Tips to Mastering a Manual Transmission

How to Drive a Stick Shift

If you haven’t driven a manual transmission before, you probably have a lot of concerns about how it will go. The last thing you want is to stall out in the middle of traffic, but don’t let that intimidate you! Transmission Technicians in North Massapequa, New York has a few tips to help you become a great driver! Practice these habits to improve your skills at driving a stick shift smoothly.

Don’t Ride the Clutch

What does it mean to “ride” the clutch? It’s when you keep the clutch slightly depressed while driving or at a red light. This can cause damage to the clutch and cause it to wear out sooner. A good manual driver shifts to neutral while stopped and only presses the clutch when they are changing gears.

Use the Right Gear

Automatic vehicles make all the gear shifting decisions for you. In a manual, you’ll be responsible for choosing the right gear for the right situation. You should know which one is the best for high-speed travel, slow-speed corners, or stop-and-go traffic. If you force your vehicle to operate at inefficient revolutions, you could get poor gas mileage or cause excessive wear.

Down Shift

Some manual drivers prefer to shift into neutral while slowing down. While this might be acceptable in some situations, it isn’t the best practice to help your transmission last longer. Using the gears to control your vehicle as it slows down alleviates the stress on the transmission and cooperates with the engine revving to control the speed. Maintain the overall health of your car by downshifting.

Practice

At first, driving a stick shift might seem complicated and overwhelming. But with time, you’ll get used to your car’s characteristics — it’s sounds, revving, and acceleration. Practicing will make you a better driver. You’ll be able to shift smoothly in all kinds of situations, from starting off the line to slowing down into corners. Just make sure you keep the good habits in mind, because you don’t want to practice bad habits that can cause damage to your car over time!

It’s not uncommon for manual transmission drivers to need repairs over the lifespan of their vehicle. If you need a clutch replacement or another service, contact Transmission Technicians in North Massapequa, New York. We can provide the expert care your car needs!