Is It Okay To Skip Gears In A Manual Transmission?

Can You Skip Gears With A Stick Shift Car?

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Is it okay to skip gears with a manual transmission? Ultimately, manual transmissions are designed with flexibility in mind. Inherently they allow for choosing any gear at any time, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should. Of course, and gear you select, you need to make sure that the engine RPM will not exceed redline, and it's also wise to rev-match (or double clutch, if needed), as to not damage your synchronizers or clutch. An unmatched upshift will result in a rough shift. An unmatched downshift can easily result in additional synchronizer wear, as well as clutch wear, and can also upset the balance of the car. That said, skipping gears, when matching engine RPM appropriately, does not cause any harm to the drivetrain, and is completely fine to do.

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[EngineeringExplained]

Some additional things to think about! First off, obviously you should never downshift if it means exceeding your engine's redline. Also, skipping gears will put an additional strain on your synchronizers, especially for downshifts. Not that double-clutching is required these days (though if done properly, it will save your synchros), but it can help for getting into first gear if you're moving. If you're traveling at say 15 mph/25km/h, and want to be in first, generally the transmission will prevent you from doing so. Let the clutch out, pop the revs up, then clutch in and shift to first - this will often work. Generally not necessary for getting into other gears, again, that's why synchros exist is to ease and allow for that transition. Hope everyone's having a great day!

[outdoormadness]

I like going from 6 to R ( rocket mode )

[youngsike]

For all of those who didnt learned that while driving: yes, its okay and essential too (example: if youre going downhill and youre in 4th gear you can switch to 2nd gear to have stronger engine break and the car slows itself down)

[thepenultimateninja]

I learned to drive in the UK, in a manual transmission car.
In the UK, skipping a gear is called a 'block change', and it was taught to me by my drriving instructor as a standard procedure.

[camberwellcarrot]

I've been skipping gears for decades without issue. It's certainly something you want to do after you've driven the car for a while and have a feel for the ratios of each gear. Every car is going to take time to get that feel, especially for rev matching.

[EpicLPer]

Americans be like "lol what's a gear"

[CarthagoMike]

Every European:
*_"Wait, you are not supposed to skip gears?"_*

[stivenstivensson]

I love going from 5th to 3rd gear in a smooth transition when exiting the highway, the most satisfying feeling ever ☺

[Tonyx.yt.]

manual transmission, probably the best anti theft car equipement in us

[aa]

I usually stay in neutral and push the car and get in.. So I can save fuel

[mattswank]

4th to 2nd is so much of my life haha. Especially where I live. There’s no point to go to 3rd before a turn often.

[humanbeing]

This has taught me more than I could ask for. Really happy to learn about such things without having to go through a rough experience to learn it the hard way.

[Transpower]

I skip gears all the time with my 27-speed mountain bike....

[Amir-ffny]

Only my 1st and 5th gear works so i have to skip.

[conker]

I instantly saw the title and got reminded to what my instructor told me on my last lesson - she said “ideally you’re allowed to skip gears when it’s appropriate, such as entering a highway where u need to match the speed of traffic as quick as possible, as long as u get the right amount of RPM for a specific gear”

[Randommmmm]

Short answer:

Yes. It's okay. Just make sure you have enough speed, otherwise you'll stall the car.

Same goes for going high to low. Make sure you've slowed down enough or your revs are low enough otherwise you might damage the engine.

[Nico_Dica]

I don't get those guys complaining like "Just say yes" ... I mean what's the point of watching videos from "Engineering EXPLAINED" if you don't want the explanation ?

[PepeDaily]

I like going from 1 to 6, because that's good for saving fuel!

[lesliefranklin]

I guess there are many people who haven't driven with a manual transmission. It's great someone is answering basic questions.

[yoshimitsui]

One more tip on upshift skip gears. Be sure to bring your RPMs a little higher first before skipping gears, you do not want your RPMs to be too low either because you might risk lugging the engine.