What gear should you be in?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Casey Putsch talks about what gear you should be in for what condition for manual transmission drivers while driving his 1983 Porsche 944. Hills, passing, downshifting, and upshifting. It's time to talk about it. Thank you to Avalon King Armor Shield Ceramic Coating. The stuff really works and the company is really supporting our car culture!
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Q: What gear should you be in?
A: The one that gives you Mo Powa Babeah
That's a total Donut move.
Team Low, up in this muv.
*LIGHTNING LIGHTNING LIGHTNING*
Be in the gear that maximises the use of all those hrsprs
mo powa babe
Driving a stick requires a good feel for the driveline. It's why driving a stick tends to make one pay closer attention to driving. For any given speed, you have a few options as to what gear you can be in - and some gears that will not work for that speed. For a set speed, lower gears put the engine at high RPM ranges and therefore usually a higher power level. At that same speed, higher gears put you at a lower RMP and usually lower power level. You pick the gear for the power level you need/want.
In any car with a manual, I prefer to be "down one gear" from the most efficient option in turns, passing or going downhill. Better throttle response and better engine braking give me a little more cushion in emergency reaction situations IF they occur. One point I think should be noted, if you are driving aggressively in turns, avoid changing gears mid-turn. Better to lug through a turn than upset the cars balance if you can avoid it. (When you lift to shift gears, you unload the rear end and need to be very smooth about reloading it while most of the force is on a single rear tire as you turn).
Thanks
Lug means when you're braking but you're in a too high gear so the rpm go below 1k?
"Well it is simple,you got brakes"
3:12
Bold of you to assume they work
Bold of you to assume I have.
Man I’m glad I got my first 6 speed manual this year and I like it so much it’s fun to drive
I have 5 speed
@@angelgjr1999 I have a 4 speed
Scott L Cool what car is it
@@angelgjr1999 1974 Triumph TR6 and a 1973 BMW 2002
@@Blenzo480 No way you have a 2002!! Classic, beautiful
Great format for advice videos like this. Good stuff.
Casey, I’m glad I found your channel. I just started driving a manual transmission (started with an auto almost 7 years ago). Became more in love with driving and cars after getting the MT.
BTW, you look like a mix of Ben Stiller and Seth Meyers :)
It crazy how much my automatic mazda 3 taught me on what gears to be in since it has the gear number it in! Like going on hills lower gear more torque, down hill could be a higher gear! Thanks for more info brother!!!!
And you ARE going to screw up once in a while. Accept it. Learn from it.
Just, nice. Even though as a European, this is pretty much daily routine, it is always nice to hear something more about it. Some more information on what the engine/clutch/transmission is going through and why (except for the sound of the engine being happy) is it good to shift to certain gears. Keep up the good work Casey!
I have just recently started to practice rev matching my down shifts, and man the difference between rev matched and un rev matched shifts is wild, sadly my pedals are poorly designed for heel-toe so its pretty impractical when coming to a stop. (and its more racey)
I always downshift going down hills regardless, because V8 :)
Hey Casey, shout out from Germany! 🇩🇪 I come back here to look for videos daily and it’s really a great learning experience and thoroughly entertaining. Really considering a 986 boxster or 987 cayman as a fun car next, 911’s are either too expensive (1975-1996) or too much old man (997 through now). I missed buying my dream car, the 993 turbo when it was still affordable. Anyway, keep on doing your thing - and please don’t change a bit :)
Cheers from Deutschland!
Great Video Casey!
It's all about RPM's...
I converted to an Automatic Transmission because I was sick of suffering with "Clutchitus"!
But, when I use my Truck while hauling any material (Gravel, Soil, Pavers), I know that I have better Control of my Traction & Control! (1994 2WD 5-speed Ford Ranger Long Bed)
As though my Truck now has over 450K Miles on it, I am now loking for an Economy Safe conversion/swap in the thoughts of a "Newer" I-4 or V-6 so I don't have to spend too much for a Newer Truck!
My first experience with manual transmission was in a '93 geo metro hatchback. Required a lot of attention to gear selection based on current situation.
Just bought my first manual and I'm excited to learn.
