Fast and Smooth Gear Changes

In this video we explore how you can speed up and smooth out your higher gear changes.

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[clover]

The main reason you add a tiny amount of pressure to the gas pedal as you lift the clutch is prevent Deceleration Fuel Cutoff when you lift the clutch pedal. If you lift the clutch without any gas, the car's computer will shutoff the fuel injectors which introduces a small amount of braking into the drivetrain, which is usually sudden and jerky. Introducing pressure to the gas pedal _can_ match the revs on an upshift, especially on cars without rev hang, but that's not the main reason why it makes the gear change smooth. I've also found that steadily increasing the pressure on the gas as the clutch steadily comes up also promotes smooth gear changes.

For a quick, smooth upshift you should do the following:

1. Decide you need to shift up to the next gear.
2. Move your hand to the shifter.
3. Simultaneously lift off the gas and stomp the clutch. (minute timing differences between engines with or without rev hang)
4. Shift to the next gear quickly, but without using excessive force.
5. The instant the next gear is fully engaged, lift the clutch quickly at first, slow down at the bite point, then quickly again at the end, while simultaneously applying careful and steadily increasing pressure on the gas pedal.

[eyelidman]

Thanks Ashley. Good advice for all drivers and a nice recap for us experienced drivers. Reinforcing good habits will hopefully override long term bad ones.🌞👍🌞

[VICKSTER]

Great video Ashley 👍 I was taught the way you just showed. But my car since passing my test has really high pedals with me having little feet not a good combo 😂 but I've managed to get my seating position perfect now and can finally plant my heel on the floor to pivet between the pedals which is so much more comfortable!

[davidellis]

Nice shoes, I’m nearly 66 and find my legs ache if I have my ankle as pivot so have to manage, but agree with most of what you’re said. Have learnt over years to adapt my driving to allow for advancing years.

[Pboogy]

Helped out tremendously thank you so much for your time.

[margaretratcliffe]

Emigrated to usa in 1988 and drove automatics out here. Had one manual car out here many years ago. Recently, 3cweekscago, went back to manual and still getting re-caquainted. Will find your videos helpful in being smooth.

[Dudleymiddleton]

During my hgv training my instructor said to use the palm of the hand to shift the gear knob and not grab with fingers too tightly, but enough it gives you a more tactile feel to the gearstick

[imaner]

Hi Ashley. I've often (to be fair only twice, by instructors, but I only know three instructors) have been called out by my friends on my use of gears. While they (the relevant instructors) feedback that my "situational awareness and vehicle control is natural and effective", my "lack of break pedal use and reliance on engine breaking, albeit smooth and appropriate for road conditions" (still quoting) "might mislead other drivers to my actual pace due to lack of break pedal use".

I learned to drive on a race track, at a, what I conciser a young age ( 198.. cough) 12 years old. Not karts, but 1.0L to 1.5L tin top. Nova, etc. Then to Maestro and the big leagues of Montego. It's a habit I struggle to break. I drive within the speed and or road limits at all times and don't see the need for break application from most normal road speeds. I have started to cover the break pedal to get the lights to illuminate, but often forget or neglect this as my concentration is forward and subtle covering of the throttle happens without thinking. I was thinking about doing an advanced driver instructor course to weed out or refine current driving habits. Is this still a relevant course these days?

By the way I really enjoy your videos, you're balanced fair, and agitated in the right way. A rare mix. Be good, drive safe.

[alfresco]

I've always considered the foot movement to be essentially a scissor movement. Your position on the clutch is a reverse image of your position on the accelerator....when one is fully depressed, the other is fully released; and all points in between. Thinking of it like this helps a learner to avoid getting all foot-fumbled. Clutch slipping can come later.

[katrina]

Such a good instructor!! love your vids

[otsavage]

This video definitely helped me, I gotta get off the clutch a bit slower when going from 1-2 and 2-3. I don't really stall when getting going as I am confident and smooth with that part but putting it into the next gear I try to do it quickly so I don't hurt the motor and I always jerk forward like the car is trying to launch when I shift into second and third, I've spun my tires going into second and it's 100% because I let off the clutch too quickly

[emmaholman]

Watching any video is helping me right now. I’m currently going through the process of starting my instructor training. Waiting for my dbs certificate to come through which was dispatched yesterday

[RoamingAdhocrat]

The way my folks taught me is to not grip the gearstick at all, but to instead slightly cup your hand and place it on the left or right side of the gearstick, and gently push.

[GR-knmt]

If you want to change gear faster then buy an automatic.. XD That wicked smile at the end

[edwardknight]

I was always taught to turn my palm on the gear stick to prevent going into the wrong gear. Especially if you use different cars.

[willmay]

Fit a quickshifter, and practice heel n toe, sorted 😁
Experience and being patient, learners always feel there's too much to learn so get stressed out to easy by thinking there's more than there really is.

[James-jich]

For people just learning to drive, you can ignore the idea of double clutching for now as it is an advanced technique that even some race car drivers do not use as it is not necessary for smooth gear changes.
Rev matching is the technique that Ashley is talking about here.

Thanks for the video Ashley! Something I might disagree on is blipping the throttle when changing up gear with the exception of maybe 1st to 2nd as in rwd cars this can cause excess torque which could lead to wheel spin or oversteer.
Other than that great video!

[MK-]

Lots of interesting points as usual - thank you. In particular the tip about pressing the clutch down quickly and fully is one I'll try to learn from. What are your thoughts on sustained rev gearchanges?

[DynamicMateTV]

I started to realise this towards the end of my driving lessons 😂😅 I wish he told me this from the very start 🤦‍♂️

[mahammad]

5:05 passed for a year now and I’ve press pressing in my clutch quite slow thinking I’m preserving the clutch or something, thanks for the tip 😂