Should the throttle be released when the clutch is fully depressed while shifting gears?
2 Answers
Should the throttle be released when the clutch is fully depressed while shifting gears. Whether upshifting or downshifting, it is essential to release the throttle during gear changes. There's no need to worry that releasing the throttle during upshifting will cause the vehicle speed to drop, as there is a transitional process involved. Simply press the throttle first, then release it to upshift. Precautions when depressing the clutch while shifting gears: The clutch pedal should be controlled with the ball of the foot: When depressing the clutch pedal, place the ball of your foot on the pedal with your heel touching the ground. When the clutch is fully depressed, keep the knee slightly bent. Depress the clutch to the lowest point: Avoid keeping the clutch engaged for extended periods to ensure complete separation and prevent wear. Pay attention to the timing of clutch control: While driving, do not release the clutch too quickly or intentionally raise the engine RPM too high, as releasing the clutch too abruptly may cause the engine to stall. Only shift gears after fully depressing the clutch pedal and completely releasing the throttle.
Attention manual transmission drivers: you must release the throttle when shifting gears! With 15 years of taxi driving experience, I always lift my right foot off the accelerator before engaging the clutch. When the clutch pedal is fully depressed, the engine and transmission disconnect. Keeping the throttle pressed at this point makes the engine roar without moving the car, wasting fuel while the sudden RPM surge increases wear. Especially in stop-and-go traffic with frequent gear changes, this bad habit can burn an extra half-liter per 100km. The proper shifting sequence is: release throttle → fully depress clutch → shift gear → gradually release clutch while lightly applying throttle. It may feel awkward initially, but practice builds muscle memory for smoother, more fuel-efficient driving.