I've been watching your vids since I purchased my 124 Abarth and didn't realize you were just north of me. I live near Dayton.
So glad I hit the bell! This king brightens my day with every new video. Casey you're a treasure for the US and specifically college students in Genius Garage
The first car that I learned to drive with *period* was a stick (besides driving auto in drivers ed part 1), and I'm ever grateful for that.
I have driven stick for years and drive the way you do. As far as engine braking goes, I try to keep it below half of red line as well. I like using a combination of engine brakes and friction brakes on mountain passes.
After 4,5 years of every day driving a manual car i can say - honestly i can switch fast, comfortly and safe for gearbox and clutch, because yours videos, also chanel drive manual, throttle house and conquer driving. thanks you, guys! )
One of the reasons I own a manual. The automatic drives me crazy shifting at exactly the wrong time for the conditions. After years of riding bikes but driving any automatic I finally got a fun manual car. I'd say I have a long way to go, but it is fun. So far I've only stalled at one red light in traffic.
Hey Casey, although I consider myself a decent to a good stick shift driver, I really appreciate this kind of videos that you are making.
The thing that interests me and think that you could do a video on it is using pedals together with a steering wheel on a street. For example in order not to under(over)steer, how to approach a curve, should clutch/brake pedals be used in a curve or before it, what should it cause if done in different way or order, etc..
doing gods work, getting more americans into manuals!
Great advice for driving a car. But trucks are different. A car, you can shift to slow down. A truck you have to slow down to shift. This applies to hitting hills, too. Unfortunately, you can’t preselect a gear for the hill. You have to wait for the truck to slow down and then shift. It sucks crawling up the interstate at 25 mph...
Also, since most semi trucks use diesel engines, they don’t have a natural engine brake like gasoline engines. You have to physically flip a switch to activate engine brake.
very good professional explanation of how to shift gears
I always shift buy how the engine feels, if it feels like its unhappy (too low rpm/ too high rpm) and its struggling i will shift up or down as needed. I've never been too good with rev matching or speed shifting, so i just shift easy, which just works for me.
Rev matching is very easy to learn, along with heel and toe depending on the pedal box but can always be learnt!
Just chill in 3rd always
Good and informative as always.❤️ Following from 🇮🇳
You should be in the highest numerical gear that the engine runs smoothly in. For long downhill stretches, you need to shift to a lower gear to keep speed under control.
If the engine shakes and growls, you need to be in a lower numerical gear. If the engine whines, screams, or roars, you need to be in a higher numerical gear.
6:25 Its a state law so know your stats laws. But in most states, you are allowed to (briefly) exceed the speed limit when passing someone who is driving below the speed limit and you are only on a two-lane road.
only if they are below the speed limit. when your at 80 plus quoting the law and talking on your cellphone
Naked Zebra I said “when passing someone who is driving below the speed limit”. And what’s that whole bit about 80mph and a cell phone?
Where I live (not US) there is a 20 km/h buffer. For us the speed limit is 110 km/h on freeways, but for overtakes 130 km/h is the max that's allowed.
12:15, not since the last decade, automatics are more fuel efficient than manuals now. It's big reason why manuals are dying, they aren't good on paper at all. The only positive is that it's a bit lighter and more reliable, of course emotionally engaging, but these aren't selling points that people understand nowadays.
wonder if some of that is more people living in big cities where driving is more of a chore then anything, hard to have an engaging drive when your stuck in bumper to bumper traffic
Come ahhhhn Casey? A whole video on what gear to be in? The car will let you know what it wants
some shift lights aren't to be trusted, my 99 chevy s10 tells me to go into 4th gear when coasting at 25mph through the neighborhood,
@@blakewixom2893 Gen 2 vipers make you shift from 1st to 4th if your rpms are low enough to maintain city mpgs.
Nate the Great Yes, but they also have the torque to be lugged around at 1000rpm all day.
Don't need a shift light. Listen to the revs
@@ashlogan2049 shift light is more accurate when racing. On the street, yes, just listen. But on the track, follow the light.
Having learned stick in PA, In hilly, winding roads...With a stock ass Accord, practically any gear that's not first or 5th depending on that section for about the next 1-3 minutes. depending where exactly you are on my route back.
