Changing gears in a manual car

Gear 1 is the most powerful gear in the vehicle, however it is also the slowest. Gear 5 is the fastest gear, but it is also the gear with the least power.

The lower gears have more power and as you gain speed by going up in gears, you start to lose power as a result. Gear 5 (or 6 in a 6-speed car ) is the fastest gear, but also the gear with the least power

We change gears to match the engine speed, to the speed at which the vehicle is travelling at. In order for a manual vehicle to operate efficiently, it should always be in the most appropriate gear for its speed and road conditions

When a vehicle is in neutral, no gear is selected and if the vehicle is sationary, it will not be able to move off at that point. If the vehicle is in motion and neutral is selected, the vehicle will ‘coast’, which can cause it to speed up or be harder to control

The clutch pedal connects the engine and wheels through two clutch plates. When the clutch pedal is up, the plates come together, allowing power to pass from the engine to the wheels. When the clutch pedel is pressed down, the plates separate, breaking this connection, allowing either the gears to be changed, or the vehicle to be stopped safely

To change gears, the clutch pedal must be pushed down completely. When the cluch pedal is pushed down, the clutch plates separate, breaking the connection between the engine and the wheels. At this point it is now safe to select a new gear

The gear stick always springs to its central middle position with minimal effort. The central middle position is known as ‘neutral’ and it is directly below 3rd gear and directly above 4th gear

Taking your eyes off of the road for even a split second can be dangerous. To avoid doing this, you must practice and master changing gears while looking ahead

When changing gears the clutch and gas pedal should work in tandem. As you clutch down to select a new gear, you must simulatanouesly ease off the gas pedal

When the clutch pedal is pushed down, the engine is discontected from the wheels and no power can be transferred between the two, Pushing the gas pedal at this point wastes power and the enigne will make an unwanted sound as a result

Clutch down /Ease off gas pedal, change gears, release clutch back on gas – Explain this

Once you have clutched down and selected your intended gear, the clutch should be releaseed slowly, while the gas pedal should be pressed down, gently but consistently. Releasing the clutch too quickly can cause the vehicle to bunny hop or stall

Always ensure that the gear stick is in neutral before startijng the vehicle’s engine. If the gear stick is not in neutral, the vehicle could lurch forward when the engine is turned on and this could endager other roads in close proximity

As the vehicle speeds up, you should be changing up in gears to match the new speed of the vehicle. Do not stay in one gear for as long as you can, as this is inefficient and forces the engine to work harder than it otherwise would

When intending to go up in gears, you must remember to build your speed up first beofre changing gears. Failure to build up your speed, may cause the vehicle to struggle in the new gear. Once your speed has been built up, press the clutch pedal down completely and ease off the gas pedal. Then select your intended gear, place both hands on the steering wheel and gently release the clutch pedal, while pressing down on the gas pedal

To ensure you do not slect 3rd or 5th gear, when you intend to select 1st gear, always push the gear stick to the left before pushing it upwards from the neutral position

To ensure you do not slect 4th or 6th gear when you intend to select 2nd gear, always push the gear stick to the left before pushing it downwards from the neutral position

To ensure you do not select 3rd gear when you intend to select 5th gear, always push the gear stick to the right before pushing it upwards from the neutral position

The rule of thumb when operatng the clutch pedal is to push it down quickly and release it slowly. You can make the gears change smoothly by counting to 3, before fully releasing the clutch pedal after each gear change

Take care when selecting a new gear, as this will ensure you choose the correct gear for the speed the vehicle is travelling at. Selecting the wrong gear, when the vehicle is in motion, can be dangerous

If the wrong gear is selected, do not panic, simnply keep your fet still and try again. More often than not, the vehicle will have enough momentum for you to reselct your intended gear, before it comes to a stop

If the vehicle has just stalled, apply the handbralke and select neutral. Doing so will stop the vehicle from rolling backwards or forwards, if it is on a slope or hit from behind

“Coasting can be defined as either driving with the clutch pedal held down or with the gear stick in neutral. It is best avoided, as it can cause the vehicle to freewheel, picking up speed unexpectedley. This is made worse when ‘coasting’ downhill. It is also harder to control the vehicle when it ‘coasts’ and this is particualr dangerou on bends and corners

When coasting, you have less control over the vehicle, than you otherwise would. This can be particularly dangerous on bends, corners and when going downhill

The vehicle’s speed will increase dramatically, making it harder to control and increasing the chances of an accident or an unwanted situation developing

The engine will make a louder sound when you reach the top speed for the gear you are in. This is a clue you need to change gears.

