Driving a manual

[Checkers]

I can drive my Eclipse 5 speed well around town, but there are a few points I'm still not clear on. For one, when is the best time to shift? I don't care about fuel economy, just keeping my engine and transmission healthy, and power. I've been told to listen to the engine, and when the noise levels out and stops increasing, then I should shift. But when I got the car, it had a full aftermarket exhaust with no cats, so the sound doesn't level out until around 4000 RPM, and I feel like that's fairly high. Since it's winter, my car idles around 900 RPM, and I've been shifting around 2500 RPM, but also because there's been a lot wrong with my car since I got it. I've heard things like "A redline a day keeps the torque wrench away" but I don't know about that.

Also, when going up a hill, should I downshift to get more power? If I stay in the same gear going up a steep hill, I usually slow down significantly, but I'm worried about revving the car too hard. The hill by my house is a real pain, and even in second gear it's hard to get up. Is it safe to be in first if the RPM don't go too high?

Are there any other tips to driving a manual I should know? Again, fuel economy doesn't bother me; I'm most concerned about balancing power and keeping my engine healthy.

 

[Checkers]

I always shift before 3k rpm if im just driving it in town. You do not need to downshift on a hill unless your rpms get too low and the engine starts bogging.

What exactly is bogging? On the hill near me I usually take it in 3rd, and even with the pedal almost to the floor I don't go much past 1.2K RPM and I'm crawling up it. Should I be using 2nd, or just have more patience?

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

What exactly is bogging? On the hill near me I usually take it in 3rd, and even with the pedal almost to the floor I don't go much past 1.2K RPM and I'm crawling up it. Should I be using 2nd, or just have more patience?

Downshift that damn thing. I would call that bogging or lugging and it isn't very good for the engine and drivetrain.

 

[knochgoon24]

Our cars like 3200~ RPMs.

That's about the point where my engine finally starts to come alive, too.

 

[DSMReviver]

Shift, when you can't go any further in a single gear.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

What exactly is bogging? On the hill near me I usually take it in 3rd, and even with the pedal almost to the floor I don't go much past 1.2K RPM and I'm crawling up it. Should I be using 2nd, or just have more patience?

Prime example of bogging right there my friend. Downshifting would a gear or maybe even two would make it run up that hill much smoother and not need near as much throttle.

Did you teach yourself to drive a manual?

 

[johneclipse]

on my built head, i can technically rev my car out to 8500 rpms with no damage to the motor. your stock motor will probably hold out to 7k i think for the stock rev limit.

as for gas mileage...even rev'in it out that far...i get anywhere from 17-18 mpgs, depending on how much im actually in boost.

 

[Joseph503]

For just general driving I usually shift anywhere from 2500-4k rpm (depends on gear, road condition, weather, etc)

On a normal, clear day in town my shift points (in mph) are as follows:
1st-2nd gear = 20mph (3.5k rpm)
2nd-3rd gear = 30-35mph (3k rpm)
3rd-4th gear = 45-50mph (3-4k rpm)
4th-5th gear = 60mph (3-3.5k rpm)
5th-(wait what happened to 6th? WTF)

All rpm's are approximates and what I can remember off the top of my head (i seem to remember better when im in the car), and again, this is just where I shift on a given day in town / going onto the freeway. Your shift times can / will differ.

Also as a point of reference, this is in my stock Spyder Gst

 

[mindset]

I thought downshifting up a hill was common sense?!!?

 

[Checkers]

Gravedigger: I went out today int he Eclipse and I went up it in a lower gear and had no problem. It was beautiful

SpawnedX and Knochgoon24: Oh my God, I used to be so confused because I have a short ram intake, full aftermarket exhaust with no cats, and I thought it was a slow car! I was shifting around 3.5K today and it was absolutely amazing. I had more fun than when I drive my mom's BMW. Thank you so much

Black Widow97: Basically. I learned when I was around 13 from an older friend, but he only taught me the basics, and I'm turning 18 next month, so it's been a while. Also, neither of my parents have been in my car when I was driving so I basically figured it out myself, with some help from Google. This was also before I found DSMTuner, and everyone here has been a huge help.

Thank you again everyone, as I said before, I tried shifting at a later point when I went out today, and I realized my car really picks up around 3K, and I was shifting between 3.3K and 3.8K and having a great time.

On a somewhat unrelated note, is it ok to slip the clutch a little bit when taking off from a start?

I thought downshifting up a hill was common sense?!!?

I'm sorry, like I mentioned earlier, I taught myself to drive manual

 

[mindset]

I'm sorry, like I mentioned earlier, I taught myself to drive manual

Just jokin boss. I mean think about it... when an auto is going up a fairly steep hill, it will downshift. Right?

 

[98mitsubishigst]

I personally don't like driving around like a ass.
Apparently people in pittsburgh assume ill be speeding around driving like a immature kid.
I get people right on my rear going speed limit.

I personally like driving speed limit and cruising around. And shifting right before boost
1-2 around 3k-4k (just because all the torque)
2-3 around 3k
3-4 around 3k or 40 miles per hour.. (but even sometimes ill stay around 3k in 3rd gear (40-45 mph) and just hear my beautiful straight pipe exhaust roar.
4-5 whenever im on highway.. im barly ever using 5th around town.

 

[turbo tim1]

this thread has to be a joke, nobody drive's a dsm like this.
if you really drive like this may be you should be driving a corolla or a civic, these cars are high maintenance and are meant to be driven.

