Gear use on slick surfaces
 

Is the following true?

In rain (or snow) one should try to be in top gear (say, 5th), rather
than in 4th, even if you strain the engine. The reason is that the
vehicle is less sensitive to the gas pedal, and that makes loss of
traction less likely.

Gear use on slick surfaces
 

In article .com>,
"223rem" > wrote:

> Is the following true?
>
> In rain (or snow) one should try to be in top gear (say, 5th), rather
> than in 4th, even if you strain the engine. The reason is that the
> vehicle is less sensitive to the gas pedal, and that makes loss of
> traction less likely.

It can be a useful technique.

Gear use on slick surfaces
 

223rem wrote:
> Is the following true?
>
> In rain (or snow) one should try to be in top gear (say, 5th), rather
> than in 4th, even if you strain the engine. The reason is that the
> vehicle is less sensitive to the gas pedal, and that makes loss of
> traction less likely.

No.
-----

- gpsman

Gear use on slick surfaces
 

Why not?

Gear use on slick surfaces
 

223rem wrote:
> Why not?

For one reason, when you lose traction on a slick surface you usually
don't lose all traction and you may need to apply power to correct your
skid. Most people freeze or slam on the brakes, since that's all
they're capable of, so it doesn't make much difference in most cases
anyway.
-----

- gpsman

Gear use on slick surfaces
 

223rem wrote:
> Is the following true?
>
> In rain (or snow) one should try to be in top gear (say, 5th), rather
> than in 4th, even if you strain the engine. The reason is that the
> vehicle is less sensitive to the gas pedal, and that makes loss of
> traction less likely.
>

I would say use the highest gear at which you're not lugging the engine.
Certainly will help with gas mileage (not that it's all that great in
snow) and will make the car less "twitchy."

nate

--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

Gear use on slick surfaces
 

Nate Nagel wrote:
> 223rem wrote:
> > Is the following true?
> >
> > In rain (or snow) one should try to be in top gear (say, 5th), rather
> > than in 4th, even if you strain the engine. The reason is that the
> > vehicle is less sensitive to the gas pedal, and that makes loss of
> > traction less likely.
> >
>
> I would say use the highest gear at which you're not lugging the engine.
> Certainly will help with gas mileage (not that it's all that great in
> snow) and will make the car less "twitchy."
>
> nate
>
> --
> replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
> http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

Correct. Power (lower gear) on slick roads is a quick way into the
ditch. It is also a good way to get moving on slick surfaces, 2nd or
3rd instead of 1st and feather that throttle.

Harry K

Gear use on slick surfaces
 

"223rem" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Is the following true?
>
> In rain (or snow) one should try to be in top gear (say, 5th), rather
> than in 4th, even if you strain the engine. The reason is that the
> vehicle is less sensitive to the gas pedal, and that makes loss of
> traction less likely.

5th to 4th generally doesn't matter. But the advice is to pull away in 2nd
rather than 1st, it's because you get a greater power of the engine going to
a slower turn of the wheel, losing traction to due to the wheel moving too
fast is a big problem in snow.