How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission

If you're new to driving a manual transmission, or a stick shift as it's commonly referred to, it can seem scary. It can also feel uncomfortable as you learn to transition between gears and you feel the vehicle shake and the RPMs run high....

Method 1 of 4:

Using the Clutch

How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 1
Keep your left foot resting on the clutch at all times. The clutch is the pedal all the way on the left and is what allows you to transition between gears. Knowing how to use the clutch when you change gears is key to driving smoothly when you're operating a manual transmission. To make sure you can engage the clutch whenever you need to, keep your left foot on it without applying any pressure.^{[1] X Research source}
1. The pedal on the left is the clutch, the pedal in the center is the brake, and the pedal on the right is the accelerator or gas pedal.
How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 2
Press the clutch to the floor to put the engine in neutral. The neutral gear refers to the stage where no gear is engaged. The vehicle's engine must be in neutral in order for you to transition between the gears. Push the clutch pedal to the floor in a smooth and controlled fashion to put the engine in the neutral gear.^{[2] X Research source}
1. Don't stomp or slam on the clutch or you could damage the pedal.
2. Be careful not to press the clutch to the floor after you try to move the gear shift or you could stall the engine and cause the vehicle to jolt and shake.
How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 3
Release the clutch slowly when you use the gear shift to transition smoothly. The gear shift is the stick in the center console of the vehicle that allows you to choose the gear you want to transition to. When it comes time for you to change gears, press the clutch to the floor to put the engine in the neutral gear, and slowly release the clutch as you switch the gear shift into another gear.^{[3] X Research source}
1. Practice shifting gears in an empty parking lot or a quiet road so you can get used to releasing the clutch and transitioning smoothly.
EXPERT TIP

How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 4

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor
Ibrahim Onerli is the Partner and Manager of Revolution Driving School, a New York City-based driving school with a mission to make the world a better place by teaching safe driving. Ibrahim trains and manages a team of over 8 driving instructors and specializes in defensive driving and stick shift driving.

How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 5

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor

Our Expert Agrees: While the car is in motion, take your foot off the gas pedal, press the clutch, and change your gear. Then, gradually release the clutch and apply the gas again.
How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 6
Let the clutch all the way up once the gear is engaged. After you've moved the gear shift to the gear you wanted to transition to, fully disengage the clutch by releasing your left foot. Keep your left foot gently pressed against the clutch so you can engage it when you need to change gears again.^{[4] X Research source}
1. Don't rest the full weight of your foot on the clutch or you could accidentally engage it if you suddenly stop and the engine will be put in the neutral gear.

Method 2 of 4:

Shifting Gears

How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 7
Press the clutch to the floor when you're ready to change gears. When it comes time to shift gears, use your left foot to engage the clutch by pushing the pedal to the floor. Push the pedal down smoothly rather than stomping it. This will put the engine in neutral so you can transition between gears.^{[5] X Research source}
1. Do not engage the clutch until you're ready to change gears or you could cause the car to lurch and make for an uncomfortable ride.
How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 8
Move the gear shift into the neutral position. The gear shift in the middle console has a center position that allows you to put the engine in the neutral gear. You'll know you're in the neutral position when you can wiggle the stick freely from side to side.^{[6] X Research source}
1. The clutch must be engaged in order for you to move the gear shift into neutral.
How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 9

Shift into the next gear when the RPM reaches 2500. RPM refers to revolutions per minute and it's a measurement of how fast your engine is operating. On your dash is a gauge that shows the RPMs. When you're driving and the RPMs reach the 2500 range, it's time for you to shift into the next higher gear. Shifting when it's the right time will make the vehicle drive smoother.^{[7] X Research source}

Tip: Shifting at the correct time will also keep your engine running well and will make it last longer.
How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 10
Release the clutch slowly and gently press on the accelerator. After you've moved the gear shift into the gear that you want, slowly release your left foot from the clutch as you gently apply pressure to the accelerator pedal. With practice, you will feel the engine change gears smoothly.^{[8] X Research source}
1. Every engine is a little bit different. Practice changing gears to make the transition smoother.
How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 11
Remove any pressure from the clutch once the gear is engaged. Once the engine has transitioned to another gear and the accelerator is pressed, you can let up on the clutch. This will fully engage the engine in the gear you've shifted to.^{[9] X Research source}
1. Keep your foot near the clutch in case you need to change gears again.

