How to Downshift Cleanly

i’m learning manual in a 83 toyota truck that doesn’t show the rpms so i gotta just listen to the engine lol 😂

The one thing that helped me to figure it out better was to learn what 2k rpm was in each gear. So for me 3rd at 2k is 25mph, 4th is 37, and then just gauge from there. So if I want to drop to 3rd at 28mph, I know to go a little above 2k rpm (around 2200) it just helped me to get an idea of where to go. It’s a good place to start to learn your gearing.

and my mom is yelling at me when i rev match cuz its not "a race car" she shifts down, doesnt rev match or anything and just releases the clutch slowly so the clutch brings the rpm up... RIP Clutch

I usually just go to neutral to slow down but learning how to downshift correctly would make driving look cooler

Been driving manual for 15 years (dang I got old) but it's always fun to see people talk about driving them.

Yet another thing I know now (from dailying a manual) that I wish I'd known the first time someone tried teaching me to drive stick. Lesson learned: just because your friend is a good friend does not mean they know how to teach anyone anything. I learned more borrowing my sisters car for a ten minute grocery run than in the hour he spent yelling at me without actually telling me why lmao.

i don’t understand , what do i do after i put it in D ?

“Sorry it’s not miles” hahaha Ohh Canada Ehh

An easy way match the revs when downshifting is: as you blip the throttle you want to begin releasing the clutch pedal (start clutch engagement point) as the rpm needle is on its way up to meet with its rpm speed but release it smoothly/somewhat slowly. That way your helping the engine get up to the speed it wants without cutting short its momentum. Over time you''ll release the clutch faster as you gain confidence. Remember your just blipping the throttle not stomping on it. If you don't blip hard enough you'll hear some clutch whine; if you release the clutch pedal too fast and your rpms aren't up to speed then your tires might lock up. You won't lose your car if you mess up. Try it on a sim first to ease your worries.

My friend lives up on a mountain. When I'm leaving his neighborhood I'll throw my car into 5th gear and not touch the gas for about 10 minutes straight as I come down the mountain. I just cruise and watch my MPG's go through the roof.

I've never rev-matched. I was never told about it by my parents when learning to drive manual, and I'd only ever heard of it last night. I don't always downshift thru every gear, but I usually try to. But I also don't generally just let the clutch fly and jerk it either. I also slow down a bit before downshifting and I'll do both at the same time to stop the car, especially in snow and ice.

Just got a manual 2014 Mustang 5.0 and this video really helped me get a better understanding on how downshifting and rev matching works. You probably just saved me from a decent amount of clutch wear lol

You don't always have to downshift every single time. Coming from someone who owns a 2jz 700hp Lexus sc400. When I come to a stop I put it in neutral and use my brakes. And I've never had any issues. I only downshift when I want to pick up speed. 👏

I'd like to kindly propose my point of view: No one, who wants their clutch and transmission to last, uses both continuous down shifts with engine braking to slow down the car. It's better and more economical to allow the car to coast in the highest gear being driven. Then, once either the RPMs reach near idle or the car needs to stop, you depress the clutch and shift the gearbox into neutral. Any driver driver can continuously downshift through the gears if he wishes, when coming to a stop. But, this adds additional wear and heat to the clutch and raises probability of the clutch over heating. Clutch work on a car is NOT cheap and most transmisions crap out if over used and abused. Additionally, transmisions are also not very affordable. So, it's a good idea to maintain both as much as possible. Brakes have a purpose and they are relatively affordable compared to clutches and transmisions. Additionally, a car relying on brakes and the engine braking of a high a gear is more than sufficient to stop a car. In terms of normal driving, downshifting to slow down the car is not recommended not ideal. In racing conditions, however, downshifting though gears to maintain power bands, heel-toe-shift, etc is perfect. In terms of normal, day-to-day driving, Engine braking should ideally only be used with lower gears (2, 3, or 4) when driving on long hills and mountain driving. Hybrid manuals ( Honda CR-Z and the VW Golf Blue Motion) can remain in higher gears on long downhill declines due to added friction by default per regenerative braking.

100% right on when he said that the only way to get better at it, is to go get in your car, and practice. you know your car the best, and you're the one who knows what rpm your car is going to be at when you down shift.

one thing I've found out is that when you were talking about timing how long to push the pedal in for in order to match the rpm, it also depends on engine temperature. When my car is up to temps, it's like yours where I only need to push the pedal all the way down then release, but when it's colder, it like me to hold it a bit longer because the engine doesn't build speed quite as fast.

25 five years driving manual I have never done the rev match thing, I learned in a 1984 4Runner sport, 22R engine four cylinders in Guatemala, where we have a lot of up and down hills. Never broke my dads car or burned the clutch. It was so much learning to drive over there, here everything is flat...

It’s honestly very simple. When down shifting, blip the throttle. Just blip enough to where you rev at least a little.

"sorry it's not miles"

Just to remind you guys that replacing a clutch is expensive. Use it wisely!