How to Coordinate the Throttle and Clutch When Shifting Up?
3 Answers
Methods for coordinating the throttle and clutch when shifting up: 1. Release the throttle; 2. Press the clutch while shifting gears with your right hand; 3. Release the clutch and immediately press the throttle to complete the upshift, then drive smoothly. Gear shifting is one of the fundamental skills of driving a motor vehicle. Proper shifting not only extends the vehicle's lifespan and saves fuel but also ensures driving safety and helps pass the driving test smoothly. Points to note when shifting up: 1. Do not look down at the gearshift while shifting, as this can easily cause the vehicle to deviate from its intended direction. If the speed is slightly high, it could lead to danger; 2. Coordinate the clutch properly when shifting. Press the clutch pedal all the way down when shifting, and after shifting, press the throttle slightly before slowly releasing the clutch to maintain a semi-engaged state until the speed stabilizes; 3. Control the speed before shifting. Increase the speed before upshifting and decrease it before downshifting; 4. Do not skip gears when shifting. Shift up or down one gear at a time, ensuring each shift is precise.
As a veteran driver with 20 years of experience, shifting gears is all muscle memory for me. When starting off, press the clutch pedal all the way down, shift into first gear while lightly tapping the accelerator, then slowly release the clutch to the half-engagement point—once the car moves, fully release it. For upshifting, first check the speedometer and tachometer; when the RPM reaches around 2000, ease off the accelerator, press the clutch all the way down, and quickly shift into the higher gear. The key is to release the clutch in three steps: first quickly lift to half-engagement, pause for half a second to let the gears mesh, then slowly release while gently pressing the accelerator to compensate, bringing the engine RPM down to around 2000. It’ll definitely be jerky at first, but after practicing dozens of times, it’ll become as natural as breathing.
When teaching my daughter to drive, I always emphasize that hand-foot coordination is the most important. To shift up, first completely release the accelerator, then press the clutch pedal all the way down with your left foot before shifting gears. At this point, your right foot should be hovering over the accelerator, ready. The rhythm of releasing the clutch is key—the first half can be released quickly to the engagement point, while the second half should be lifted slowly as if stepping on warm milk. Simultaneously, gently press down on the accelerator with your right foot to smoothly align the tachometer and speedometer needles. Remember to release the clutch and apply the accelerator at the same time; don't wait until the clutch is fully released before giving gas, or the car will jerk. Nowadays, manual transmission cars are indeed rare in the city, but learning to drive one gives you more freedom.
