I was reading a internet site about manuals and the guy that wrote the page said that downshifting was hard on the engine or gears, im still in the process of learning how to drive a manual, and i would like to find the best way to drive it and prolong the life of my car. So what does everyone say about this?

How to prolong a cars life:
A. Don't get a fast car, they don't last by themselves.
B. Leave it stock.
C. Always check your levels, temps and presures
D. Keep it inside
E. Run it on the best petrol you can

They are some good, sensible tips but what about tips for people planning to modify their cars. *raises hand* :D

When downshifting try to be smooth, don't release clutch too fast, and be gentle with throtle. Downshifting is not good for transmission if you do it careless, but if you go at 1000 rpm you are not treating well your engine (specially if you wanna raise speed).

Well if you are in 5-th gear and a corner is geting closer......:D

Let's just say that you need to downshift :p
But don't go direct from 5 to 2. Use the cluch, breake and afther that do that kind of gear change. And bea bentil.

Dude, just downshift if you REALLY need to accelerate hard or if your engine drops below 1500 rpm...

Or if you car is powerless and you just want accelerate.

Well yeah, whatever, I think everyone gets the idea.

E. Run it on the best petrol you can

Be careful though, older cars can run rich nomatter what. Runing 92+ octaine can be too rich if you don't kn ow how to tune and don't have an ECU. Plus if you have some little beater than you are just waisting your money. It's not going to make a difference really.

Dude, just downshift if you REALLY need to accelerate hard or if your engine drops below 1500 rpm...

Or if you want to set off car alarms with your new custom flowmaster exhaust. ;):D

Be careful though, older cars can run rich nomatter what. Runing 92+ octaine can be too rich if you don't kn ow how to tune and don't have an ECU. Plus if you have some little beater than you are just waisting your money. It's not going to make a difference really.
Actualy i was refering to never use shell because they put heaps of soap in to clean injectors (and cause they're stingy)

Well...with a real manual you should downshift, but if you are using a electronic manual (like F1 system in maseratis etc) then you just wait until you are at a stoplight and pull back the clicker and it will set you back to 1st.

Actualy i was refering to never use shell because they put heaps of soap in to clean injectors (and cause they're stingy)

Shell gas is one of the better places to fuel up. BP(amoco) is the best in my opinion It's all my car gets. Conoco is the worst I have ever used.

As for an additive or an octane booster, over the counter stuff is a waste on money. I use Toluene which is a highly voltile pure aromatic hydrocarbon. It has an octane rating of 114 RM/2. I run a gallon with a ull tank at every oil change.

BTW, downshifting is not hard on a car. If you go from 5th to 2nd you will lock up your tires LONG before you blow your transmission. Every so often on the track I let the clutch out a little too fast while trail braking and manage to lock up the rear tires for a split second. Stiil on the stock transmission at 120K miles too.

Shell here (and BP) is trashy.

Shell here (and BP) is trashy.

Wow, i remember a test some people did regarding octane boosters and they had BP gas baselined and it was 93 octane, but labeled 91. I was getting terrible detonation on Conoco, i switched to BP and it hasen't come back.

Here BP and Shell drown it in detergint, Caltex is probably the best for us.

Ok, so to make sure downshifting of any sort can not hurt your car?

BP Ultramax is good fuel, GTX Magnetec is the best oil for PETROL engines.... Rock oil for the Clio!

Toluene which is a highly voltile pure aromatic hydrocarbon.
Kinda off-topic, but if you inhale that deep, you will get cancer in like 3 seconds.

Kinda off-topic, but if you inhale that deep, you will get cancer in like 3 seconds.

If you look at it wrong it will give you cancer. They use it moastly for thinning out the paint they use for the lnes on the road.

But cars LOVE it.

I'll post the octane booster test in new thread.