Jump to content

Blipping the Throttle


Cool_jazz
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hey guys

 

My car's selespeed will automatically blip the throttle when I down shift. So I am curious about how its done in a manual car.

 

How do you do that in a manual car?

Do you always blip your throttle when you downshift?

Is it difficult to get it right?

 

Cheers

Cool_jazz

Edited by Cool_jazz
↡ Advertisement
Link to post
Share on other sites

Not sure about the rest. But to blip throttle while downshifting..I would do this:

 

- step on accelerator pedal at a constant level and do not release

 

- while doing that, clutch in and downshift, this should blip the throttle as you are downshifting

 

Hope I'm doing this right. sweatdrop.gif

Link to post
Share on other sites

erh won't that spoil your gears and give you a massive jerk? I think blipping the throttle is to reduce "engine brake".... correct me if I am wrong. [sweatdrop]

Link to post
Share on other sites

From the little I know, it would match speed (not engine speed) by increasing the revvs of the lower gear. I guess most people seldom need to do that except when pressing hard at a corner...

Link to post
Share on other sites

Nope, it wont give you a massive jerk...I've done it before..well..used to anyway. tongue.gif

 

Main thing is not to step too much on the accelerator...but just enough to blip the rpm to the required level and keep the engine boiling in its optimum torque band. dizzy.gif

Link to post
Share on other sites

Just give a light tap on the throttle just before you release the clutch after downshifting. Since manual cars do not have the luxury of the gearbox/ECU doing the rev-matching, it takes a little practise before you get the timing and blipping right. (I'm very inconsistent, sometimes swee swee, sometimes off, causing the car to jerk) If you are braking at the same time, then you have to use the toe-heel technique. Here's what I usually do, approach corner, brake, clutch-in, downshift, blip, declutch, release brake, throttle. Sometimes you have to do it so fast that the downshifting and blipping happens simultaneously. This has two advantages, smoother gear changes and you'll prolong the life of the synchromesh. I was told in the early days where cars with dog boxes (no synchromesh), you really have to blip and downshift at the same time to match the revs (match the road speed with the gear speed). I guess we modern drivers and spoiled by synchromeshed gearboxes [laugh]

 

My $0.02, hope the other more experienced forumers can share their techniques or correct any of my mistakes

Edited by Slowpoke
Link to post
Share on other sites

Not sure about the rest. But to blip throttle while downshifting..I would do this:

 

- step on accelerator pedal at a constant level and do not release

 

- while doing that, clutch in and downshift, this should blip the throttle as you are downshifting

 

Hope I'm doing this right. sweatdrop.gif

 

Have you actually tried this method yourself? I tried it once when I just started driving. If you hold on to the throttle even if it a little when you clutch-in, you'll be bouncing the needle off the rev-limiter and causing a BIG jerk when you declutch. Maybe my right foot too heavy on the accelerator..... [rifle] If I'm not wrong its called "Power Shifting" if you do it right, as in you match the revs with the gear speed and road speed. An amateur like me will never get it right [:(]

Link to post
Share on other sites

Neutral Newbie

"the toe-heel technique. Here's what I usually do, approach corner, brake, clutch-in, downshift, blip, declutch, release brake, throttle."

 

er... i don suppose that is the correct 'toe and heel' method...

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Saaber

 

Based on the write up, seems like the driver is braking when doing the turn. Shouldn't it be brake and engage lower gear b4 the turn and power up at the exit?

 

Thanks

Link to post
Share on other sites

no worries bro....its difficult to explain everything on paper...

just come and join us for a track session someday and you will get to practice all the knowhow.... [nod] and definitely in a safer environemnt than our public roads.... [nod]

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...