Power v. Speed shifting?
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,386
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From: SoCal
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
Power v. Speed shifting?
Can someone please explain the difference between power shifting and speed shifting?
How do you do both and what effect will it have on the engine? Thanks!
How do you do both and what effect will it have on the engine? Thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 0
From: Duncanville Texas
Re: Power v. Speed shifting? (FNC80)
Power Shifting:
Shifting by depressing the clutch and never letting off the gas! I don't recommend it because if you don't shift fast enough your RPMs increase dramatically.......when you release the clutch, the motor is rev'ed high......and in turn you put extreme stress on the engines drivetrain! A benefit for some may be that the RPMs will not drop between shifts, and if you are a fast enough shifter, the trade off between drivetrain wear and ET may be beneficial! In order for all this to work you will need a strong clutch.....if your clutch is weak, it won't do anything but spin! Eitherway it will wear the clutch faster!
Speed Shifting:
Shifting without use of the clutch! When the speed of the motor matches that of your transmission it is possible to perform this......it is different for every vehicle and comes with lots of practice! You can upshift or downshift in this manner........in order to down shift you would give the car a little gas (while the clutch is engaged since you aren't going to even use it), this will take some load off of the tranny, slide your stick into neutra and "blip" the throttle slightly and then pull (or push) the shifter into the next lower gear (i.e. 3rd to 2nd). Whola! Now to upshift you would do the same thing......get the car into neutral, but now let the motor run down some (or hit the brakes slightly) and then put the car into the next gear up (i.e. 3rd to 4th). This method of shifting takes alot of time to master, and in the process of learning you can hurt lots of parts! Practice this at your own risk! Honestly.....trying this a couple of times won't effect much, but as with anything else, to much can be harmful! I will also note that older cars and some 18 wheelers use this method because they do not have a synchromesh transmission, and so they need a way to "speed match"....this is one way! Also because you are not using the clutch, it will not wear out as quickly!
Heel Toe Down Shifting:
Just what it says......position your right foot so your heel is on the brake and your toe(s) are on the gas! Your left foot will be on the clutch. While depressing the clutch (left foot) and holding the brake (right heel) "blip" the throttle slightly(right toes)....the object is to "speed match" the motor to the transmission! In doing this you will minimize weight transfer from rear to front..............meaning less jerk in your shifts. This minimizes wear on parts significantly, and increases rear wheel traction........because the tires aren't getting an abrupt speed change! This method is practice in all forms of racing (except drag racing)....Try it! You will notice a huge difference in the way your car feels in between shifts. It is also important to note that most people will use the sides of their feet, rather then try turning their foot in a manner mentioned above. You can rotate your foot over the brake and the gas at the same time. This method of shifting is also good when entering a corner....in light of it all.......you will be on the gas when you enter and exit the corner.....kinda like a head start!
Double Clutching:
"Not Fast and The Furious"
Doing this also helps to decrease wear on the drivetrain! What you would do is "speed match" gears. Press the clutch in and shift to neutral....let the clutch out. Blip the throttle, and then press the clutch AGAIN shift to your desired gear and then let the clutch out! This is effective during downshifting and has almost all the same advantages of heel toeing. I only assume you can do it in an up shift and you would just let the motor rev down (or hit the brake) instead of blipping the throttle!
Of coarse synchros, and such, help and you may not need to do any of this, but you will improve their life using these methods! These are all general definitions, and I believe I have them correct, however I am open for criticism...or.....uh.....corrections!
Shifting by depressing the clutch and never letting off the gas! I don't recommend it because if you don't shift fast enough your RPMs increase dramatically.......when you release the clutch, the motor is rev'ed high......and in turn you put extreme stress on the engines drivetrain! A benefit for some may be that the RPMs will not drop between shifts, and if you are a fast enough shifter, the trade off between drivetrain wear and ET may be beneficial! In order for all this to work you will need a strong clutch.....if your clutch is weak, it won't do anything but spin! Eitherway it will wear the clutch faster!
