I've been driving a stick for a while now, and today when my cousin was sitting in my car he noticed i was tapping the gas as i was upshifting. He was telling me that i shouldn't be gasing at all, as it'll grind my clutch more. I only tap the gas while my clutch is still depressed, and during the time i'm shifting. I learned how to drive stick on my own and tried to learn as much as i could alone, but this is really bothering me. If i'm really doing this wrong i better stop ahah

 

You slip the clutch a bit when going from a dead stop obviously. You shouldn't have to slip the clutch hardly at all once you get going. There are variables to add in though... such as stop and go traffic, where you'd have to slip the clutch a little. However, if you are truly a wise grasshopper, you should be able to go through the gears without slipping. It's all about timing.

Master heel toe downshifting and incorporate it into your daily drive.... you shall be a grand master.

 

upshifts in general, like going from 3rd->4th then you really shouldn't have to do it. However, it all depends on timing. How much the revs drop while between disengaging and re-engaging the clutch. With very very light flywheels for example, the revs drop rather quickly and your shift action should be quicker to suit. For stock vehicles, you really shouldn't have to unless your shifts are relatively slow (take a long time between gears).

Interestingly, if your car has a tendency to slow a lot while the clutch is not engaged - such as going up a steep slope or something - then the time between gears is even more critical.

 

There is no need to tap the gas on an upshift. Stop doing it -- it will save gas, make your shifts faster, and possibly reduce wear and tear.


Cabo

 

+1 you should have your timing down from the time you push the clutch in switch the gear, and release the clutch the rpms should be at the right level for the next gear, then you press the gas to continue speed or raise.

 

Thanks for the info, yeah i had tried it out last night while my cousin was still in the car and yes i was able to shift without any problems, and I haven't been slipping just tapping the gas while the clutch was still depressed.

 

if anything it will make the shifts smoother as you are spinning the syncros faster and causing you not to grind gears,your cousin doesnt know what hes talking about. Theres really no reason to do it but its not going to hurt anything. If you feel like blipping the gas do it on downshifts.