Despite their lack of popularity, there are still people learning how to drive stick-shift cars all the time. Whether you recently learned because you have a hand-me-down vehicle, or you simply love the idea of having full control of your car, it’s critical to know what bad habits to avoid.
Nobody wants to ruin their vehicle’s transmission before it’s time. However, in the case that something does go wrong, there’s a good chance that it’s a fixable issue. If you find yourself in the market for some standard transmission parts for your manual car, we have a vast selection of any piece that you might need. Without further ado, though, here’s our list of things you shouldn’t do while driving a manual car that will help you keep your transmission intact.
Don’t Shift Without Using the Clutch
If you recently learned to drive a stick, then this might seem like a weird inclusion. You were likely told that you have to use the clutch to shift. However, it’s possible to shift without it by using a specialized technique. It’s quite difficult to pull off, so you should never try doing it, because failing to do it correctly will grind your gears in a way that will destroy them. It might not happen instantly, but your gearbox won’t last long under that kind of stress. Even if your car isn’t moving, it’s much safer to use the clutch, so be sure not to forget that crucial step.
Don’t Release the Clutch Too Quickly
After you’ve made a habit of always remembering the clutch, you should focus on not releasing it too early. If you release it too soon, it’ll destroy your gearbox in the same way that forgetting to use it altogether would. The timing for letting go can be a bit precise, though. Letting go just a little too soon consistently will put extra pressure on both your transmission and engine. This will damage them over time and cause the clutch to heat up needlessly.
Don’t Rest Your Foot on the Clutch
While we’re still on the topic of the clutch, let’s also cover where you should put your left foot when you’re not using the pedal. Your foot should always go back to the footrest. It might seem easier to leave it on the clutch, but the weight of your foot will slowly wear it out over time. On top of that, sudden movement, whether from braking or adjusting yourself in your seat, will put pressure on the pedal at inopportune moments.
Don’t Leave Your Hand on the Gear Shifter
The same rule applies to the gear shift and your right hand. The weight of your arm will put a slight enough pressure on the gears that you will slowly grind them without even knowing it. It’s better to move your hand back to the wheel when not using the stick. Even if this problem didn’t exist, it’s much safer to have both hands on the wheel at all times, so doing this will help ensure that you have a good grip whenever you don’t need to shift.
Don’t Coast While in Neutral
If an older family member taught you how to drive a stick, they might have let you in on a little secret that they used to do: “Put the car into neutral when going down hills to save on gas.” This little trick simply isn’t true anymore, as the fuel systems in modern cars don’t save fuel when coasting.
However, even if that were still true, the amount of gas you’d save would be negligible, and you’d be putting yourself and others at risk by trying to pull off such a maneuver. If you needed to accelerate to avoid hitting someone at any point while coasting, you wouldn’t have enough time to shift and then move out of the way. Save yourself from an unnecessary accident and never try to do this.
Don’t Floor the Gas at Low RPMs
A common problem that many drivers who like to show off tend to do is floor the gas pedal when driving their manual vehicle. While this is not a great idea for many legal reasons, it’s even worse when looking at the kind of strain it puts on your transmission. Other than wearing out parts at a quicker rate, there’s a good chance your car won’t even do what you want it to. The internals of a vehicle can only do so much, and most will not output the kind of performance that you’re looking for in that instant.
Don’t Downshift at High RPMs
There is also another RPM-related issue that can occur when driving a stick shift. If you try downshifting when your vehicle is in the higher RPMs, it can cause it to redline, which means your engine is starting to overheat. This can happen in the opposite direction as well, but it’s not nearly as common. Still, you should avoid upshifting when at lower RPMs to keep your engine in a stable condition.
Don’t Stay in Gear While Stopped
No matter how long you think you’ll be stopping, you should always get into the practice of shifting into neutral and taking your foot off the clutch. Even if you feel like that light is about to change, you should just take the extra step to go into neutral. It puts unnecessary stress on your clutch to leave it engaged like that. Also, staying in gear won’t help you get moving any faster. You’ll still need to wait for the car in front of you to start moving before you can go.
Don’t Brake When Not Using the Clutch
The final thing you shouldn’t do while driving a manual car is brake when not using the clutch. This is another thing that is technically possible to pull off, but puts a lot of strain on your car. Plus, it will make it much harder to control your descent since it will cause your vehicle to jolt around a bit while you hit the brakes. This is never good for someone who’s still learning the ropes.
While this might seem like a lot of things to keep in mind while still getting used to driving a stick-shift car, it’s really not too hard to remember all of these tips. In fact, a few of them are ones that you probably wouldn’t have done naturally in the first place. We just wanted to mention them anyway to ensure that you and your car stay safe while out on the road.
