When you know how to use it, a manual transmission makes driving much more enjoyable. And on the practical side, a manual transmission gives you all the leeway you need to adopt the most economical driving style that could save you a lot of money at the pump.
Certain elements must still be known before hitting the road at the wheel of a vehicle with manual transmission.
As much for your own safety as to avoid premature wear and tear on your car, here are a few habits to adopt (or avoid).
Start like a boss
Before even switching on the ignition, make sure that your foot is fully pressed on the clutch pedal and that your gear lever is in the "neutral" position.
Even pressing the clutch pedal, some gears could be damaged if the transmission is not in neutral. It is therefore a habit to adopt if you want to improve the life of your vehicle.
Find the point of friction
The famous point of friction. It's different on just about every transmission. And there is no magic recipe: it is with practice that you will improve.
To avoid choking the engine, some beginners are tempted to press the accelerator before releasing the clutch. This technique can be very harmful in the long term for the transmission since the gears will rub against each other unnecessarily. To avoid!
Shift intelligently
Don't wait for your engine to reach 4000 rpm to shift gears. By remaining proactive when changing between different gears, you will reduce wear and tear on your powertrain in addition to saving fuel. What a positive!
Avoid compression
Compression of your engine consists in downshifting to increase the revolution of your engine in order to slow down your vehicle without the use of the brakes. It may be acceptable to use engine compression moderately in driving, but too frequent use of this method can be very harmful to the engine and cause damage that is often very expensive to repair.
You also have a brake pedal, it's up to you to use it.
No rest
When you are not changing gear, it is important not to let your foot rest on the clutch pedal. Even pressing even a tiny bit of pressure could affect your transmission gears. The same goes for your right hand on the gear knob.
Parking well
Once you have reached your destination, keep your foot on the clutch pedal and place your gear lever in first gear or reverse if you are on a downhill grade. Then apply the handbrake and switch off the ignition. And voila!
Good behavior!
