Here are some car driving techniques and tips: Check the car before getting in: Walk around the car once before getting in to check the exterior condition, tires, and whether there is any oil or water leakage under the car. Also, open the hood once a week to check the engine oil, coolant, and brake fluid. Warm up the car before driving: Fuel-injected cars hardly need warming up. Here, warming up refers to starting the lubrication system. If the car has been parked for more than 3 hours, after starting the engine, let it idle for more than 10 seconds until the tachometer drops to around 1000 RPM before driving. In extremely cold weather in the north, extend the idling warm-up time appropriately. Start in first gear: Car transmissions are designed to prioritize speed. Forcing a start in second gear not only increases the engine load but also leads to premature clutch wear. Therefore, regardless of the engine displacement, always start in first gear. Some taxi drivers or friends prefer to skip gears while driving, going directly from 1st to 3rd to 5th gear, using 2nd and 4th gears only as transitional gears, skipping them by pressing the accelerator hard. Although this might give a slight lead in acceleration at low speeds, by the time you reach 3rd gear, there’s no difference. This habit of skipping gears is actually very bad, as it can cause carbon buildup and damage the engine. Shift smoothly: Smooth shifting requires two things: first, the speed must reach the range suitable for the target gear; second, when releasing the clutch, pause at the "engagement point" (not slowly, but stop!), while slightly pressing the accelerator to feel the car moving forward, then gently release the clutch. This operation ensures smooth, seamless, and jerk-free shifting. Make it a habit to pause slightly at the engagement point when releasing the clutch, then coordinate with your left foot and gently press the accelerator with your right foot. Although after reaching 3rd gear, the effect of this habit on reducing jerkiness is not very noticeable.
