Have you ever looked at your gear shifter and wondered if it’s bad to start a car in second gear? Well, depending on the type of transmission that you have, it might be!
Starting a vehicle with a manual transmission in second gear under normal conditions is not advisable to avoid unnecessary wear on the clutch. However, it is safe to start an automatic transmission car in second gear because its torque converter uses a fluid coupling to transmit energy instead of a mechanical clutch.
With that in mind, let’s take a deeper look at why starting a car in second gear can be bad for one transmission type and not the other!
Starting your car on 2nd Gear: Manual Transmission
Starting a vehicle with a manual transmission in second gear under normal conditions is not advisable to avoid unnecessary wear on the clutch. Launching the vehicle from a stop in second gear will lead to unnecessary clutch slippage as it takes longer to fully engage than first gear.
The same also generally applies to dual-clutch transmissions to avoid unwanted wear to your clutch.
Keep in mind that this only applies to actually launch the vehicle into motion. Should you simply want to turn on the vehicle while it’s in second gear with the clutch depressed, then that is completely fine!
Getting back to the topic at hand – there is one caveat to consider…
Because second gear requires a higher vehicle rate of speed to fully engage the clutch, you can actually get away with a safe launch from second gear if you’re rolling downhill!
Think of pulling away from a stoplight on a steep hill, or perhaps merging back onto the road that’s on a steep downhill.
Because gravity will help the vehicle to quickly accelerate, you can actually get away with starting your manual transmission in second gear with minimal clutch slippage i.e. wear and tear.
In fact, this may even be beneficial as a launch from first gear would require an almost immediate shift into second!
Not only is this second gear launch more efficient, but it may even be better for your transmission in this scenario.
Another situation that some people believe is a good candidate for starting a manual transmission in second gear is when there is snow or ice on the ground. The idea is that because second gear will provide less torque, the chances of having your tires slip and spin are lower.
However, this is somewhat faulty logic… A better solution would be to simply ease into first gear more gently instead of quickly releasing the clutch (which in turn causes the wheels to spin).
A slow release of the clutch with proper throttle control will provide similar torque control while avoiding the unnecessary wear and tear of a launch from second gear.
Starting your car on 2nd Gear: Automatic Transmission
It is safe to start an automatic transmission car in second gear because its torque converter uses a fluid coupling to transmit energy instead of a mechanical clutch. This lack of physical friction means that there is no risk of unnecessary wear and tear from starting in second gear.
Unlike a manual transmission, the function of an automatic transmission means that the downsides of starting in second gear have been negated!
Thinking back to the snow/ice scenario that we previously took a look at, this is now a perfect time to use second gear!
Without the risk of damaging your clutch, feel free to launch your automatic vehicle in second gear when the roads are slick to take advantage of the lower torque.
Some manufacturers actually do this by default with their “snow mode” settings that can be turned on and off as needed!
What’s the Best Way to Start a Car?
There is no definitive answer on what the best way to start a car is. All cars are different and will have their individual needs.
But there are some things you should keep in mind when starting a car, whether it be a manual or automatic transmission:
- If you are taking off from a dead stop, always start in 1st gear unless your car is automatic, which would be “Drive”.
- When coming to a roll, always let out the clutch slowly while giving it some gas so that way you can give your car gas smoothly without jerking or wearing down on your engine parts.
- If you’re taking off from a stop, try not to let the RPM of your car pass 2000-2500. This will help prevent any damage that could occur to your transmission or engine parts that are already working hard.
- Prolonged take-offs in 2nd gear can cause severe issues with synchronization bands and other moving parts inside of your transmission, which can cause expensive repairs.
How Fast Can You Drive in 2nd Gear?
The answer to this question is dependent on what kind of engine you have. If you have a small 4-cylinder vehicle, it’s possible for most cars to get up to around 50 or 55 mph in 2nd gear.
This speed will also depend on your car’s torque (which can vary depending on year and model).
However, if you have a more powerful vehicle with a big V6 or V8 engine, then it’s possible to hit 60 mph in 2nd gear. This will also depend on your car’s transmission and gear ratios (if it’s automatic).
While these types of speeds are possible in second gear, winding out the gears to ultra-high RPMs for your daily driving habits is both unnecessary and unuseful. You’ll get better gas mileage using more moderate RPMs, and avoid having your road companions wonder if a race is at hand!
Car Tips and Tricks: Do You Lose MPG If You Start In 2nd Gear?
Starting in 2nd gear on a manual car will cause you to lose mpg. This is because the engine has to rev up high to get the vehicle rolling, which causes more fuel to burn.
It’s best if your car can easily roll in 1st gear without needing much throttle input (meaning more torque) to get it moving.
You’ll save on fuel if you put the vehicle into 1st gear first, then quickly release the clutch while giving just enough throttle to ease it out of your parking spot.
Conclusion on Second Gear Starts
As you can see, there’s not a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to starting a car in second gear. The type of transmission that your vehicle has will greatly dictate whether it’s better to start in first or not.
While a second gear start for either won’t be the end of the world, cars are expensive and it’s best to do everything in our power to reduce wear and tear when possible!
