Do you ever skip gears ??

[MvM]

I was just wondering about this.
I often like to accelerate my car quickly, using the low gears. For example, when I get onto the highway, but when then have reached the speed I want to continue my journey with, I usually shift straight from second or third to fifth. The gearbox never skips a beat doing this and I was wondering if more people here do the same.

 

[Joel]

Sure. I got through the first 3 gears to accelerate and when I decide to taper off, I switch to 5th gear and just cruise. I don't do this a lot though.

No problem.

 

[nsxtasy]

Yes. For example, at the end of the back straight at Road America or Mid-Ohio, I'm approaching the top of fourth gear, and I downshift to second.

However, when you're skipping a gear, I think it's even more important than ever to try to match revs.

 

[MvM]

nsxtasy,
Well, on the shift down I also skip gears a lot. But certainly on a track, as you mention it, you have to watch out not to break the tail out. Especially in the wet.
But I'm very sure you know this much better than I do

 

[NSXaholic]

I was just wondering about this.
I often like to accelerate my car quickly, using the low gears. For example, when I get onto the highway, but when then have reached the speed I want to continue my journey with, I usually shift straight from second or third to fifth. The gearbox never skips a beat doing this and I was wondering if more people here do the same.

Frequently. It happens most often -- as it does with you -- when I'm merging into highway/interstate traffic. Most oft-used "skip combination": third to fifth (which is my top gear given that I've got a '95).

Regards.

 

[ss_md]

I've done this with every manual transmission I've driven - cars and motorcycles. In racing its called short-shifting.

 

[fangtl]

I've done this with every manual transmission I've driven - cars and motorcycles. In racing its called short-shifting.

I used to ride, didn't know that I could've skipped gears completely...I must get a better instructor.

 

[efript]

what do u mean by matching the rpms?

 

[nsxtasy]

what do u mean by matching the rpms?

When your car is traveling at a certain speed, there is a specific engine speed that matches that road speed in any given gear, when the clutch is out. Matching revs during shifts means that while the clutch is pressed in, you adjust the accelerator position so that the engine is turning that exact engine speed, before you let out the clutch.

For example, let's say you have a stock '91 NSX, and you're going 40 miles per hour. Depending on which gear you're in, here is how many RPM the engine is turning:

1st - 6853
2nd - 3854
3rd - 2745
4th - 2158
5th - 1720

Matching the revs means that you try to make the engine turn at the proper number of revs when you're shifting, before you let out the clutch. For example, let's say you accelerate from 0 to 40 mph in first gear, and then you shift. Before the shift, your engine was turning at 6853 RPM. While the clutch is pressed in, you let off the gas enough for the revs to drop to 3854 RPM, hold it there if you need to (not necessary when you get good at this), and then let out the clutch. This means that there will be no change in revs when you let out the clutch - because there is no difference in speed, and no work for the synchros.

This results in the least amount of wear on the clutch.

 

[efript]

ok i get it, thanks for a great explanation.

 

[bobyang]

snip

Matching the revs means that you try to make the engine turn at the proper number of revs when you're shifting, before you let out the clutch. For example, let's say you accelerate from 0 to 40 mph in first gear, and then you shift. Before the shift, your engine was turning at 6853 RPM. While the clutch is pressed in, you let off the gas enough for the revs to drop to 3854 RPM, hold it there if you need to (not necessary when you get good at this), and then let out the clutch. This means that there will be no change in revs when you let out the clutch - because there is no difference in speed, and no work for the synchros.

This results in the least amount of wear on the clutch.

Hmm, now I have a question... I always thought that you had to double-clutch in order to avoid work on the synchros (e.g. put shifter in neutral, take foot off clutch, match revs, renegage clutch, put shifter in new gear, let off clutch). Matching revs just saves wear on the clutch disc. Am I delusional?

 

[madfast]

I personally don't skip gears at all. but I rev match all the time and double clutch all the time too. I thought all of you guys do this. This distinguishes the ppl who think they know how to drive stick andd the ones that truly know how to.

 

[2slow2speed]

Downshifting 2 gears..

When downshifting 2 gears (block shift) at the track, I always try to double clutch. It usually makes the rev matching/transition easier, normally this is done at situations where you would have to heel and toe 2 gears down. Instead it becomes a single heel and toe with double clutching. I don't think that the synchros come into effect because you are downshifting 2 gears.. Then again I might be wrong .

This is my approach on Turns 11 and 2 at Laguna Seca (4th to 2nd)

On single downshifts I just use a plain heel and toe with no double clutching and rely on the synchros.

 

[fangtl]

I am curious to see why many still use 2x clutch when it's plenty easy to pop the transmission into neutral without ever laying foot on the clutch.

 

[Zanardi 50]

On upshifts when accelearting to highway speeds (60 mph +), I'll rev-match thru all the gears from 1st to 4th, then I skip 5th and shift straight to 6th--but I ease the shifter into 6th to go easy on the synchros and let the clutch out a tad later than usual.

As far as downshifts go, 90% of the time I'll single clutch heel-and-toe thru every gear (so it wears the synchros a bit--but to me, it is faster and sure is a hell lot more fun than double-clutching one gear at a time), or use the blip/rev match method (while not simultaneously on the brakes) when I'm at 5-6th gear and going at cruising speed like 40 mph or slower and wants to power out of slower traffic. Sometimes when I'm not too lazy, I'll double clutch heel-toe downshift when I'm skipping 2 or 3 gears......

 

[Zanardi 50]

I am curious to see why many still use 2x clutch when it's plenty easy to pop the transmission into neutral without ever laying foot on the clutch.

I've done that sometimes for kicks and it works fine. But I'm so used to my usual method of 1x clutch downshifting that I find it a bit awkward to do at times...kinda throws off my rhythm....
But I guess it all depends on individual tastes.

 

[Zanardi 50]

Hmm, now I have a question... I always thought that you had to double-clutch in order to avoid work on the synchros (e.g. put shifter in neutral, take foot off clutch, match revs (blip the throttle), renegage clutch, put shifter in new gear, let off clutch). Matching revs just saves wear on the clutch disc. Am I delusional?

Yes, and it also made the shifting transition smoother and jerk-free, with little or no wear (if rev. matched perfectly) on the clutch AND if double-clutching instead of single-clutching, eliminates the need for synchros.