Gear Procedure

[Bazile]

Prompted by another thread - i will post afresh cos i dont know how often people re-vist threads .

My question is - is it doing any harm to the engine or other parts if for example you are approaching a junction and you go directly from 4th or 5th gear straight to neutral , then select 1st gear to move off again .

Or

Should you slow down through the gears ?

[sddsddean]

No, thats fine. Its called block changing on a truck. When I had my artic and was bob tailing (no trailer), I used to go 4th - 8th - 12th - 16th! No problem. Same going down the box.

[Bazile]

that's good .

I remember years ago when learning to drive, the instructor castigated me for not going down through the gears in order to ' use the engine as a braking force ' as well

[sddsddean]

Thats true, but it depends a lot on what you are doing. For instance, in the truck, if I'm loaded I'll go down through the gears (maybe skip one or two), but not so much if I'm empty. You just have to think and drive to the conditions. Unfortunately lots of people don't do the first and have no idea what the second are!

[bert_h]

When I was being tested for competence before hiring a local authority minibus, the tester strictly told me NOT to use the gears and the engine to slow the vehicle down, because it was diesel-powered. That was maybe 30 years ago, so I don't know whether it applies to modern diesel engines.

[jomifl]

because I rode a motor bike before having car driving lessons I naturally changed down throughh the gears to neutral. I was told that this was incorrect by the instructor. It was 50 years ago when double de-clutching was de rigeur.

[vulcan42]

My instructor told me to use the brakes to slow down, that's what they're for.
he also said it could damage the engine using it as a brake and it was cheaper to change brake pads then an engine.

[Bazile]

So - at what speed or engine revolution , should you change from 4th to 5th gear in a car, for best engine/ fuel efficiency ?

[jomifl]

You shouldn't need to change from 4th to 5th unless you are on a highway or boringly straight and level road and you want a bit of quiet.

[jomifl]

Usually the instruction manual has the information on optimum engine speed.

[heathfield]

Vulcan has said it. It's cheaper to replace worn out brakes than a worn out engine.

[woofgang]

I was taught to skip gears when slowing down when I learned around thirty years ago. When i got my new car 3 years ago the bloke who sold it to me said for best economy get into 5th gear as soon as you can whenever you can.

[TWR]

On the driving test I understand you are not advised to use your gears to slow you down! has any of you had brake failure? I do understand these day it does not happen "But it can" what are the new drivers supposed to do? Bazile, As Sdd has explained, it's a different issue with a HGV, you are trained to get "We Were" the best fuel returns with gear changing, as said, different when loaded, but going to what I said regards brake Failure, the HGV Driver from the Buxton Tarmac Quarry's know about this when the head from Buxton over the Cat & Fiddle to Macclesfield, there is a possibility of brake "fade" & also a loss of brakes due to the continues braking.

[dunnitall]

And the other way round? Going up through the gears someone I know stays in fourth until on fast roads so will drive round mostly in fourth! I will often change from 3rd hear to 5th and feel that is ok, who is right in this case do you think?

[TWR]

Depending on the area / road Dunn, 1st>>3rd>> 5th, again coming down if the conditions allow, 5th >>3rd>>2nd. On a ERF I was driving there was a device fitted that BUZZED if the engine "Over Revered" that indicated excess fuel usage.

[Baldric]

Gosh, you don't want to over rever a diesel TWR!

[Baldric]

Having reread the post @ 08:27, I believe that is the definitive answer, well done!

[TWR]

Revved Happy?