 

[98mitsubishigst]

Lmao. Who are you?
People on this site actually like DRIVING not beating on their dsms.
(in some cases =p)
Lemme guess, your one of them persons who
1. Gets to EVERY redlight, dumps clutch and spins
2. Shifts at redline/over every time.
3. thinks there from 'the fast and the furious'?

Honestly to OP, i drive how i explained to you.
You do not need to drive like a racecar driver every chance you get into your dsm.

 

[turbo tim1]

Lmao. Who are you?
People on this site actually like DRIVING not beating on their dsms.
(in some cases =p)
Lemme guess, your one of them persons who
1. Gets to EVERY redlight, dumps clutch and spins
2. Shifts at redline/over every time.
3. thinks there from 'the fast and the furious'?

Honestly to OP, i drive how i explained to you.
You do not need to drive like a racecar driver every chance you get into your dsm.

I am not saying if u have one of these u have to drive it like u stole it.
trust me u are not going to hurt it if u boost it a little after all that is y it has a turbo.

and no I don't drive like an ass on public roads but I don't drive like an old lady either. but I run her pretty hard at the track and she has given me no problems.

I only ever drive like u do if I am trying to get the most mileage out of it.

I always double clutch and rev match gears when I am not at the track racing it, this preserves the sychros for when I need them.

 

[wkmitsu]

on my built head, i can technically rev my car out to 8500 rpms with no damage to the motor. your stock motor will probably hold out to 7k i think for the stock rev limit.

as for gas mileage...even rev'in it out that far...i get anywhere from 17-18 mpgs, depending on how much im actually in boost.

What are you talking about? Having a built head doesn't mean you can rev out 1000 RPM past the stock rev limiter safely. Have you ever considered driving a little less stupid and maybe getting 10 mpg better?

 

[98mitsubishigst]

I am not saying if u have one of these u have to drive it like u stole it.
trust me u are not going to hurt it if u boost it a little after all that is y it has a turbo.

and no I don't drive like an ass on public roads but I don't drive like an old lady either. but I run her pretty hard at the track and she has given me no problems.

I only ever drive like u do if I am trying to get the most mileage out of it.

I always double clutch and rev match gears when I am not at the track racing it, this preserves the sychros for when I need them.

Yeah i know we arent going to hurt if we boost our motors.
But you don't need to boost every shift. Period.

it all depends on the person.

 

[turbo tim1]

What are you talking about? Having a built head doesn't mean you can rev out 1000 RPM past the stock rev limiter safely. Have you ever considered driving a little less stupid and maybe getting 10 mpg better?

you can run past 9k if u have the valve springs, cams, port job, balanced rotating assembly and some form of tuner that allows you to change the rev limiter. but that dosn't mean you have to change your driving style when your just driving around, you can still drive it like it were stock.

 

[wkmitsu]

you can run past 9k if u have the valve springs, cams, port job, balanced rotating assembly and some form of tuner that allows you to change the rev limiter. but that dosn't mean you have to change your driving style when your just driving around, you can still drive it like it were stock.

Oh yeah? So you can rev out to 9500 safely with nothing done to the bottom end huh?

 

[98mitsubishigst]

Oh yeah? So you can rev out to 9500 safely with nothing done to the bottom end huh?

like i said.. haha who is this guy!

Reving past 9k!? jesus man..

 

[Checkers]

Lmao. Who are you?
People on this site actually like DRIVING not beating on their dsms.
(in some cases =p)
Lemme guess, your one of them persons who
1. Gets to EVERY redlight, dumps clutch and spins
2. Shifts at redline/over every time.
3. thinks there from 'the fast and the furious'?

Honestly to OP, i drive how i explained to you.
You do not need to drive like a racecar driver every chance you get into your dsm.

I can't tell if your post is directed at me or not, but i don't drive like that at all. I usually try to keep a pretty low profile unless I'm around friends or something.

 

[turbo tim1]

Oh yeah? So you can rev out to 9500 safely with nothing done to the bottom end huh?

I did say balanced rotating assembly did I not.

 

[98mitsubishigst]

I can't tell if your post is directed at me or not, but i don't drive like that at all. I usually try to keep a pretty low profile unless I'm around friends or something.

na wasn't talking about you man =)

 

[johneclipse]

Oh yeah? So you can rev out to 9500 safely with nothing done to the bottom end huh?

my bottom ends not stock either...but even with a built bottom end. without having the cams/valves/springs/retainers to back it up...you aint gonna rev past stock without messing something up.

so cams dont allow you to rev the car higher?

upgraded springs and retainers dont allow you to rev the car higher?

if thats the case...im suing every vendor who sells/makes cams.

and yes, i have my rev limit, 2 step, and NLTS set by dsmlink.

 

[Aceman]

I personally don't like driving around like a ass.
Apparently people in pittsburgh assume ill be speeding around driving like a immature kid.
I get people right on my rear going speed limit.

I personally like driving speed limit and cruising around. And shifting right before boost .

I couldn't agree more. I LOVE cruising around driving the speed limit in a turbo-charged, blacked out car. Every single time I go anywhere people are right on my ass. I find it soooo amusing.

 

[turbo tim1]

my bottom ends not stock either...but even with a built bottom end. without having the cams/valves/springs/retainers to back it up...you aint gonna rev past stock without messing something up.

so cams dont allow you to rev the car higher?

upgraded springs and retainers dont allow you to rev the car higher?

if thats the case...im suing every vendor who sells/makes cams.

and yes, i have my rev limit, 2 step, and NLTS set by dsmlink.

+1 I agree.