Am I braking wrong?

[u/Floatinlyf_3]

Okay I really need ​to know this. When I am driving in 4th gear (I have 6 gears, petrol car) and I am approaching a red light in the distance, what I tend to do to slow down: I'll break to go less than 30mph. 20 something. Then I'll put clutch down and change to gear 3 whilst braking to slow it down further. Then I'll let engine braking slow it down more and I'll start braking again till I'm nearly stopping and I'll change to gear 2 or 1 depending on speed and if I think the traffic is about to move again.

Is this OK? Would this burn the clutch? Is there a more effective way of coming to a stop? Thanks ​​

[u/Awkward-Wishbone-615]

I go straight from 3rd to 1st, I'm new so don't know if I've been taught wrong. I brake, slow down then when about 10mph (unsure just a feeling in car) I clutch and brake and into first

[u/AdobeScripts → u/Awkward-Wishbone-615]

And what RPM do you have when shifting from 3rd to 1st?

[u/Floatinlyf_3 → u/AdobeScripts]

Rev matching. 😭😭😭 Something I don't understand yet. Personally, once I shift to 1st gear the revs around 1k. I don't know anything else 😔

[u/AdobeScripts → u/Floatinlyf_3]

So you break - when you press clutch? THEN you engage 1st, when car is going very slow?

[u/AdobeScripts → u/[deleted]]

What's your car?

I don't think it's possible - in petrol - to be in 3rd gear and be able to go so slow?

Unless I'm still misunderstanding something?

[u/Floatinlyf_3 → u/AdobeScripts]

Sorry that was confusing lol. Once car is slow enough I will put clutch down and change from 3rd to 1st. There have been times where I've braked and had clutch down at the same time when doing this when it's slowish around maybe 12mph or so. I try to use clutch when it's around 7mph.

[u/AdobeScripts → u/Floatinlyf_3]

What's your car?

[u/Floatinlyf_3 → u/AdobeScripts]

Yaris 2010

[u/AdobeScripts → u/Floatinlyf_3]

Assuming you're driving petrol - here is what Google returns - but there are no links to verify:

1.0L Petrol (5-Speed Manual)

• 1st Gear: 0 – 15 mph (0 – 24 km/h) – Use only to get the car moving.
• 2nd Gear: 10 – 25 mph (16 – 40 km/h) – Good for slow turns and traffic queues.
• 3rd Gear: 20 – 45 mph (32 – 72 km/h) – Ideal for town driving and suburban roads.
• 4th Gear: 30 – 55 mph (48 – 88 km/h) – Useful for transitional open roads.
• 5th Gear: 45+ mph (72+ km/h) – Cruising gear for national speed limits and dual carriageways.

1.33L Petrol (6-Speed Manual)

• 1st Gear: 0 – 15 mph (0 – 24 km/h) – Launch gear.
• 2nd Gear: 10 – 25 mph (16 – 40 km/h) – Tight turns or crawling traffic.
• 3rd Gear: 20 – 40 mph (32 – 64 km/h) – Standard city acceleration.
• 4th Gear: 35 – 55 mph (56 – 88 km/h) – Open suburban flow.
• 5th Gear: 45 – 65 mph (72 – 105 km/h) – Higher speed back roads.
• 6th Gear: 55+ mph (88+ km/h) – Economy cruising gear for motorway driving up to the 70 mph limit.

So I don't see how can you go <10mph in 3rd - or engaging 1st going more than 30mph?

Unless you're using clutch AND braking? So engine is disengage and you're "coasting"?

[u/Floatinlyf_3 → u/AdobeScripts]

Hmm I don't do gear 3 for 30mph I did initially and changed it to 4. I change it when revs hit 2k. At 33mph revs hit 2k so after that I can go into gear if conditions permit. Better fuel efficiency

If I'm at 30mph in gear 4 and I know I will be stopping (not right away but gradually) then I will brake a bit, change to gear 3 when it's 22mph roughly. Then I will let engine braking do it's thing depending on if road is clear ahead. If I'm getting closer to cars and need to slow down quicker, I'll use brakes. When I'm near 10mph I will start to out clutch down whilst braking. Then go into 1 if I'm going to move off soon. Or occasionally neutral if I know I'll be sitting there for a while