Is my M/T technique ok?

Endgame · 10-22-2009, 12:14 PM

Shabarivas.. the tree huggers are coming for you...

kenchan · 10-22-2009, 12:52 PM

i dont really pay attention, but i engage 1st gear pretty low 1K+ ish with very little free spin and think i rev 1st to about 3.5K and shift on V6 cars.

cruising rpm is about 2250+

as for down shifts anywhere between 3k-4k rev range in the lower gear use engine braking. any fast turns prep i think i rev past 5k.

been driving MT for a while and all my cars are MT...well, except for the one my wife uses as her dd.

MeetJoeAsian · 10-22-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z-WHIZ

Hey guys, while I've driven manual cars before, the 370 is the first M/T car that I've actually owned. I think I've picked it up pretty well, but I just want to make sure I'm using the right techniques. Here is what I do:

- Start at about 1500 rpm to 1st
- Shift to each subsequent gear once revs reach approx 3000
- Downshift when car starts to bog down, or revs get lower than approx 1500
- When coming up to a red light or stopping, shift to neutral and roll to a stop taking foot off of clutch.

The main thing I'm not sure about is the downshifting / stopping part. I've heard different schools of thought about both. Your help is appreciated guys.

When you downshift and coast to a stop, you actually put your eingine into idle, therefore your vehicle burns more fuel...I usually downshift until I'm almost at a dead stop, to engine brake and to be in gear IN CASE any sudden emergency situation occurs...when you engine brake, the fuel is shut off, and your engine slows down, where as if you put it in neutral, your engine goes into idling mode and needs gas for that...

if you have SRM, use it to your benefit...it's really fun...

vipor · 10-22-2009, 04:04 PM

Yeah! Go me! lol

I'm a bad bad boy! hahaha

MeetJoeAsian · 10-22-2009, 04:32 PM

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...

zilent_jay · 10-22-2009, 05:02 PM

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.

blinkme323 · 10-22-2009, 11:40 PM

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.

10-22-2009, 04:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
vipor A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Euless, TX [ DFW ] Age: 43 Posts: 13,531 Drives: Nismo 09-0183 QAB Rep Power: 49	Yeah! Go me! lol I'm a bad bad boy! hahaha __________________ 2009 NISMO # 0193 \| QAB \| Albums! \| 05.04.10 (Dynojet) 291.94hp/248.28tq Oil Cooler (DIY) \| Custom Headlights \| GTSPEC Braces \| F.I. Long Tube Headers

10-22-2009, 04:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
MeetJoeAsian Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 342 Drives: 350Z to G35c to 370Z Rep Power: 16	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... __________________ http://facebook.com/meetjoeasian

10-22-2009, 12:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Endgame A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,613 Drives: Nothing Now! Rep Power: 224	Shabarivas.. the tree huggers are coming for you...

10-22-2009, 12:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	i dont really pay attention, but i engage 1st gear pretty low 1K+ ish with very little free spin and think i rev 1st to about 3.5K and shift on V6 cars. cruising rpm is about 2250+ as for down shifts anywhere between 3k-4k rev range in the lower gear use engine braking. any fast turns prep i think i rev past 5k. been driving MT for a while and all my cars are MT...well, except for the one my wife uses as her dd.

10-22-2009, 05:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
zilent_jay Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: OKC Posts: 96 Drives: 2009 MB Base Sport Rep Power: 17	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.

10-22-2009, 11:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
blinkme323 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Philly Posts: 227 Drives: 09 370z Base w/Sport Rep Power: 17	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.