First time driving a 6MT. Quick questiong about downshifting please.

[Horse]

... but i feel my pause up shifting between each gear got longer.

I hear you. Especially 1-2-3 upshifts. This is because there is a factory dialed-in rev hang (or whatever you'd call it) after you lift gas pedal. It takes annoyingly long time for the rpm to start dropping. Plus that, for 1-2 upshift, we need to let the rpm to drop nearly 40% before shifting to 2nd gear (e.g., 4k rpm at 1st gear = about 2.5k rpm in 2nd gear).

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[mustang1]

... I let a friend drive it today and he says he clutches in, downshifts and floors it as he is releasing the clutch? Would that burn my clutch? Flooring it while the clutch is not fully out yet? The car smelled funny inside the cabin after he did that but i have no idea how a burning clutch smells lol.

^ don't do this

does this friend daily drive a manual transmission sports car?

slipping the clutch at high RPM / high torque will make it get hot, and if that happens repeatedly, it will get brittle and fail, and then you will get to buy a new clutch ! :clap2:

 

[ForTehNguyen]

Guys! I figured out what the clicking/clanking noise was! I was getting off the clutch too quickly after changing gears! I didnt know you had to release the clutch THAT slow to get smooth shifts. Now its sound free but i feel my pause up shifting between each gear got longer.

Also, I will youtube what double clutch downshifting means. I dont understand that concept.

yes smooth clutch control helps smoothen the ride, and getting rid of that clutch spring so you can control the clutch better

 

[JuRuKi]

He hasnt driven a manual car in 10 years that kinda helped me get the hang of it. I hope he didnt do any real damage to my car :(
How so are you supposed to do it? Downshift and be off the clutch completely before flooring it?

 

[mustang1]

right. if the clutch is half way, you want to only give it about 1/4 gas, just enough speed up the engine RPM to sort of match the transmission speed. After fully releasing the clutch peddle, you can WOT.

what was your friends last manual car? You probably can get away doing that in a 100hp Toyota Corolla. ;)

Don't worry about the clutch too much though. Just have fun with the manual transmission, and if you ever need a new clutch, it might still be covered warranty, and if it isn't, they aren't that expensive, and there is nice aftermarket for the Mustang.

 

[JuRuKi]

hatchback civic, super old lol!

 

[F0J]

Hmm. Just wanted to clarify a few things that I've read in the thread.

You could think of a clutch as a mechanical "buffer" between the wheels and the engine. If one is spinning faster/slower than the other, the clutch's job is to "connect" them in a way not to damage either.

"Blipping" the throttle when shifting down and letting the engine slow down when shifting up are basic techniques that makes it so the clutch doesn't have to do so much work which reduces the wear & tear (on not just the clutch!).

If you don't know where the revs should be when shifting, you want to use the clutch very slowly and keep an eye on the tachometer.

The best way to practice is to try driving the car like it doesn't have idle (which is true for some race cars). Being very careful not to over-rev the car, I suggest you try "rev-matching" ie. using the throttle when shifting *BEFORE* you brake. Doing both at the same time, aka Heel & Toe, can be a tricky affair.

Specific to the mustang, the "computer" in the car tries to do some of the work for you. You'll notice when you engage the clutch and let the engine slow down that the revs will stay "stuck" at a certain RPM for about a second, then slow down further and stay "stuck" at another RPM. The "computer" is trying to approximate what the revs should be when you shift up. I think Ford calls this "skip-shift" and it can be disabled with a "tune".

 

[DrEverettScott]

Below is a chart that shows some combinations of speed / gear / rpms.

So for example if your in 6th doing 65 mph your rpms should be around 1800. To rev match you'd need to bring your rpms up to 2800 for 5th gear.

Where did you find this? Do you have one for the 3.73 ratio?

 

[zxd9]

Where did you find this? Do you have one for the 3.73 ratio?

I have a spreadsheet to figure it all out. Send me a PM with your email and I'll send it to you.

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