Manual Transmission, 6th Gear Efficiency

[MaverickMan]

I don't think many people would recommend operating in neutral for any length of time.

I've never had a problem doing it in any manual I have owned (all of which never had a failure other than 1 clutch replacement and 1 being submerged above the breather too much). Would I roll in neutral in a semi, no because the brakes need help from the engine keeping that weight under control. But on a regular passenger vehicle I have no problem with it. However my point was that 6th gear would be welcome in a downhill situation even if its useless uphill or in flatlands.

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[ProdigyJKU]

I don't think many people would recommend operating in neutral for any length of time.

There is nothing wrong with operating in neutral, as long as your not holding the clutch in. Our manual trans work trucks run all day long in neutral to power the pto. Over 80% of there engine hours are from running in neutral.

I think your confusing holding the clutch in, with idling in neutral.

Going downhill I would leave it in gear to reduce brake fatigue.

 

[Techun]

There is nothing wrong with operating in neutral, as long as your not holding the clutch in. Our manual trans work trucks run all day long in neutral to power the pto. Over 80% of there engine hours are from running in neutral.

I think your confusing holding the clutch in, with idling in neutral.

Going downhill I would leave it in gear to reduce brake fatigue.

I meant that being in gear is better in many ways vs being in neutral and braking.

 

[BDSteelies]

I meant that being in gear is better in many ways vs being in neutral and braking.

I think it’s up for debate/preference. Downshifting to a stop certainly results in more clutch wear but like you said coasting in neutral to a stop increases break wear. I tend to switch back and forth with heavy city driving depending on the situation.

 

[Techun]

I think it’s up for debate/preference. Downshifting to a stop certainly results in more clutch wear but like you said coasting in neutral to a stop increases break wear. I tend to switch back and forth with heavy city driving depending on the situation.

I was originally commenting to someone going downhill in neutral and braking.

For me, when coming to a stop 95% of the time I leave it in the current gear until a few hundo rpm above idle and then clutch in.

People who downshift through every gear are dummies.

 

[Montana Bronco]

I guess I’m on Team Dummy then…

 

[Spooled]

Sounds reasonable. If you put larger tires on, you lose efficiency and the effectiveness of the gear ratio.

The ratio for 6th is obviously for relatively flat highway cruising. If cruising in boost bothers you, downshift and use the higher RPM's instead if you already have seen that fuel economy is the same.

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