Will the Engine Stall in Second Gear at Idle Speed?

[McKiara]

When driving below 10 km/h in second gear, the engine will not stall for the following reasons. First, most vehicles have an idle speed of around 10 km/h in second gear, and the recommended speed range for second gear is between 5 km/h and 30 km/h (although higher speeds are possible, they are not ideal for the vehicle). Therefore, as long as the car is moving, it generally won't stall. However, when accelerating, it's important to use the clutch partially engaged (semi-clutch) to start, otherwise the gears may clash, potentially causing severe damage to the vehicle. Alternatively, shifting down to first gear for acceleration is the best approach. Here’s a quick guide to the speed ranges for different gears: 1. In first gear, the speed range is 0 km/h to 10 km/h. 2. In second gear, the speed range is 10 km/h to 30 km/h. 3. In third gear, the speed range is 20 km/h to 40 km/h. 4. In fourth gear, the speed range is 30 km/h to 50 km/h. 5. In fifth gear, the speed range is 50 km/h and above.

[Gollum]

I've been driving manual transmission cars for ten years, and this issue depends on the specific situation. If you don't control the clutch properly, starting from idle in second gear can indeed cause the engine to stall. New drivers are prone to this because releasing the clutch too quickly can suddenly increase the engine load. We often encounter this problem with students at our driving school, especially when they haven't mastered the semi-engagement technique. Additionally, unstable idle speed during cold starts or when the throttle is dirty makes stalling more likely in second gear. It's generally safer to start in first gear unless you're coasting downhill. By the way, an aging battery can also lead to insufficient ignition energy, increasing the chance of stalling—in such cases, it's best to have it checked at a repair shop.

[TannerDella]

To be honest, this phenomenon is quite common in older manual transmission vehicles. Just the other day, a repair shop had an old Jetta with the same issue. Upon disassembly, they found the clutch plate had worn down by two-thirds. When idling in second gear, the engine's output torque isn't sufficient to counteract the transmission resistance. The ECU detects the RPM dropping below 500 and automatically cuts fuel, causing the engine to stall. I recommend checking the actual idle RPM of your engine; if it's below 600, it's time to clean the throttle body. Another often overlooked factor is insufficient fuel pump pressure, especially when the tank is nearly empty, leading to unstable fuel supply. This makes stalling in second gear more likely, so it's best to keep at least a quarter tank of fuel.

[SanHadley]

Focus on the engine condition and overall vehicle state. When the engine is just started, the coolant temperature hasn't risen yet, the engine oil has poor fluidity, and the engine's frictional resistance is high. In this situation, engaging second gear at idle speed will almost certainly cause the engine to shake and stall. My cousin's domestic SUV had this exact issue, but it improved significantly after switching to full synthetic oil. Insufficient tire pressure can also increase resistance - once when my tire pressure dropped to just 1.8 bar, the engine stalled during a second-gear start. Turbocharged vehicles are even more sensitive; when the turbo isn't producing positive pressure, there's insufficient torque, especially with small-displacement turbo engines. Vehicles with modified larger wheels require particular attention, as increased wheel diameter effectively raises the transmission gear ratio, making idle torque even more critical. Regular inspection of spark plugs and air filters is essential, as aging of these components can also lead to unstable idling.