Do you need to press the clutch for both upshifting and downshifting?
3 Answers
For manual transmission vehicles, you need to press the clutch for both upshifting and downshifting. Here is an introduction to the clutch-related content: 1. Clutch: The clutch is located in the flywheel housing between the engine and the transmission. The clutch assembly is fixed to the rear plane of the flywheel with screws, and the output shaft of the clutch is the input shaft of the transmission. 2. Function: The clutch allows gradual engagement between the engine and the transmission, ensuring smooth vehicle starting. It temporarily disconnects the connection between the engine and the transmission to facilitate gear shifting and reduce impact during shifting. It also acts as a separator during emergency braking, preventing overload in the transmission and other drivetrain systems, thereby providing a certain protective effect.
As a veteran driver who has driven manual transmission cars for half my life, I think this is a very practical question. When shifting gears in a manual transmission car, you must press the clutch pedal—it's a fundamental operating rule. The clutch's role is to disconnect the engine from the transmission, making gear shifts smoother. If you try to shift gears without pressing the clutch, not only will you hear the gears grinding, but over time, the transmission will definitely get damaged. I've seen people show off by shifting without the clutch, only to end up stranded on the road. With automatic transmission cars, you don't have to worry about this at all—they shift gears on their own. Driving a manual in city traffic with frequent clutch pressing can indeed be tiring, but for the sake of your car's health, this step is not something you can skip.
After teaching driving lessons for ten years, I've found that the most common mistake beginners make is forgetting to press the clutch when shifting gears. With manual transmissions, you must fully depress the clutch pedal during every gear change - otherwise the gears simply won't engage. The principle is straightforward: depressing the clutch disconnects power transmission, allowing smooth gear meshing. Some students have attempted shifting without the clutch, which immediately resulted in gear grinding. Automatic transmissions are a different story, as they shift gears automatically via hydraulic systems. For daily driving, I recommend fully depressing the clutch with every gear shift, especially when downshifting where rev-matching is crucial. Developing this habit not only ensures smoother shifts but can extend transmission lifespan by 30,000 to 50,000 kilometers.
