How to use the gearbox properly
The skill of using the gearbox properly (here understood as manual transmission) is one of the factors that determine the safe and smooth operation of the vehicle.
Automatic drivers should still understand manual transmissions
Driving an automatic car is quite simple, almost anyone can do it, but to better understand the principles of car gearboxes, every driver should also be proficient in manual gearboxes.
Once you understand the manual transmission, you can perform operations related to the transmission, whether automatic or manual, properly, quickly, smoothly and accurately. Using the correct gear not only ensures the vehicle is good but also contributes to improving driving skills and feeling.
Note when changing the number
When changing gears in a manual transmission, the clutch must be fully disengaged, meaning the clutch must be fully depressed. If shifting gears is difficult and laborious, the reason is that the clutch pedal is not fully depressed.
To move the car, the driver needs to depress the clutch, shift gears, release the clutch and increase the throttle, the car will move slowly. When shifting to a higher gear, the driver needs to release the accelerator completely, depress the clutch and only press the accelerator again when shifting gears, releasing the clutch completely.
Performing these operations correctly will help prevent clutch damage, keep the engine strong, and keep the vehicle from being sluggish and running smoothly.
Conversely, when shifting down to a lower gear, the driver should maintain a little pressure on the accelerator pedal so that the engine speed matches the speed at which the vehicle is moving after releasing the clutch. Currently, manual transmissions have synchronizers to help ensure smooth gear shifting.
When done properly, all up and down shifting operations will be smooth, preventing the car from jerking.
Use the correct progression in specific cases
When starting off, the driver needs to control the vehicle by shifting into 1st gear. If you start rolling in 2nd gear, the clutch will wear out faster because the gears will slip more. In addition, if you use 2nd gear after starting, the initial acceleration will not be as fast and decisive as 1st gear, and there is also a higher risk of stalling.
Some people have the habit of driving in the highest possible gear, while other drivers tend to use the middle gears, which leads to the engine speed often jumping. Therefore, the use of gears must be reasonable.
Accordingly, the principle of driving on a flat road is to use the same speed: gear 1 goes slowly between 0 - 15 km/h, gear 2 from 15 - 25 km/h, gear 3 from 25 - 35 km/h, gear 4 from 40 - 55 km/h...
However, in reality it will depend on the type of vehicle, engine power and how many gears the vehicle's gearbox has.
Always keep an eye on the tachometer
When looking at the tachometer, the driver will see an orange area to warn of the engine's limits and a red area to indicate exactly that limit.
In addition to displaying engine limits, the tachometer is also useful in getting the most out of the engine's power characteristics.
Downhill should I downshift or brake?
When going downhill, the driver should reduce speed by braking and only shift to a lower gear when there are signs that the vehicle needs to stop (at a red light, approaching a parking space, etc.). In addition, if you reach a busy road section such as an intersection or roundabout and need to temporarily reduce speed, you may not need to shift down one gear at a time but instead shift down one gear to ensure more traction (for example, from 5th to 3rd gear) to quickly accelerate again.
With automatic transmission, driving becomes easier, then the driver needs to put "D" to run, "P" to stop/park, "R" to reverse... No matter what gear at what speed, the automatic transmission will do it for the driver.
Some other things to note when using an automatic transmission are that if you want to stop for more than a few dozen seconds, such as when stopping at a red light, the driver can take his foot off the accelerator, apply the brake, shift to "N" and leave his foot on the brake. If you only stop for a short time, there is no need to shift, just hold the brake. In addition, never use your left foot to brake because driving an automatic with two feet is extremely dangerous.