Nissan 370Z Forum - Is my M/T technique ok?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt (Post 248170)

I drove my last manual for 40,000 miles and engine-braked 99.9% of the time and never needed to replace the clutch. Hell, I even taught my GF how to drive manual, and she burnt it up a little!

"Engine-braking" or down-shifting is a perfectly acceptable method of braking, and the way I look at it...it's better. It puts me in the position to accelerate out (if the light turns green) or avoid disaster (someone coming behind me not braking).

One group says you'll need to replace the brakes every year, the other group will say you'll replace the clutch every year. I think both groups are over-exaggerating a bit.

No no I wasn't talking about that. I was referring to his stated habit of holding the car stationary up a slope by revving the engine and slipping the clutch instead of holding it with his brakes. Here is his quote:

Quote:

There have been many times where I just hold the gas and clutch just right to keep the rpms about 1k and not move while on a hill waiting for the cars in front of me to move. Anything to fight the monotony

Yeah! Go me! lol :rofl2: I'm a bad bad boy! hahaha

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pharmacist (Post 248205)

No no I wasn't talking about that. I was referring to his stated habit of holding the car stationary up a slope by revving the engine and slipping the clutch instead of holding it with his brakes.

Oh yikes! My bad. Holding your position by riding the clutch is horrible. I have a bad habit on a hill to let myself roll back and forth a few inches to let everyone know I'm driving a stick, but using that full-time to keep you on a hill....yikes!

I live in Houston, and whenever I goto a Rockets' game or a concert at the Toyota Center, to enter the parking garage, you go up this ramp that stretches 3-story tall at about a 35 degree angle...now, try going up that ramp bumper to bumper and having to stop every car to the so they can scan each individual parking pass...you learn how engage point with a quickness...hahaha...I avoid parking in that garage now cuz I value my clutch too much...hahaha...

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25 (Post 247845)

The only suggestion I would make is to not wait for the engine to 'bog' before downshifting. As you're slowing and your revs are dropping, downshift around 2k rpm. You engine will be happier and you'll get the benefits of engine braking.

Yup, either that or before it starts to "bog" just set it to neutral like you're doing right now. Personally, I don't brake with the engine/trans. When downshifting you should think about which gear you will actually need, so you don't downshift through each and every gear; you'll learn that from experience.

Everything else sound OK.

If you make a habit of coasting in neutral you are wasting gas. The injectors are closed when you are in gear and coasting above idle. The cars forward energy combined with the engaged gears keep the engine turning, thus fuel is not required to keep the engine running. When you are sitting at a stop, or coasting at idle, the engine must be supplied with fuel to remain running.

On top of that, making a habit of coasting in neutral is dangerous. The amount of control you have over a car while it's moving in neutral is slim.

If you keep the clutch depressed constantly you could prematurely wear out your throwout bearing. There is no good reason to keep a manual car in gear and the clutch depressed every time you are sitting at a red light - besides, even *IF* this were a *STATE* law, it would never be enforceable.

Bogging is very stressful on an engine. It should be avoided like the HIV.

Your technique sounds pretty good. The best advice I can give is to keep driving as much as you can. You'll be amazed at how natural it becomes once you get a few thousand miles under your belt.