Does Downshifting for Overtaking Damage the Car?

[Orville]

Downshifting for overtaking does not damage the car. Downshifting is necessary before overtaking because it increases the torque on the wheels. When you press the accelerator afterward, the engine's RPM rises, allowing the car to achieve greater acceleration. It can be said that downshifting for overtaking is a good driving technique. Conversely, not downshifting before overtaking and simply pressing the accelerator to speed up can actually harm the engine. Whether it's a manual or automatic transmission car, downshifting is generally required before overtaking. In an automatic transmission car, pressing the accelerator deeply will cause the transmission to downshift automatically, enhancing the car's power. If driving a manual transmission car, the gear should match the driving speed and engine RPM. Shift up if the RPM is too high, and downshift if the RPM is too low. Reasons for downshifting when overtaking: Power and torque are two key parameters of a car's performance. Pressing the accelerator increases the engine's RPM, and higher RPM results in greater power. Downshifting, on the other hand, increases torque. Lower gears provide higher torque, enabling more aggressive acceleration. Therefore, downshifting and pressing the accelerator for overtaking effectively avoids prolonged side-by-side driving with another vehicle, allowing for quicker overtaking.