Downshifting in a 6 speed

I'm going to assume because you're riding it while the engine is coming up to speed. Unless you "blip" like all the civic guys/street bike guys do.

 

Difference in rpms between the trans trying to go into X gear and the motor causes wear on all parts mentioned, up or downshifting regardless.

if say you go accelerate from 1st to 6th, (5 shifts)... then on decel you do just the opposite for another 5 shifts.... you have a total of 10 shifts.

if you go 1st to 6th on acceleration ( 5 shifts)... then decel you let it stay in 6th till say 1k rpms then clutch in move to neutral and stop then shift to 1st.... thats all of 6 shifts for the same cycle. 40% less shifting.... 40% less overall wear on clutch, and syncros.

 

You might as well stop driving all together because that causes wear on every part of the truck. Park it inside with the lights off too, that way the UV rays won't fade the paint

I guess at the end of the day, it's your rig. Drive it how you want to. I'm just here stating my opinion. I personally feel that downshifting is beneficial regardless of the "excess" wear.

"excess"- because its not actually excess if its meant for it.

 

In 1974, I took my road test for my D/L, in a 69 Datsun 510, 4spd.
My Dad taught me how to drive/shift at the age of 11, so I had been using his method for 4+years.
At that time, a uniformed cop did the testing. I got Sgt. Rosa. A tough, well respected officer....but mostly tough.
3 minutes into the drive, he told me to pull over, asked who taught me how to use the clutch, not drive, but use the clutch.
I replied that it was my Dad. He told me Pop was wrong, that the clutch should only be depressed/ disengaged, when changing gears, and that downshifting when slowing down was proper. Sitting at a stop, in neutral was acceptable, but pay attention to the situation, to engage, and accelerate.
I proceeded through test, passed.
I have driven this way since, and understand the logic.

 

I only use 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th going up through the gears and I use the same ones minus 1st coming down. Once stopped if at a light I take it out of gear and remove my foot from the clutch. On the up shift I shift at 1500 and the down shift I keep the revs below 4000. This all helps with mpg and saves the brakes.
Some claim this wears out the tranny, clutch and other parts. That is false. I have a Ford ranger with around 400,000 , miles on it and only replaced the clutch and brakes once and never had any issues with the tranny.

 

I did this just for fun. You have to rev the motor in neutral (rev match) to downshift. That way you won't hurt anything, or wear it down more than its suppose to be.

But when I'm lazy, just neutral to a stop is fine

 

Every time!

 

Haven't had an automatic since 1968. Have only replaced 1 clutch, and that was due to a throwout bearing going out. I downshift religiously in the hills if needed to control downhill speed. I downshift or don't shift in traffic by seeing what's ahead, like a light changing to red. Never sit in gear at a red light with clutch depressed any longer than you have to - it wears the throwout bearing. Try to avoid stop and go rush hour traffic. Less shifts, longer clutch life.

 

I told myself when I bought this truck that I'd put it in neutral coming to a stop and not sit at a stop light with the clutch in due to the wear that it creates. Old habits are hard to brake and I drive it like all my other vehicles, down shifting and clutch holding all day. I need to train myself to go to neutral more often.

 

To each their own I guess. For me, its real nice to have the auto... Call me a lazy panzy.

 

Downshifting doesn't hurt anything if you match the engine speed to whatever gear you're selecting. Once matched, release the gas and let the engine compression slow you down or accelerate as needed. It takes a little finesse and practice to do it smoothly, but you'll be rewarded. Some high-end sports cars now come with engine rpm matching programmed in their computers to do it for you.

Might be a moot point if manuals continue to be phased out as has been the trend.

 

There is absolutely no need to match the engine speed with the down shift. Like I stated above. My Ford truck has 400,000 miles on it and I have always downshifted the tranny with absolutely no problems to the transmission and I even have the original transmission oil in the tranny.

I do the same in my Corolla which has over 100,000 miles on it and my Tacoma and there is no signs of problems. Over the road truckers use the down shift many times a day for over a million miles without matching engine speed to gear downshift with absolutely no problems. There just is no need to match engine speed today as was necessary 50 years ago when transmissions were not normally synchronized and when the transmission oil was not near a good as today.

For those who practice engine matching it, fine, but it is not necessary as the truck will fall apart before the tranny goes without doing it.

 

This is the best way hands down

 

X2 here.

 

I've got over 200k on my 6spd and while the syncrows are gone in the cold-start upmode, I use the trans for almost all slowing and stopping; caution the motor does not like high RPM down shifting. Fwy to stop lignt through all the gears, no problem.

 

I like the way this guy does it !!!!! pay close attention to what he has to say about the throw out bearing ^^^^^^^

 

Throttle blip all the way down to at least second gear whenever possible.
I do it on all my cars and the taco is no different.

 

Definitely downshift through the gears, especially when coming up to a red light that could change before I stop. I downshift to regulate my speed in lots of close in traffic. I've put 110k on a clutch and throw out bearing driving like this before selling the truck. What's the point of driving a stick if your not using it to help regulate your speed?

 

As above -- you need to be in control of your vehicle at all times and not just riding in a roller coaster.

 

You would probably be surprised at how many people think they can drive a manual and actually cannot. No wonder they are fading fast.

While in Stuttgart Germany we had to rent cars to get to work. They were Audi, BMW Mercs and they usually only come in manual over there. Warrant officer asked the question "who can drive stick"...like everybody raised their hand.

We all found out during the next few weeks who actually couldn't because there were some pretty jerky rides. It was actually hilarious.

I have over 150,000 miles on three cars including 258,000 on a ford ranger before selling it and NEVER had a clutch, throw bearing, gearbox, synchro issue.

Downshift correctly with a blip and only use engine braking not instant clutch force (because the engine speed doesn't match drivetrain speed when clutch is disengaged without a slight raise in RPM aided by the driver) to slow when coming to a stop...and your clutch will always thank you.
Just my $.02