Driving questions

Hi all,

I've few questions for driving as I've recently started driving and want to understand as much as I can.

1) Can the car start without inserting gas beforehand?

2) If I parked downhill, push clutch down and change to first gear, then release hand brake and let the car roll down. What happens if I slowly release the clutch WITHOUT applying the gas (assuming I'm rolling down 10mph in gear 1)?

3) Can the car stall if the clutch is below/on the biting point (assuming I'm parking and gas have been applied moments ago)?

4) When stationary on an uphill, I heard some say (on youtube) use more gas and release clutch faster. But my instructor told me to always release clutch slowly. I don't understand, as if I release it quickly, wouldn't I stall?

5) I'm driving uphill, and I want to park on the left (England). The lower the clutch means slower the car, and higher the faster. Can I keep the clutch low and park without applying the gas? If I can, is it possible to stall?

Sorry for so many questions, just want to learn as much as I can so I'm more prepared on the road.

1) With any modern car, the only reason you should have to give it gas while trying to start it, is because there is a problem with the car.

2) Most likely the car will run, as if you're at a cruising speed, because you're still moving. Kind of depends on the size of the hill as well as the engine RPM idle and transmission gearing. If the engine naturally idles at a low RPM, and/or the hill isn't that steep, you might stall out if you don't give it gas.

3) [& 5)?] It can if it's just at the engagement point, but it's mostly something that will take practice, to get the feel of it. Frankly, I stalled my first manual transmission car every time I drove it for the first month. Now, to back my car up a very short distance, or inch it forward a little, I don't have to give it gas at all, by simply feathering the clutch pedal.

4) Generally you have to give a car more gas when starting from a stop at the bottom of a relatively steep hill, especially with an underpowered engine. The only reason to let the clutch out faster, is if you're having issues with holding the clutch semi engaged for too long while doing so, which causes premature wear of the clutch disc(s) or plate(s). So if you're not having an issue with it, then certainly listen to your instructor.

5) Hopefully I answered it in question #3. But I'm not exactly sure what you mean when you say "The lower the clutch means slower the car, and higher the faster. Can I keep the clutch low and park without applying the gas?"

Thanks for the reply @CivicSpoon!



5) Hopefully I answered it in question #3. But I'm not exactly sure what you mean when you say "The lower the clutch means slower the car, and higher the faster. Can I keep the clutch low and park without applying the gas?"

By that I mean you can control the car speed by the level of the clutch. The higher the clutch is lifted up (whilst below biting point) the faster the car can move.

I saw a video where this instructor braked on an uphill and had his clutch on biting point. He was able to stay stationary on a steep hill without brakes/handbrakes, just by using his clutch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj-DGnc0p-Y

I seem to stall when I do that, perhaps I'm still lifting my clutch up too fast and not slowly. I remembered my instructor said I can lift it up fast as long as I lift the clutch up 'smoothly'.

Although, I still need much practice before I can do the clutch control on the hill (in that video) and fast move off.

Also, if I were to drive on 5th gear, and changed gear to 2nd (or any lower gear) with the mph still around 45-50mph, would that damage the car?

Ok, I see what you're saying now, after watching the video. It's basically the same as your #3 question. It looks a little weird in the video, because he doesn't have a camera showing his feet. But he's lifting the pedal right where it engages the clutch to hold the car steady, and then lifting off the clutch slightly to get it to roll. But the rest of the movement is him actually accelerating with the gas pedal. The second time he does it, after the car passes, you can actually see the car studder/shake slightly on the right side, when he takes his foot off the pedal and applies gas. It's definitely something you just need to get a feel for, and certainly not an easy thing to do right away as a new driver.

As for the downshifting question, it depends on the RPM rather than mph. How long or short the gearing of the transmission will also make a huge difference as well. For most cars, downshifting at 45-50mph, from 5th gear to 2nd, would likely over rev the engine. Best case scenario is that the RPM is incredible high, and you notice quick enough to put the clutch pedal in. Worst case scenario, is that you throw a connecting rod through the side of the engine, or spin some bearings, and/or scratch up your connecting rods/crankshaft/and cylinder walls. I think it's safe to say that everyone has mis-shifted a car at least once before while driving.

Cheers CivicSpoon!

I'll keep on practicing. It was useful to know that mis-shifting gears can be damaging. I didn't know how bad it was, although I can hear noises but didn't know if it was truly damaging or not. Now I do.

Some words of caution and advice here:
Don't use the clutch (slip it) to hold position on a hill. Slipping it will heat the clutch disc, pressure plate and flywheel up. If you heat the disc up enough it will cause the surface to glaze over, and the probable result is that the car will judder (shake) when you let the clutch out to get the car moving. A glazed disc could also cause the clutch to slip at full power.
Use the foot brakes to hold the car on a hill. Or use the emergency brake and develop the technique to let the clutch out and release the emergency brake at the same time to keep the car from rolling.
Do not keep the clutch pedal pushed in at all at a stop until you are ready to select first gear. This will save wear and tear on the clutch throwout bearing and the pilot bearing (located where the transmission input shaft is inserted into the back of the flywheel).
Learn the technique of rev matching (blipping the throttle) the engine to the new transmission input shaft speed while downshifting. This will save wear and tear on the clutch and syncromesh rings inside the transmission. On a large engined RWD car (obviously the only kind worth having), it will also keep the rear tires from locking up momentarily when you let the clutch out after selecting the lower gear.
While slowing down, you will probably be applying the brakes with your right foot as well as
depressing the clutch pedal with your left foot, so to blip the throttle for the rev matching action while applying the brake and using the clutch at the same time, you will have to learn how to "heel and toe".
Two feet working three pedals at the same time....
It takes a while to learn how to properly manipulate a manual gearbox, yes?

"Do not keep the clutch pedal pushed in at all at a stop until you are ready to select first gear. This will save wear and tear on the clutch throwout bearing and the pilot bearing (located where the transmission input shaft is inserted into the back of the flywheel)."

What if I do if I'm creeping forward? I usually push down on my clutch and let the car roll down from a particular downward hill and at the end there's a roundabout.

Because the cars goes forward every 10 seconds or 1 minute depending on the congestion, I step on my brake with my left leg pushed down on the clutch, and if the car in front of me goes forward I release break and just let the car roll down.

Is that not OK? Or what can I do in my situation? As starting release the clutch and putting on neutral seems quite repetitive.

You have to "read" the traffic in front of you. If it is moving along fairly consistantly, you keep the car in gear and just muddle your way along gently slipping the clutch. But if it stops for longish periods, just pop it into neutral and let the clutch out.
You will never be able to predict traffic movements perfectly, so don't get your knickers in a knot about it. ;)

I am definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.