Should You Press the Accelerator When Shifting Gears?
3 Answers
You should not press the accelerator when shifting gears. Gear shifting precautions: 1. Avoid skipping gears when upshifting: Upshifting should be done step by step; skipping gears can cause discontinuous power delivery, leading to a 'stalling' phenomenon. Downshifting, however, can be done by skipping gears, and driving techniques often require skipping gears when downshifting. 2. Avoid looking down at the gear lever when shifting: Especially when driving on city streets or at high speeds, looking down while shifting can cause the vehicle to veer off course and lead to accidents. 3. Avoid not fully depressing the clutch when shifting: If the clutch is not fully depressed, the engine and the first shaft of the transmission cannot completely disengage, causing intermittent power transmission, resulting in noise during shifting and potential gear damage.
When to press the accelerator while shifting gears depends on the vehicle type. For manual transmissions, you must fully depress the clutch pedal during gear changes, and absolutely avoid pressing the accelerator at this moment—doing so causes engine revs to spike unnecessarily, resulting in rough shifts and potential damage to the clutch and transmission. I’ve often seen beginners make this mistake, leading to jerky movements and wasted fuel. Timing is key: ease off the accelerator when slowing or preparing to shift, press the clutch firmly, engage the new gear, then smoothly release the clutch while applying steady throttle to maintain momentum. This skill becomes critical on mountain roads or in heavy traffic—poor execution risks stalling or losing control. Automatic transmissions simplify this process: shifting (e.g., from P to D) usually occurs when stationary, where pressing the accelerator is part of normal startup, though sudden jabs should be avoided to prevent lurching. Mastering the coordination between throttle and gear selection ensures safer, smoother driving.
I've noticed that shifting gears while pressing the accelerator is quite common in automatic transmission cars, especially in city driving. For manual transmissions, you must press the clutch when shifting gears, and you should never touch the accelerator at that moment because the engine output is disconnected from the wheels. Pressing the accelerator would cause the engine to rev loudly and make gear shifts jerky. I usually drive with fuel efficiency in mind, and this kind of operation can increase fuel consumption by 10%. In an automatic transmission, it's better to shift from N to D completely before pressing the accelerator, as the car can start smoothly even without pressing it. The key isn't really about technique but forming the right habits: when starting or waiting at a traffic light, shift gears only after confirming the car is stationary, and press the accelerator only after completing the shift. Incorrect operation may lead to premature transmission repairs. I once saw a friend with a manual transmission car who frequently pressed the accelerator while shifting, and later had to spend a lot of money repairing burnt clutch plates. Try easing into the throttle while shifting—your car will last longer.
