Fuel efficiency is simply a measure of how much the chemical energy in fuel is converted to kinetic energy which is motion.
Driving techniques are methods or styles employed in driving.
Manual transmissions are those type of transmissions with shift sticks which require manual input from the driver.
Manual transmissions are very fuel efficient. Recently, automatic transmissions are also very fuel efficient and some even beating the manual transmission counterparts.
From observations, for some, reverse is the case due to poor driving skill when driving the manual transmission car that is supposed to be fuel efficient.Some drivers are guilty of gear overuse on normal driving conditions. Like keeping it on first gear for more than necessary.
How to drive a manual transmission car for best fuel economy
1. Smart use of coasting on motion is a good way to save fuel with manual transmission. During coasting, the engine is driven by the wheels through the transmission. The engine uses zero fuel in this case.
2. Early gear upshifts and transmission overdrive use that is skillfully done can save fuel. When you shift to a higher gear, you relieve the engine stress and avoid waste of power that should be converted to motion. Do not lug the engine because it can damage the it. Lugging also place stress on the engine.
3. On descents, you may start off with second gear. Use of first gear is not necessary where the vehicle can roll to motion unless you want to use the engine braking that the first gear will provide. Feel free to drive normally starting with the first gear. Starting with the second gear advice is when you want to hypermile.
4. Unnecessary depression of clutch pedal should be avoided. Simply engage the appropriate gear for that speed so that when braking, the car can coast rather than idle. Clutch depression prevents coasting because it keeps the cylinders firing and using fuel.
5. Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal while driving. The effect of this is same as that of the last point. You just might be wasting some engine power by resting your foot on the clutch.
6. Do not over fill the manual transmission fluid during maintenance. Overfilling the transmission causes the internal components to be slapping on the oil. This wastes some energy and has another disadvantage of making the oil to foam, reducing lubrication and cooling.
7. Drive with the appropriate gear for each speed. A driver of a manual transmission car should know the appropriate shift points of the car else, gear overuse and lugging of the engine will happen.
8. Use engine braking as often as possible. This should not be used to jeopardize safety. Use normal brakes when it is needed.
Caution: !!! Avoid turning off the ignition/engine to save fuel. It is very dangerous!
