Shifting Gears
Shifting Gears tests whether you can keep the engine in its power band without abusing the clutch or losing control of the vehicle.
The rules
- Use the clutch only to start, stop, and shift. Do not ride it or slip it to hold on a hill.
- Shift up at the lowest rpm that still pulls - progressive shifting saves fuel and is what examiners want to hear.
- Downshift before a hill or a curve, never in the middle of one. Never coast in neutral; you lose engine braking and control.
- Do not shift while crossing railroad tracks, on a bridge, or in a turn.
Matching engine speed
- For a non-synchronized transmission, double-clutch: clutch in, shift to neutral, clutch out, match rpm, clutch in, shift into gear, clutch out.
- If you miss a gear, slow down and try again at a lower speed rather than forcing it.
Worked example: You approach a 5% downgrade at 50 mph in 9th gear at about 1,500 rpm. Before the crest, you downshift to 7th, which brings the engine to roughly 1,900 rpm and lets engine braking hold 45 mph without touching the service brakes.
Traps: coasting downhill to save fuel; waiting until you are already fast to downshift; skipping gears under load; holding the clutch in at a stop instead of shifting to neutral and releasing it.