5 Things You Should Never Do With a Manual Transmission

Driving a manual transmission car can be a rewarding experience. It gives you more control over your vehicle and can be more fuel-efficient than an automatic. However, there are some things you should never do with a manual transmission. Doing so could damage your transmission or even cause an accident.

1. Rest Your Hand on the Gearshift

Many new drivers may develop the habit of resting their hand on the gearshift. While this may seem harmless, it can actually put unnecessary wear and tear on your transmission. When you rest your hand on the gearshift, you're applying pressure to the transmission's internal components. Over time, this can cause the gears to wear down and eventually fail. Instead, keep your hand off the gearshift when you're not shifting.

2. Put the Car in Neutral When Stopping

It's a common misconception that putting your car in neutral when you're stopped at a light or in traffic is a good way to save fuel. However, this is actually not true. When you're in neutral, your engine is still running and using fuel. Additionally, putting your car in neutral can make it more difficult to accelerate quickly if you need to. Instead, leave your car in gear and keep your foot on the brake pedal. This will allow your car to come to a complete stop without using any extra fuel.

3. Prevent Rollback on Hills

One of the biggest challenges for new manual transmission drivers is starting on a hill. If you don't use the proper technique, your car could roll backward. To prevent rollback, use the following steps:

1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Depress the clutch pedal.
3. Shift into first gear.
4. Slowly release the clutch pedal while giving the engine some gas.
5. Once the car starts moving forward, release the parking brake.

If you're struggling to start on a hill, you can also try using the hill-hold feature on your car. This feature will automatically hold your car in place for a few seconds, giving you time to accelerate without rolling back.

4. Driving on Steep Inclines

Driving on steep inclines can be challenging, even for experienced manual transmission drivers. If you're driving up a steep incline, it's important to keep your engine RPMs high. This will help to prevent your car from stalling. You can do this by downshifting to a lower gear before you start climbing the hill. If you're driving down a steep incline, you should also be prepared to downshift. This will help to slow your car down and prevent it from overheating.

5. Flooring the Accelerator at Low Engine RPM

Flooring the accelerator when your engine is at low RPM can damage your transmission. When you accelerate quickly from a low RPM, you're putting a lot of stress on your transmission's internal components. This can cause the gears to wear down and eventually fail. Instead, accelerate gradually and let your engine RPMs climb gradually as well. This will help to protect your transmission from damage.

Driving a manual transmission car can be a rewarding experience. By following these tips, you can help to protect your transmission and ensure that you're driving safely. If you're new to driving a manual transmission, take your time and practice in a safe environment. You'll be a pro in no time!