Speed Shifting:
Shifting without use of the clutch! When the speed of the motor matches that of your transmission it is possible to perform this......it is different for every vehicle and comes with lots of practice! You can upshift or downshift in this manner........in order to down shift you would give the car a little gas (while the clutch is engaged since you aren't going to even use it), this will take some load off of the tranny, slide your stick into neutra and "blip" the throttle slightly and then pull (or push) the shifter into the next lower gear (i.e. 3rd to 2nd). Whola! Now to upshift you would do the same thing......get the car into neutral, but now let the motor run down some (or hit the brakes slightly) and then put the car into the next gear up (i.e. 3rd to 4th). This method of shifting takes alot of time to master, and in the process of learning you can hurt lots of parts! Practice this at your own risk! Honestly.....trying this a couple of times won't effect much, but as with anything else, to much can be harmful! I will also note that older cars and some 18 wheelers use this method because they do not have a synchromesh transmission, and so they need a way to "speed match"....this is one way! Also because you are not using the clutch, it will not wear out as quickly!
Heel Toe Down Shifting:
Just what it says......position your right foot so your heel is on the brake and your toe(s) are on the gas! Your left foot will be on the clutch. While depressing the clutch (left foot) and holding the brake (right heel) "blip" the throttle slightly(right toes)....the object is to "speed match" the motor to the transmission! In doing this you will minimize weight transfer from rear to front..............meaning less jerk in your shifts. This minimizes wear on parts significantly, and increases rear wheel traction........because the tires aren't getting an abrupt speed change! This method is practice in all forms of racing (except drag racing)....Try it! You will notice a huge difference in the way your car feels in between shifts. It is also important to note that most people will use the sides of their feet, rather then try turning their foot in a manner mentioned above. You can rotate your foot over the brake and the gas at the same time. This method of shifting is also good when entering a corner....in light of it all.......you will be on the gas when you enter and exit the corner.....kinda like a head start!
Double Clutching:
"Not Fast and The Furious"
Doing this also helps to decrease wear on the drivetrain! What you would do is "speed match" gears. Press the clutch in and shift to neutral....let the clutch out. Blip the throttle, and then press the clutch AGAIN shift to your desired gear and then let the clutch out! This is effective during downshifting and has almost all the same advantages of heel toeing. I only assume you can do it in an up shift and you would just let the motor rev down (or hit the brake) instead of blipping the throttle!
Of coarse synchros, and such, help and you may not need to do any of this, but you will improve their life using these methods! These are all general definitions, and I believe I have them correct, however I am open for criticism...or.....uh.....corrections!
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Central CT
Re: Power v. Speed shifting? (FNC80)
I used to love to power shift when I was young and had fast reflexes; an important aspect of power shifting is to know that if you miss a shift, you very well may trash the engine because the revs will head for the sky.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,272
Likes: 0
From: Gaithersburg MD
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: Power v. Speed shifting? (Pepper)
I agree with the definition for power shifting. Never lift your right foot. Shift hard and fast. Do it right and the rpms might go up 100 or 200 rpms, max. If you miss a shift, the rev limiter will protect your engine. The clutch will not wear anymore than a speed shift.
I have a different definition for speed shifting. The difference between power shifting and speed shifting is that you let off the gas when you shift. Reality is that it is a slower shift, also.
In my little world, shifting without a clutch is called Flat Shifting and is one of the stupidist things you can do to your car. There is no attempt to syncronize engine speed to gear speed. It's just jam it in there. Stupid and destructive.
Power shifting and speed shifting are both used when racing or pushing your car to its limits. Both can be hard on the car. You have to find the level of use/abuse that you are comfortable with.
But, unless your are willing to sacrifice, you will not realize the full potential of your car. Remember, " you gotta pay to play". :yesnod: :smash: :D
I have a different definition for speed shifting. The difference between power shifting and speed shifting is that you let off the gas when you shift. Reality is that it is a slower shift, also.
In my little world, shifting without a clutch is called Flat Shifting and is one of the stupidist things you can do to your car. There is no attempt to syncronize engine speed to gear speed. It's just jam it in there. Stupid and destructive.
Power shifting and speed shifting are both used when racing or pushing your car to its limits. Both can be hard on the car. You have to find the level of use/abuse that you are comfortable with.
But, unless your are willing to sacrifice, you will not realize the full potential of your car. Remember, " you gotta pay to play". :yesnod: :smash: :D
