Is it possible to damage a manual trans by skipping gears?

It’s not possible, but it’s much more than swapping cogs.

Engineering explained does an excellent job at simplifying complex topics in automotive and making them understandable for common people. Although shifting gears using a manual transmission can be difficult, those who are new to this process often have little to no idea of how to maximize performance and minimize wear. There are also obsessive-compulsive drivers who are terrified of the thought that they might not be able to upshift or downshift in the correct numerical order.

To put everyone at ease you can jump between upshifting and downshifting without causing any damage. In fact, Chevrolet has required Corvette, Camaro drivers, to shift from the first to fourth gear while driving slowly for better fuel efficiency and emissions. The whole purpose of a manual transmission, as the video shows, is to let drivers choose any gear within the engine’s range of rpm.

Is it possible to damage a manual trans by skipping gears?

Here’s the deal: the more you use it, the more wear it gets. This is true for your shoes, couch in the living room, and your transmission. It’s not a problem to skip gears, but it is important to be careful to avoid excessive wear when switching between higher ratios. It is possible to rev match your engine speed to the correct gear. Yes, this takes some practice. For a smooth transition, you should let your engine rpm drop before shifting from second to sixth. For downshifts, do the opposite – blip your throttle while the car’s in neutral to increase engine power before you shift into the shorter gear.

Is it possible to damage a manual trans by skipping gears?

You can still do this without rev matching but your clutch and gear synchroizers will see a little more wear than usual. This doesn’t include a stupid move such as trying to grab the first gear at 70 mph. However, this is not a problem with your transmission. This could go on and on, but the video should address all your questions. You can reach us in the comments if it doesn’t. There are likely to be some funny, sarcastic or informative answers.