Easier to set of in 2nd rather than 1st

newfoundglory

I've only been driving with my own car for about 3 weeks. I've realised my car stalls when setting off in 1st unless there are sufficient revs. But, on my way to work this morning I discovered it's easier and smoother to set off in
2nd and is less prone to stalling if there isn't much gas.

It's not quite what I expected and am I likely to cause any damage by doing this?

maninthestreet

newfoundglory wrote: »

I've only been driving with my own car for about 3 weeks. I've realised my car stalls when setting off in 1st unless there are sufficient revs. But, on my way to work this morning I discovered it's easier and smoother to set off in
2nd and is less prone to stalling if there isn't much gas.

It's not quite what I expected and am I likely to cause any damage by doing this?

Youe likely to strain the tranmission by regularly using 2nd gear to move off from stationary.

boyse7en

and you will struggle to pull away at all if you are heading uphill. Unless you drive only in Norfolk and are married to someone who fixes clutches for a living, I'd practice pulling away in 1st until you can do it without stalling.

colino

It all depends on the car and the circumstances. Some vehicles that are relatively underpowered for their size are really low geared in 1st. (You'll recognise this when you have to change up to 2nd quickly after moving off when still doing relatively low speeds).
The engine/gearbox might not be a great match and the manufacturers have to plan for the once-in-a-blue-moon, fully-laden, hill start.
As long as your not using excessive revs and slipping the clutch it will be fine to use 2nd to move off on the flat.

maninthestreet

colino wrote: »

It all depends on the car and the circumstances. Some vehicles that are relatively underpowered for their size are really low geared in 1st. (You'll recognise this when you have to change up to 2nd quickly after moving off when still doing relatively low speeds).
The engine/gearbox might not be a great match and the manufacturers have to plan for the once-in-a-blue-moon, fully-laden, hill start.
As long as your not using excessive revs and slipping the clutch it will be fine to use 2nd to move off on the flat.

Unless there is something fundamentally wrong with the car, it should not stall in 1st gear when moving off from a standstill.

tomstickland

If you're already rolling then using 2nd instead of 1st is fine.
If you're pulling away then your description doesn't make much sense really.

gaz_jones

How slow a roll is considered safe for 2nd gear? If I'm under 5mph, as a general rule I'll go for 2nd gear. I have always wondered if this was best practice though.

Sorry for the thread hijack.

the182guy

gaz_jones wrote: »

How slow a roll is considered safe for 2nd gear? If I'm under 5mph, as a general rule I'll go for 2nd gear. I have always wondered if this was best practice though.

Sorry for the thread hijack.

In my experience you can tell if the car liked to set off from a roll in second gear or not because if rolling too slow and then try to move off in second the engine becomes very laboured.

forgotmyname

You will burn the clutch out pulling away in 2nd, If its a newer car with a dual mass flywheel that wont last long either.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

You'll increase clutch wear but that's about it.

newfoundglory

Okay, maybe I didnt explain this too well.

Its possible to move off without stalling by coming up really slowly on the clutch. Its possible to move with no gas at all. But if you want to go more quickly, obviously some gas is needed. In my case 1500 revs causes it to virtually stall... so nearer 2000 revs is needed. In which case it pulls away really quite fast and you need to go to 2nd almost immediately anyway.

It just seemed to me to make more sense to start in 2nd, as its smoother and more controlled.