work.
Allows you not roll back and still get your foot on the gas.
Though it all depends on the type of e-brake you have, my last manual. It was absolutely useless for holding a car from going backwards, and was the method used to reset the e-brake.
My car's fuel injection shuts off as long as it's in gear, above idle and I'm not pressing the accelerator. You can see it on VAG-COM: 0mg/stroke requested. I'm pretty sure the newer FSI gasoline cars are the same.
I stay in gear as much as possible. I try to stay in a useful gear if practical, and if I'm using fuel, I try to keep it at least up to 1900 rpm where the turbo vanes fully extend and efficiency is highest. If it's going to be a big enough difference, I blip the accelerator and match revs when downshifting.
Also, I don't think about any of this while I'm doing it.
I stay in gear as much as possible. I try to stay in a useful gear if practical, and if I'm using fuel, I try to keep it at least up to 1900 rpm where the turbo vanes fully extend and efficiency is highest. If it's going to be a big enough difference, I blip the accelerator and match revs when downshifting.
Also, I don't think about any of this while I'm doing it.
Another nice tip:
When making a right turn, shift out of the gear you are in and lightly tap and release the accelerator before shifting into second. Makes downshifting more smooth when turning.
Otherwise don't worry about anything. I've been driving a car with a manual transmission for over two years and I'm still not perfect at it because I only drive it on weekends. I have a supercharged car
You should never change gear when turning. You fail your driving test in the UK for doing that. The trick is to be in the right gear before you get to the turn.
well I've just to come and update.
day 4 of driving just ended and I love this car. I've got my starts down pact and pretty quick and smooth. I've done all the driving for my family in this car and any of them can tell you that its been interesting. Like stalling and then peeling (loud and smokey btw) out cause of nervousness, in front of a freakin cop... no tickets just a huge scare. I can tackle hills now np. I drove up and down a stretch of back road that has stop on top of steep hill after steep hill for miles. Most automatics roll back on these hills btw.
day 4 of driving just ended and I love this car. I've got my starts down pact and pretty quick and smooth. I've done all the driving for my family in this car and any of them can tell you that its been interesting. Like stalling and then peeling (loud and smokey btw) out cause of nervousness, in front of a freakin cop... no tickets just a huge scare. I can tackle hills now np. I drove up and down a stretch of back road that has stop on top of steep hill after steep hill for miles. Most automatics roll back on these hills btw.
I took my license test with a manual...I peeled out at the first stop sign and got a demerit for "Smooth Acceleration & Braking". No other demerits though so I passed just fine.
If you're in a hilly area you'll probably find a few stop signs/lights that are particularly annoying. My dad took me to an evil-ly steep one near my house when he was teaching me to drive to practice pulling out without rolling back. The most frustrating thing ever is drivers who pull up too close behind you when you're stopped on a steep hill, or park too close behind you on steep parallel parking (Montreal or Switzerland, anyone?). That's when it's very nice to know how to use the handbrake to keep from rolling back.
Those laws are aimed at big trucks with Jake Brakes. If a Jake equipped truck doesn't have a muffler, or has a load muffler, then they make a LOT of noise when engine braking with the jakes on.
Some places, like Colorado, required the exhaust to be muffled to use the Jakes. Some ban Jake brakes altogether and others ban "compression braking" because they don't understand the difference between doing it with the jakes on or off. It really just depends on who created the ban and how much they understand about where the noise comes from.
iJohnHenryYour car is turbo-charged. Very different power curve from ordinary asparated engines.[/QUOTE said:I only own turbo cars and trucks and I've only owned 1 auto. My Mustang is a hoot to pass with on the highway, just squeeze the throttle a bit, the turbo spools up and spits out 22 lbs of boost and off I go without touching the shifter. I rarely have to drop a gear, and when I doing nothing says I WILL pass you like a short open exhaust on a turbo car