Method 3 of 4:

Pressing the Accelerator

How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 12

Avoid removing your foot from the accelerator suddenly, if possible. The accelerator is what controls the engine's RPMs and the speed of the vehicle. If you suddenly release all of the pressure from the pedal, the car will jolt forward and could cause the passengers to lurch forward in their seats. ^{[10] X Research source}

Note: If you need to suddenly brake, you must release all of the pressure from the accelerator pedal to press the brake with your right foot.
How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 13
Press on the accelerator gently to smoothly increase the vehicle's speed. When the engine is in gear, to increase your speed smoothly, continue to apply pressure with your right foot to the accelerator pedal. Continue to press until the RPMs get to the 2500 range on your dashboard display.^{[11] X Research source}
1. Don't slam on the accelerator or the vehicle will launch forward and feel uncomfortable to anyone inside of it.
How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 14
Release the accelerator gently when you want to change gears. Once the RPMs have reached the 2500 range, it's time to change gears. Slowly pull your right foot off of the accelerator so the engine doesn't continue to ramp up RPMs as you place it in neutral gear to transition. If the RPMs are too high when you change gears, the engine will make a rattling sound and the vehicle will shake.^{[12] X Research source}
1. Avoid releasing all of the pressure from the accelerator at once or the car will jolt forward and will feel unpleasant to the passengers.
How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 15

Apply a small amount of pressure to the accelerator as you release the clutch. After you shift the gear stick into a different gear, gently apply pressure with your right foot while you release pressure with your left foot on the clutch. Finding the balance as the gear takes hold is important to make the vehicle drive smoothly.^{[13] X Research source}

Method 4 of 4:

Operating Smoothly While Driving

How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 16
Slow down ahead of speed bumps and turns. To keep your vehicle moving smoothly, be sure to slow down well ahead of any speed bumps, turns, or stoplights that you approach. Engage the clutch to put the gear shift into the neutral position if you need to slow down to the point where you need to put the engine in a lower gear.^{[14] X Research source}
1. Pay attention to road signs that will tell you when a speed bump or turn is coming up.
How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 17
Keep the vehicle in 1st gear in slow-moving traffic. If you're in traffic that's traveling at speeds up to about 10 miles (16 km) per hour, keep the engine in first gear so you can move forward steadily. The vehicle won't move forward if it's in the neutral gear.^{[15] X Research source}
1. Shift the vehicle into second gear when the traffic gets up to about 15 miles (24 km) per hour.
2. Be sure to keep at least 1 car length in front of you in case you need to stop suddenly.
How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 18

Put the gear shift in the neutral position when traffic stops or slows to a crawl. If you're moving too slow in 1st gear, the engine could stall. Engage the clutch, shift the gear shift into neutral, and release the clutch to keep the engine in neutral. Let the vehicle roll and use your breaks to slow it down or stop if you need to.^{[16] X Research source}

Tip: Don't keep the clutch held partway down. That's called 'riding the clutch' and can damage and wear out your clutch.
How to Drive Smoothly with a Manual Transmission Picture 19
Downshift while using the breaks to slow down from a higher gear. Don't put the engine into the neutral gear then coast while using your breaks to slow down or you could cause the vehicle to jerk or the gears to grind. Instead, shift back down through the successive gears until you're in the gear that's best suited to maintain the speed that traffic is moving in.^{[17] X Research source}
1. Don't skip gears. For instance, don't shift from 4th gear straight to 2nd or it can cause the gears to grind and the vehicle to shake uncomfortably.

gear clutch engine shift

Lesley Montoya

Update 24 March 2020

You should read it

Maybe you are interested