For the first 20 miles or so it was a "Get up to 5th and cruise" primarily, but after that...Every shift you can do basically. Unless you wanted to speed up and it was raining, then lean more into it in 1 higher gear cause the tires are kinda ass. Not old, just really cheap and their grip shows for it. Entirely consistent in that, it's just that it's what $60 a tire, mounted and balanced gets ya. Thing would spin it in first at like 20 mph if you floored it in the rain. It makes maybe 120hp to the wheels.
I learned the old school way because cars didn't have tachs back then. 1st gear 0-15 mph; 2nd gear 16-25; 3rd gear 26-35; 4th gear, 36 and up; and so on
What gear to be in?....is very related to what kind of driving you're doing. If you need to accelerate fast, then you need to be in a gear that is revving at a point where it has optimum power. If you're just cruising, you can go to a higher gear...and just glide along at a low rpm. It's all about knowledge of what you're doing with your feet and hands, and knowing how an engine and tranny work together.
1:38 Double clutch upshifts to 5th at relaxed tempo. I thought only I did that! 😆
i just started driving a stick about a month ago. yes the question is so simple but the answer is so complicated. and im from NYC. traffic is ehh...
best Advice Downshift, anticipate traffic dont wait till the last second
E.Wang, look for the "Drive Manual" on YT. Useful detailed instructions there can be found..
I never thought that I would be considering shifting at 3500 to 4000 rpm with a v6 but apparently it's a thing now. It's the only way it feels smooth.
Here's a question for ya: How should shifting/pedal-work be handled when stopping and accelerating up/down a hill? For example, you're coming towards a red light, that's at the top of the hill, but because of traffic, you end up being somewhere in the incline, not necessarily at the top or bottom of it.
Come to a stop. Apply parking brake (hand brake in the UK). Take feet off pedals. When ready to move off, put car in first, apply more throttle than usual. Start to release clutch until it bites. Gradually release parling brake while continuing to release clutch and pressing the throttle.
This is a common situation on freeway off-ramps. You do exactly what LJames above me says to do. One thing I wanted to add is, that you know to release the parking brake when you feel the front of the car lift up. My car, a 2020 Corolla, actually has an electronic parking brake. It's very cool, because it automatically releases once you start moving forward. By the way, I first practiced hill starts in a parking garage. If you can find a free parking garage, say at a mall, I definitely recommend practicing in one before you try hill starts in traffic.
Great video for beginners
Love these vids
If a state trooper has the group of cars you're running with -- never be at the front of the pack -- gently shift to the lowest geat that gets you mid-powerband, grab your e-brake and modulate the e-brake and clutch so your brake lights don't come on and your front end doesn't dive down. If you have every reason in the world to believe he is coming after you, once he pulls out, gently ease back into the throttle, put as many cars as you can between you and the cop -- this is called multi-lane chess or Tetris. If you have no move demonstrated in the movie "Baby Driver," then find a truck or larger car to hide behind until you can use the next exit. Sometimes you can go straight across the road at the top of the exit, wait briefly, then go down the merging ramp on the other side and get back on behind the trooper -- a risky move, but fun!. Otherwise, find a diversion location. Personally, both have always worked for me, so go to a do it yourself or ride through a car wash. After that, grab a doughnut or something, ask Siri to suggest a parallel road to the multi-lane highway, run that until you pass by to exits, then go on your way. From: "Man's School 101, Fleeing and Eluding (we don't 'attempt' to elude), 2018, p. 27, 5th Edition.
i use gear 2 for engine braking, depends on the car. some cars gear 3 some 2 for the same steep hill
Serious question: can you explain how Manual Transmissions are more fuel efficient than Automatics? I genuinely would have thought the opposite - that Automatics are ideally programmed to be in the right gear for your current speed/road conditions to give you the right balance of power and fuel efficiency, especially with more modern 8- and 10-speeds giving you more ratios = more opportunities to be in that sweet spot. Am I way off?
Less drag and a direct mechanical connection. Automatics have drag and fluid coupling losses
@@CaseyPutsch unless it's a DCT or one of those robot manual transmissions.
@Casey Putsch thank you so much for this video!!! This definitely answers my questions, you rock!!!!! :D
You are a great help, thank you!
