Short shifting
Encyclopedia
Short shifting is a driving
technique in which the gear
is changed up before necessary. By short shifting, not all of the engine
's power from the previous gear is being used, therefore power and torque
are lost.
The most common reason to change gear early during fast driving is to not lose valuable time changing gear later. Although this means not being able to accelerate using all of the engine's power, there is a time saving from changing gear later on. This can aid overtaking
by ensuring that the car is in the right gear in anticipation of the maneuver. Another reason is to improve fuel economy by driving at lower rpm if acceleration is not what is being sought. Another reason is to intentionally reduce power and torque, to get more grip. For example, if there is a wet road, there is an increased chance of sliding or wheel spin. If the gear is changed up, these difficulties are reduced. Short shifting is a technique that can help to maintain vehicle stability through bends by avoiding an unsettling shift in balance mid-corner.
Driving
Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus.Although direct operation of a bicycle and a mounted animal are commonly referred to as riding, such operators are legally considered drivers and are required to obey the rules of the road...
technique in which the gear
Gear ratio
The gear ratio of a gear train is the ratio of the angular velocity of the input gear to the angular velocity of the output gear, also known as the speed ratio of the gear train. The gear ratio can be computed directly from the numbers of teeth of the various gears that engage to form the gear...
is changed up before necessary. By short shifting, not all of the engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
's power from the previous gear is being used, therefore power and torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
are lost.
The most common reason to change gear early during fast driving is to not lose valuable time changing gear later. Although this means not being able to accelerate using all of the engine's power, there is a time saving from changing gear later on. This can aid overtaking
Overtaking
Overtaking or passing is the act of one vehicle going past another slower moving vehicle, travelling in the same direction, on a road. The lane used for overtaking another vehicle is almost always a lane further from the road shoulder — that is, to the left in places that drive on the right,...
by ensuring that the car is in the right gear in anticipation of the maneuver. Another reason is to improve fuel economy by driving at lower rpm if acceleration is not what is being sought. Another reason is to intentionally reduce power and torque, to get more grip. For example, if there is a wet road, there is an increased chance of sliding or wheel spin. If the gear is changed up, these difficulties are reduced. Short shifting is a technique that can help to maintain vehicle stability through bends by avoiding an unsettling shift in balance mid-corner.