Should You Return to Neutral When Shifting Gears?
2 Answers
When driving, it is not necessary to pass through neutral every time you shift gears. The specific circumstances are as follows: Target Audience: In the past, when car transmissions did not have synchronizers, this practice was required. Reason: According to operational theory, there should be a brief pause in neutral when shifting up or down to reduce transmission wear. However, modern car transmissions generally come equipped with synchronizers. Details about synchronizers are as follows: Classification: Synchronizers can be of the constant-pressure type, inertial type, or self-energizing type. Composition Features: The most widely used today is the inertial synchronizer. It mainly consists of a coupling sleeve and a synchronizer locking ring, and its characteristic is that it relies on friction to achieve synchronization.
When it comes to whether to return to neutral when shifting gears, it starts with the basics of driving. I usually drive a manual transmission, and shifting gears typically involves going directly from first to second or second to third gear without deliberately returning to neutral in between. This makes gear shifts quicker and smoother. The transmission is designed with gears that engage directly, and shifting back to neutral can actually cause the car to jerk or waste fuel. When starting from a stop, you might need to pass through neutral when shifting from park to drive—for example, when stopping at a red light, you can shift to neutral and then switch to drive when starting again. However, avoid shifting to neutral while moving at high speeds, as it can lead to a loss of engine control. In short, for everyday gear changes, I recommend direct shifting—less hassle and more efficient.