Prolly 1st from Pakistan. Good day man. Ur a great teacher 😉
When you hear brap brap brap brap
I live in NYC, two cars, both manual. Traffic? Surely you mean leg day!
My friend , people around me tell me all the time ( i get tired pushing and releasing clutch to change gears)
I tell them if I don' push clutch hundred times in a minute I get frustrated and nervous and that makes me exhausted not to be in control of my car
Literally just taught myself you can tell when the cars happy
Casey TOP! )) Thanks for great and interesting videos!
I'm going to install a bigger diameter & heavier flywheel. I understand that the driving dynamics will change compared to the stock size & weight flywheel. I anticipate the starting off from a stop will be easier. The momentum of the heavier flywheel will make engine drag coasting down lite grades a little less as well. But the bad is the acceleration will take longer to get up to speed. Which is fine by me.
What are your thoughts on how this could affect fuel efficiency. I think if there's a lot of slow city driving with quick stop and go traffic my mpg will reduce but on flat ground or very slight hills the momentum may increase mpg.
Torque? What's that? I drive a Miata and a RX-8, LOL. I have vague memories of torque though from my time with a SVT Cobra. But, sadly, I had to sell it back in 2007.
All of these 944 videos really takes me back. I need Casey to help me find one before the Porsche snobs make them so overpriced like the 914 I always wanted but can no longer afford. My dad had a 951 that he bought off the lot back in 1987, drove all over the country in that car. I think he had 160,000 miles on it when he sold it, I regret not buying it from him.
No joke, this is the 5th video today that has gone into volumetric efficiency
Pretty well put case
You should always be in the correct gear.
I normally shift when the engine cuts out over and over
Most of tne time what ever gear the transmission wants to be in. On a really tight road I use the paddles. At 3/4 throttle in 3rd the thing really accelerates. Got to be careful.
Very informative. I'm teaching myself to use the Tiptronic automatic in my Golf mk7 like a manual. It's been fun so far, but these pointers on when to shift were extremely helpful!
1. Still far from actual manual transmission as it has no clutch peddal.
2. A waste of fuel especially driving around the city because these are 'Sport' gears
Good job! 👍
Ive got a 924S and the short 5th gear... and since the 2.5 na does all its torque at 3500rpm, and since at 60mph in 5th Im at 3500rpm, I can accelerate quite a bit, but its not the torque that makes you go fast, its the horsepower, since torque is a funtion of hp by rpm... so if you need more speed faster, shift down a gear... but if you want to enjoy power for longer, lug the engine like I do hehe
We need a video on no lift shift!
I love the old hydromatic transmissions
Do more about fuel economy
10:51 - You meant brake specific fuel consumption, volumetric efficiency has to do with the size of the engine vs. the power output. For a non scripted video, I don't blame you for making a minor error, just wanted to clear that up.
Schrödinger’s Gear
i jus bought my car about a week ago and my car has a stage 1 clutch and it’s really hard to push in the clutch and that was my first car 2006 subaru wrx
3000rpm is allot? Both of my cars sit at around 3000-3500 on the freeway in top gear.
I think what he's really getting at is if you have more gears and you're not accelerating, why stay in a lower gear? At 65-75mph a lot of cars w/ 6mt will be near 3k rpm in 6th.
Great video !!!!!!!!!!!
I need to get back into these videos even though I can’t legally drive right now lol
Casual every day driving? Im always in the highest gear possible without lugging. Hills, passing, etc. exempted.
Be in the gear with revs @ peak torque.
What gear would you be in finishing the quarter mile against rabbits stock car?
I would assume 3rd, possibly just shifting to 4th quarter mile is not a huge distance and it likely isn't a super close ratio gear box.
I go 1st then 5th lol. If its stop and go traffic I just leave it in 4rth
There aren't many people who will agree with you, but this guy does... We shouldn't be telling people to do that.
@@NeverMetTheGuy true. unless you have enough low end torque
My Nissan Juke Nismo makes peak torque at 2000rpm, which is exactly where it sits when cruising on the highway, so i don't really even have to downshift to pass anyone lol
Gas mileage VS power
also what gear should i be in when in the city and turning and turning in a light ?
which gear is top gear?
