What is gear shifting called?
2 Answers
Gear shifting (or gear changing) refers to the transmission system, which is used to alter the torque and rotational speed of the engine crankshaft to meet the varying requirements of driving wheel traction and vehicle speed under different driving conditions such as starting, accelerating, traveling, and overcoming various road obstacles. More information about gear shifting is as follows: 1. Functions: It enables the car to drive at a very low and stable rotational speed, which is difficult to achieve solely by the minimum stable speed of the internal combustion engine; the reverse gear of the transmission allows the car to move backward; its neutral gear allows the engine to be separated from the drivetrain for extended periods when starting the engine, parking, or coasting. 2. Classification: Automatic transmission does not require the driver to manually shift gears, as the vehicle automatically selects the appropriate gear based on driving speed and traffic conditions. Common automatic transmission gears include P, R, N, D, 3, 2, and 1; whereas manual transmission requires the driver to manually move the gear lever to change the gear meshing inside the transmission, altering the gear ratio to achieve speed changes. Manual transmission vehicles typically have gears labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, N, and R.
I've been driving manual transmission cars for over a decade, and shifting gears is what we call gear changing. With a manual transmission, you need to press the clutch before moving the gear lever, while an automatic transmission just requires pushing the gear selector. The essence of this operation is to change the gear ratio between the engine and the wheels. Using a lower gear gives more power when climbing hills, while higher gears save fuel on highways. Manual transmissions typically have gears 1 through 6, whereas automatic transmissions commonly feature PRND positions: P for Park (locks the wheels), R for Reverse, N for Neutral (freewheeling), and D for Drive. Shifting incorrectly can cause jerking or stalling at best, and damage the transmission at worst. I remember once forgetting to press the clutch and forcing the gear shift—the grinding sound made my heart skip a beat. On long descents, using a lower gear allows engine braking, which is safer than constantly using the brakes.
