How Many Seconds Can Gear Mismatch Not Exceed?
4 Answers
Gear mismatch should not exceed 5 seconds. Below is additional information on methods for shifting gears in a car: 1. When upshifting: For manual transmission cars when upshifting, first release the accelerator, then quickly press the clutch and shift gears rapidly. Alternatively, you can press the clutch while releasing the accelerator. If you press the clutch first and then release the accelerator, it will cause the engine to run without load, producing a roaring sound, which wastes fuel and increases noise. 2. When downshifting: For manual transmission cars when downshifting, first apply the brakes to reduce the speed, then press the clutch, followed by a quick gear shift. When downshifting, since you need to reduce speed, there is no need to press the accelerator.
As a veteran driver with twenty years of experience in manual transmission cars, I really want to talk about gear matching. If the RPM and gear don't match while driving, like dragging second gear up to 4000 RPM without upshifting, the clutch plate suffers. My old Jetta had this issue once—I forgot to shift while climbing a hill for about five or six seconds and smelled burning. The mechanic said the clutch overheated and warped, costing over 800 yuan to replace. Now I always watch the tachometer and shift immediately after 3000 RPM. Automatic transmission cars face similar issues too—when climbing steep slopes in D gear, the transmission aggressively raises the RPM. If this lasts more than ten seconds, the transmission fluid temperature warning light will likely come on. The key is to develop the habit of checking the dashboard and adjusting when RPM gets too high—never push it too hard.
I overheard the mechanic discussing this issue during the last maintenance. Gear mismatch situations come in many forms, like stalling a manual transmission in low speed with high gear, or mistakenly engaging sport mode in an automatic transmission while climbing hills. The torque converter and gear sets in the transmission are under immense strain, and just three seconds can spike the oil temperature by dozens of degrees. Once, my SUV was in D gear charging up a steep hill in the mountains, and within four seconds, there was a loud clanking noise that scared me into immediately easing off the throttle. Now, whenever I encounter a long incline, I switch to manual mode to lock the gear. Remember a simple rule: if the engine starts roaring or the car body noticeably shakes, you must adjust the gear within three seconds. Regular transmission fluid changes can also reduce damage—I change mine every 60,000 kilometers.
The driving instructor repeatedly emphasized gear matching. The most common mistake beginners make is forgetting to shift up, such as driving at 60 mph in third gear. When the engine is buzzing, it's actually sounding an alarm; exceeding five seconds may trigger overheating protection. Once, while accompanying a friend practicing driving, he drove in second gear for over seven seconds, and we immediately smelled burnt rubber. Nowadays, when teaching someone to drive, I always remind them: if the RPM exceeds 2500, take a glance at the gear lever. Although automatic transmissions are more convenient, using the wrong gear on uphill or downhill slopes can also damage the car. Short slopes can be handled by stubbornly using D gear, but for long slopes exceeding ten seconds, it's best to switch to L gear.