I have same key chain for my RWB 😏
What mic are you using? Tried recording in a car with a mic and it sounded horrible. Need to try a different one.
I guess the answer is, D, right?
Whenever I downshift I tend to lock up my rear wheels and almost die… what am I doing wrong?
Rev match it!
nice videos. are you double clutching for downshifts on this 944? I have a 1986 turbo, I just bought and am trying to figure out the best shifting technique.. thanks for feedback.
Hi Casey this is Russell Bales from Tennessee how you doing listen being an old guy I've pretty much replaced sex with driving my old 68 F100 Ford 3 on the tree pickup hahaha but my question is can you possibly address scramling the engine like when you're going at a high RPM you let off the gas and the engine backfires is that a timing issue or fuel issue or what I would appreciate anything you might have to say on that thanks love your videos holler at you later !
How do you downshift from 5th to 4th? Etc.
My Mustang GT still pulls in top gear when I pass people in the highway. Love v8 engines.
my car red lines at 9000 rpm.....but I dont have any pistons.
The 944 gear ratios do indeed feel like they were made for the speed limits of the 80s 😂
Did the limits change?
Ermy I wouldn’t honestly, I’m only 18 but I’m going to assume they haven’t changed much, perhaps someone older could help us out 🤷♂️
@@theobabajooni5452 well in europe limits where higher in the 80's
Ermy well then maybe newer speed limits are helping out the 944 🤔
My kid started driving a stick my advice to him about gears... Each gear gives you 10mph (1st=0-10 2nd=11-20 ect...) or be in the highest gear possible that will still give you the power you need to keep moving.
Thats completely misleading
I experienced 70 km/h with first gear so its not about speed that you change gear
Stick shifting is not automatic transmission
I like 10 kmh per gear
I am sure if the cars was manual transmission only, 80% of drivers on the road were off the road, and frankly good for me🤣
I love smelling brand new cars at the bottom of the mountain automatic cars get ruined up here because they cant down shift
After many years of driving truck and 18 speed transmissions I can’t be bothered to drive a car with a manual. All that clutch work is annoying and I can do without it. Going up and down through 18 gears without using the clutch is easy but 5 or 6 speeds and needing to clutch for every gear is tedious. Great for a race car but for a daily driver I’ll take an automatic every time. Unfortunately the dual clutch transmissions on late model sports cars out run manuals every time so it’s no advantage on the track. The manual transmission has had it’s day and is dying a natural death just like carburetors, points and rotor ignition and drum brakes.
0-100mph, 1st gear should work. 101mph, go into 2nd. No one really uses 3rd+ gears
Maybe when thrashing a sport bike on a twisty road lol.
Your owners manual tells you what gears and speeds.
If you have to ask....
You probably shouldn’t be driving alone
Ha ha no question is stupid! But can be funny when you remember your beginning!
been using my tiptronic a lot more lately. its pretty fun, but would be way better if it had at least 5 gears incited of 4.
These days automatic transmission is more fuel efficient than manual transmission.
It's infact the complete opposite these days, my turbo 2.0t 6 speed gets 30-35 mpg, my friends automatic same motor, makes 20-25 mpg
I just don't buy the "fuel economy" story. I can feel the whole car shuddering when the rpms are low, I can feel it struggling to push forward, and I can feel every part dying, barely able to move, so that's going to cost you big time in the repair shop in a few years when you need a whole new transmission system the motor is all sorts of fucked up and making weird noises. I feel the car is comfortable when it is in its power band/zone for each gear. I just keep it in the lowest part of the power zone to reduce unnecessary wear related to high rpms. So between 2500 and 4000 rpm (higher gears beg for higher rpms). May your rpms stay high and your gears low!
That’s called being in the power band not the most efficient lol
@@mercury0214 Not the most fuel efficient, but I am quite sure that being in the power band prevents wear on the whole motor, clucth, transmission and gears. Just like your whole body and even the bicycle gears suffer if you are on the bicycle on a gear that is too high for your speed. If you are pedalling too slow, you suffer a lot more from the effort than if you are pedalling easily at a higher rate.