“When changing up in gears, you must first check your mirrors before changing your speed, then increase your speed to top of the current gear’s range, then clutch down while simulataneously easing off the gas pedal. When complete, select the new gear, return both hands to the steering whel and slowly release the clutch pedal, while simulataeously pressing down on the gas pedal

When changing down in gears, you must first check your mirrors before changing your speed. Once it is safe to do so, reduce your speed to that of the gear you intended to change to, clutch down, while simulataeously easing off the gas pedal. Select the new gear, return both hands to the steering wheel and slowly release the clutch pedal, while simultaneously placing your right foot back on either the gas or brake pedal depending on the hazard

Block gear changing is the act of changing gears withtout going up or down in order. As long as you have matched your speed to your intended gear, it is perfectly fine to miss out gears when changing

Clutching down while accelerating will cause unnecessary wear and tear on the gear mechanism

Part of driving in an eco-friendly manner means not waiting with the engine idle. When learning how to change gears, practice with the engine off, as it doesn’t waste fuel or harm the enviroment

The answer is true. To avoid causing damage to the gear mechanism, you must release the gas pedal completely, before clutching down and changing gears

The answer is false. Higher gears are better for fuel economy, as the engine does not have to work as hard to maintain its current speed;.
When changing gears, firmly hold the steering wheel with your right hand, as this will stop the vehicle from swerving, as you complete the gear change

Selecting the wrong gear can make the car do something unexpected such as slowing down dramatically, stalling or struggling to pick up speed among other things

VSG stands for View, Speed, Gears and its the acroynm used to help jusge when to change gears bsed on the road situation faced. You must look and asses the road situation ahead, before changing your speed and then slecting the most appropiate gear

No, there’s nothing wrong with changing down from 3rd to 1st gear, as long you match your speed to the new gear first. Selecting 1st gear without first changing your speed, will cause the vehicle to slow down abrubtly and can lead to an accident, if there are following vehicles or road users behind

In the scenario described, 5th gear would be the most appropiate. In a 5-speed manual vehicle, gear 5 should be used for speeds betewen 40 and 70mph

As you reach the top speed for the gear you are in, the sound of the engine will change. In most vehicles, the engine will get noticeably louder and at this point, you should select a higher gear

As you reach the lowest possible speed for the gear you are in, the vehicle will start to shake or shudder. At this point it is advisable to change down to a lower gear to avoid the vehicle struggling, or stalling in extreme situations

The answer is false. Allowing the engine to slow the vehicle down in that way can cause excessive wear and tear. Always use the foot brake to slow the vehicle’s speed down, before changing gears to go down.
When the vehicle and its tyres are straignt, it is more often than not safe to change gears. Avoid changing gears when the vehicle is not straight or is in the middle of completing a manaoeuvre

The answer is true. Lower gears have more power and when travelling uphill, your vehicle will need more power due to the force of gravity.

The answer is false. When travelling down a steep hill, you should choose a lower gear than you normally would for the speed you are travelling at. A lower gear will help you better control the vehicle, due to a stronger engine braking effect.

When deciding when and how to change gears to go down, the general rule of thumb is to reduce your speed first, then change your gears. Brakes to slow, then gears to go

Altering your speed and selecting the appropriate gear should be done on the approach to the hazard. Changing your speed and gear as you are dealing with a hazard can complicate the issue, which increases the chances of something unexpected happening

After a gear change, you must remember to place your left hand back on the steering wheel. You should always ensure both hands are on the steering wheel, unless you are operating one of the vehicle’s controls

When intending to go up in gears, you must remember to build your speed up first beofre changing gears. Failure to build up your speed, may cause the vehicle to struggle in the new gear.

When changing gears, the clutch pedal should be pushed down quickly and released slowly. A slow release ensures the gears are changed smoothly, with no discomfot to the vehicle’s occupants

In this scenario, the vehicle will expoerience a dramatic reduction in speed, due to a strong enging braking effect. This could be dangerous if there are following vehicles in close proximity

The term engine braking means slowing the vehicle down, by selecting a lower gear. The technique is useful when going downhill or on a steep slope