I DID TRY TO SEARCH

Me & my friend are having a discussion about this.

Is it a good, bad or doesn't matter thing if you downshift every light (I like to do this)
He has it stuck in his head that it puts stress on the trans. He's the type of person to put it in neutral and hit the brakes.

So is it bad to downshift when coming to a stop? Is it better? Can someone please clear this myth from our heads. Thanks.

 

there are a few ways in which one can "downshift"

I have seen drivers just push the clutch pedal in and move the shifter to one gear below and let the clutch drag the engine up to the corresponding engine rpm. This puts strain on the synchros, as well as the clutch.

Then you have myself 4 years ago, when I thought it was okay to just press the clutch pedal in, blip the throttle, and move the shifter to the gear below. This spares the clutch, but not the synchros.

Then you have myself a year ago, when i double clutched every gear, this puts minimal strain on the synchros as well as the clutch.

Now I have a pos trans that I pieced together with crap i had laying around and I am lazy with it.

Double clutching is not just for vin diesel. Google for it for a greater description/how-to on the subject.

 

If you are driving down the street and the light is red, put it in neutral. Brake pads and the labor to change them is cheaper than replacing a clutch. Not to mention the excess tranny wear. When sitting stopped in traffic, leave it in neutral, why wear out your clutch, TO bearing and thrust washers.

 

but everybody knows that everybody is not always subjected to stop and go town/city traffic.

The whole intention of a proper double clutch upshift or downshift is that there is no additional wear and tear on the transmission.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bense &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but everybody knows that everybody is not always subjected to stop and go town/city traffic.

The whole intention of a proper double clutch upshift or downshift is that there is no additional wear and tear on the transmission.</TD></TR></TABLE> His question was, when coming up to a stop light. Doh You do not even need the clutch if you know how to rev-match.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bense &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but everybody knows that everybody is not always subjected to stop and go town/city traffic.

The whole intention of a proper double clutch upshift or downshift is that there is no additional wear and tear on the transmission.</TD></TR></TABLE>


I double clutch my downshifts when slowing in traffic and/or for lights. Just a single downshift. If I'm cruising in 4th, I drop to 3rd to slow, then neutral once it drops below 1k rpm.

Honda was nice enough to design me an engine that cuts the injectors when engine braking, and I intend to get every last drop of fuel savings I can from it.

Then again, my first car somewhat lacked synchros on 1st gear, and double clutching was rather necessary to downshift to 1st at all. And my 2nd car was a 1983 Chevy Cavalier that liked to grind every gear if you didn't rev match. Old habits die hard.