Is it necessary to pause when shifting gears?
2 Answers
There is no need to pause in neutral when shifting gears. Shift gears according to the speed of the car. The method of shifting gears is as follows: Generally, start in first gear, then shift to second gear after driving a few meters; when the speed reaches above 20 mph and below 35 mph, shift to third gear. When the speed reaches above 35 mph and below 45 mph, shift to fourth gear; when the speed reaches above 45 mph, shift to fifth gear. The above is for ordinary five-speed transmission cars. For cars with six or more gears, you can shift up one gear for every approximately 15 mph increase in speed. Precautions for shifting gears: While driving, as long as road conditions and traffic situations permit, you should shift to a higher gear in time. Before upshifting, you must first accelerate to "charge the car" to ensure that there is enough power after upshifting to keep the car running smoothly. If the "charging" (speed) is too small (low), it will cause insufficient power and shaking after upshifting; if the "charging" time is too long, the engine running at high speed for a long time will increase wear and reduce fuel economy.
Shifting gears in a manual transmission truly requires good timing. Having driven a taxi for twenty years, I know this best. After depressing the clutch, don't rush to shift—wait for the RPM needle to drop before engaging the gear, especially when downshifting. That half-second pause allows the gears to synchronize, reducing grinding noises. Forcing it in when there's a large RPM difference is like kicking the transmission, wearing out the synchronizers quickly. However, when at a red light shifting from neutral to first gear, there's no need to wait—just shift directly. Remember, shifting isn't about who's faster; driving smoothly is what shows real skill.
