Starting off in 2nd gear

4061 Views 23 Replies 15 Participants Last post by 04CTSVforMe, Oct 13, 2005

ualdriver

Discussion Starter · Oct 12, 2005

Hi-

Does it matter if you start the car going in 1st gear vs. 2nd gear as far as wear or damage goes? It seems like the car starts off just fine in 2nd gear, and then you don't have to listen to that damn "clunk" almost every time the car is shifted from 1st to 2nd. It also seems to bypass that 1st to 4th gate?

Thanks,
ualdriver

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

trekster

· #2 · Oct 12, 2005

Ualdriver,

If you're just driving in 2nd gear and taking off it shouldn't do (correct me if im wrong) anything to your car. I do it at times in heavy traffic. As for that annoying 1-4 gate you are talking about you can get rid of it with this.
http://www.stealthv.com./cagselim.htm

Gilbert

Barak

· #3 · Oct 12, 2005

The only time I take off in first is if I'm on a hill or if I'm racing.

NIK

· #4 · Oct 12, 2005

Does starting from a complete stop in second cause premature clutch wear? If not, that sure would be the way to go (unless you're gonna drag race, of course.)

Also, I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, 'cause I still don't know what "clunk" you fellows are talking about, and I do a lot of stop and go driving..

Joey'sVee

· #5 · Oct 12, 2005

Would it save gas to start in 2nd?

V-seriesTech

· #6 · Oct 12, 2005

Black Beast said:
Ualdriver,

If you're just driving in 2nd gear and taking off it shouldn't do (correct me if im wrong) anything to your car. I do it at times in heavy traffic. As for that annoying 1-4 gate you are talking about you can get rid of it with this.
www.diablosport.com

2nd gear starts WILL NOT effect your car, just as long as your not rideing the clutch in the process. Therefore NOT damageing the car but, shortening the life of the clutch.

j

V-seriesTech

· #7 · Oct 12, 2005

Joey'sVee said:
Would it save gas to start in 2nd?

less rpms,..more travel by starting off in second. 1st gear just doesn't lat long enough.

So yeah, you could, save gas,..if done correctly.

NIK

· #8 · Oct 12, 2005

V-seriesTech said:
Black Beast said:

Ualdriver,

2nd gear starts WILL NOT effect your car, just as long as your not rideing the clutch in the process. Therefore NOT damageing the car but, shortening the life of the clutch.

j

Click to expand...

So you are saying that the clutch life will be shortened - is that what I understand?

V-seriesTech

· #9 · Oct 12, 2005

NIK said:
So you are saying that the clutch life will be shortened - is that what I understand?

No. Not at all. It really depends on the skill of the driver. If the driver, isn't the best,...and is rideing the clutch,...in other words, giving the car more gas then it needs to get it rolling and still haveing the clutch depressed, or partially depressed....can cause the clutch to improperly wear.

That goes for starting off, in ANY gear. It's just that your going to have to use a little bit more throttle to get the car going(in theory) if you start off in second gear.

A good driver,..this woll not be a problem.

j

Joey'sVee

· #10 · Oct 12, 2005

more throttle=more gas...correct?

RobzBLKV

· #11 · Oct 12, 2005

Lots of performance automatics and I think a lot of the SMG transmissions have a "snow" setting that uses second gear to start moving to reduce torque on the drive wheels. It won't hurt the car. Driver error might wear the clutch more than normal, but that doesn't hurt the car either. Just takes money to replace sooner.

V-seriesTech

· #12 · Oct 12, 2005

Joey'sVee said:
more throttle=more gas...correct?

Yes,...in any application.

1badcady

· #13 · Oct 12, 2005

I use to start on second all the time, until i got the UUC shifter & b&m pinion
support, now its a pleasure to use all my gears, very little clunk &
100 % smoother.

Barak

· #14 · Oct 12, 2005

more throttle=more gas...correct?

Not in the case of displacement on demand systems. When the cylinders shutdown the throttle opening increases to eliminate some of the pumping losses, less pumping losses = less gas, even though the throttle is opened wider.

bobwhat

· #15 · Oct 13, 2005

I use 2nd exclusively unless I'm racing. A 2nd gear start saves gas and clutch if you’re a good driver. Keep the RPM’s down, the V has enough torque to get it going with very little throttle! You could probably start in 3rd with a little practice.

Mat347

· #16 · Oct 13, 2005

Don't worry about starting out in second, we have 3.73 gears (I've been told) and this could be seen as first gear with much lower rear gears (2.73, 3.08).

Dennisscars

· #17 · Oct 13, 2005

I prefer the 1-3 skip and sometimes the 1-3-5.

rand49er

· #18 · Oct 13, 2005

Barak said:
The only time I take off in first is if I'm on a hill or if I'm racing.

:yeah:

wildwhl

· #19 · Oct 13, 2005

Since the maggie went in nearly all of my driving is 2-5

StealthV

· #20 · Oct 13, 2005

Starting off in 3rd gear isn't a problem; I do it all the time. 0 to 100 mph without shifting - it's like having an automatic.

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

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