Skipping Gears
#1
Skipping Gears
I have read in another thread that it was detrimental to the synchros to skip gears. Is this true? I find myself doing this often...I like to rev 3rd gear up when merging onto the highway and then slip it into 5th or 6th. What do you guys think?
#4
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I think it has been reasonably well established that gear skipping should be avoided as a general practice, out of kindness to the synchros. I avoid gear skipping whenever possible. However, after a burst of acceleration to get into traffic,the occasional 3 - 5 or 4 - 6 shift (executed in a leisurely and careful manner) to get back to normal cruising rpm's should not be harmful. Let us not forget that this is a very close ratio transmission and the rpm ratio between 3rd and 5th, or between 4th and 6 is no greater than between 3rd and 4th, or between 4th and 5th on an older generation VW Rabbit or similar vehicle.
#5
I dont see this causing any problems for the syncros as long as you allow the transmission to slow down. Its kindof like a clutch where you want the speeds to match. You are trying to match a shaft moving at like 8k rpm to a gear that will likely slow it down to more like 4k rpm..
#7
^^^ this makes no sense. Skipping gears is lazy? Drive an auto if you wanna skip gears?
Anyways I sk gears all the time in similar situations that the op stated. I dont do it often so im sure the synchros receive almost 0 damage at all.
Anyways I sk gears all the time in similar situations that the op stated. I dont do it often so im sure the synchros receive almost 0 damage at all.
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#8
If you want to skip gears without worrying about the syncros... try my method. after getting up to speed in 3rd as in the previous example, clutch in, then shift 4-5-6 then let the clutch out.. it steps the transmission though each sycro solving the issue.
#10
I always go through each gear while upshifting, even if it's just for 1/5 of a second. Often I'll only partially let out the clutch then shift again when going up.
Downshifting I'll do whatever is needed. 5th to 2nd, 4th to 1st, etc. Often though I have a VERY hard time getting it into 1st gear when downshifting if I don't go 3rd-2nd-1st. Especially when coming down from 4th or 5th. But I know I need a fluid change so that may be part of it.
Downshifting I'll do whatever is needed. 5th to 2nd, 4th to 1st, etc. Often though I have a VERY hard time getting it into 1st gear when downshifting if I don't go 3rd-2nd-1st. Especially when coming down from 4th or 5th. But I know I need a fluid change so that may be part of it.