How to Drive a Manual-Automatic Transmission on the Highway?
2 Answers
Steps for driving a manual-automatic transmission on the highway are as follows: 1. First, prepare by changing the engine oil. After replacing it, drive a few kilometers to allow the engine to adapt to the new oil. 2. Start from 1st gear, gently press the accelerator, and gradually increase the RPM for each gear—first to 3000, then 4000, 5000. For each gear, rev up to about 4/5 of the maximum RPM (around 5500), but avoid hitting the redline, as the manual-automatic transmission will automatically upshift. 3. Gradually increase the RPM for each gear and maintain medium-to-high speed operation for about 5 minutes. From 1st to 4th or 5th gear, maintain this operation for a total of half an hour. 4. After high-speed driving, it's best to change the engine oil immediately, as the engine will have generated many metal shavings and impurities in the oil due to the high-speed operation.
I've been driving manual-automatic transmission cars for over twenty years, and there are tricks to using manual mode on the highway. Switch to M mode and use the paddle shifters, then cruise in the highest gear at around 1500 RPM—the fuel gauge drops noticeably, saving me dozens of dollars a month. When overtaking, don’t hesitate—downshifting one or two gears gives quick and stable acceleration. I usually drop a gear at 120 km/h to overtake slower cars in seconds. Just remember not to let the RPM hit the redline, as it harms engine longevity. In winter, manually adjust the fan for heating—less noise and more comfort. It might feel unfamiliar at first, but after a few practice runs on familiar routes, it becomes second nature, offering more control and rhythm than automatic mode.
