Tell me something Oppo: winter driving

"Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD" (300korbust)
11/12/2014 at 01:34 • Filed to: None

So tonight, I had to take a driver's course that was mandatory by court because of my accident. The class was actually pretty cool! The instructor didn't make it boring, we got to watch videos on what to do and not to do, and I learned some new driving techniques. Simultaneously, I felt something was suspicious when I mentioned my driving habits. So, I'm leaving this to you.

My instructor felt me down shifting an auto in snowy weather was a bad idea. He insisted that would help the car spin out and cause me to crash. I told I do it all the time in snowy/icy weather and try my best to go below speed limit. So, was my instructor wrong on saying that or am I wrong on downshifting an auto in bad weather?

By the way, here is this really sexy GTV6 from doing a 2 minute Google search on it.

DISCUSSION (33)

bob and john > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/12/2014 at 01:37

in an auto, leave the downshifting to the car. most autos arent very good at rev matching, and might break what little tracking you have.

I'm with the prof on this one.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/12/2014 at 01:37

Ive never heard of anybody doing that on flat ground. Downshifting probably applies more torque to the wheels, so I can see where the instructor is coming from. But I doubt it would apply enough torque for it to make any difference in anything this side of a muscle car. So in your honda, I doubt it would make a difference. But you still shouldnt do it because its unnecessary

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
11/12/2014 at 01:39

Okay gotcha. I made it a habit and now it needs to stop. Thanks for replying!

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > bob and john
11/12/2014 at 01:39

Thanks for replying! Okay, so I've made it a habit and I need to stop.

bob and john > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/12/2014 at 01:40

Also, hasnt you honda hit 350k? UPDATE DAT USER NAME BOY

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/12/2014 at 01:41

Downshifting is jerky and inconsistent. Consistent braking is best assuming you don't lock up.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > bob and john
11/12/2014 at 01:44

Updated! Check me out NAOW!

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
11/12/2014 at 01:44

True. I guess I'm just afraid of my own driving in snow. That, or the bald tires up front don't help.

bob and john > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/12/2014 at 01:45

Kinja'd!!!

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/12/2014 at 01:50

I haven't ever heard that one, but I have heard (and seen) starting an auto in second or third from a dead stop will make it less likely to spin the tires on the launch.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/12/2014 at 01:52

Get good tires on the front!!! Snow is fun. Just don't go near as fast as you do in dry weather, and allow yourself extra time to slow down.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > bob and john
11/12/2014 at 01:55

It also stands to reason that neutral would be better to maintain speed in a downhill situation, as long as you can avoid locking the brakes. No jerky torque transfer to the wheels at all.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
11/12/2014 at 01:56

Getting at least two new tires this weekend since that is all I can afford.

bob and john > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
11/12/2014 at 02:01

Every auto i've driveno automaticly disengages the gear when coasting, so *shrugs*

BATC42 > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/12/2014 at 02:03

I'm with the instructor on this one. This is what my instructors were teling me when I was getting my licence, and that's also what my father's has been telling me (he use to rally on snow, and drives in heavy snow areas during winter).

Gently brake, earlier than what you would usually do. Downshift lately has to not apply too much torque to the wheels.

I'm also kind of a downshift driver, more than a braking driver. I mostly use my engine to slow down, then the brakes if needed. But when the weather is bad I do it the other way around.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > bob and john
11/12/2014 at 02:16

They don't disengage so much as overrun. They have one-way roller sprags for that. Gear remains engaged but will allow the output shaft to turn faster than the input turbine. So torque transfer can occur depending on conditions, though usually by some stupid mistake the driver makes or a mechanical failure of some kind. Having lived most of my life in a region that frequently has ice rinks instead of highways, and having slid probably a half mile nearly uncontrollably, I like to take every precaution to maintain as much control as possible. Unless I'm out hooning of course.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > BATC42
11/12/2014 at 02:28

I have never been told what to do on snow, But I can spatially understand what is going on with the car as I'm driving it. What you just described is exactly what I have been doing by instinct. Does this mean I have rally potential? lol

BATC42 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
11/12/2014 at 02:48

The key to driving on snow is to think ahead. Just like in bad weather.

And here's some snow rally for you.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search…

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > BATC42
11/12/2014 at 02:51

I really dont wanna toot my own horn, But Im kinda proud of myself that Ive been doing the right thing without anyone telling me. Thanks for the Rally vids, that'll keep me occupied for a while

shop-teacher > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/12/2014 at 07:43

That depends on the car. A lot of modern automatics are programmed to start in second, if you put them into second. It does make it easier to get rolling when its sloppy out. It works in my Sierra and in my wife's Mazda 3, but my '11 Malibu will not let me start in anything but 1st gear.

Putting the trans in 3rd though, and it will start in 1st and shift automatically until it hits 3rd, then it won't shift past that.

BJ > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/12/2014 at 08:23

In the snow, ice or on loose surfaces, it can definitely create lockup. Speaking from experience, it can be pretty hairy when it's unexpected, and in a fwd car, you'll lose not only drive traction but steering as well.

As Peter said: Don't do it if you have an auto transmission, it's unnecessary.

Be safe out there!

Sanettika > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/12/2014 at 08:34

Hm. I don't know about autos too much, the only thing I remember is that if you lose traction, drop it into neutral (or mash the clutch, yet another reason I prefer a good manual) because then the wheels are free to roll as they please and are far more likely to be helpful on snow/ice. Part of me misses having snow around because it was fun practice to drive on, and the rest of me is saying "screw that, snow is only good for about 90 seconds of fun in a parking lot and then it sucks for the next 35 months". We're about to hit 40 here in southron Texas, so people will be going nuts and stopping on highways the minute a raindrop hits their windshield. Good times.

twochevrons > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
11/12/2014 at 08:47

It's just a very crude form of torque limiting – going really lightly on the throttle will work just as well, but I suppose that it means that you can make larger throttle inputs instead of really fine ones.

My Volvo 850 has a button that will start the transmission out in third. It's murder on the torque converter, but since it does have a fair bit of torque low down, it might be handy.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/12/2014 at 09:04

Your instructor is right. By downshifting you have less control than you get by using brakes in slippery conditions. If you brake too hard you can easily back off the brakes and regain traction. If you downshift and lose traction the only way to regain traction is more throttle which may not be a very good option.

The Compromiser > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/12/2014 at 09:20

Generating high rpm and increased torque on ice and snow is bad. Downshifting and creating instant torque at speed really bad.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/12/2014 at 16:45

Here in Michigan i like to drive flat out and sideways to my destinations in the winter

Shoop > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/26/2014 at 01:40

I was always taught to downshift to avoid lock up under braking, seeing as the tires have far more control when they are rolling then when they are locked. Essentially what ABS does, except smoother.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > Shoop
11/26/2014 at 04:28

That is what I thought, but Oppo (and driving instructor) says that adds more torque and power to the drive wheels and it might cause traction loss.

Shoop > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/27/2014 at 02:29

...what? The whole point of brakes is to apply a torque to the wheel.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > Shoop
11/28/2014 at 01:40

I honestly have no idea why it's bad. I've tried downshifting in shit conditions and I've always been fine.

Shoop > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/28/2014 at 14:18

I understand why you wouldn't want to down shift while you're already going down a hill, it's the same reason you don't shift mid way through a corner.

Maybe it's because on 2wd cars, down shifting could cause uneven grip?

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > Shoop
11/29/2014 at 00:04

I think you may have hit the nail on the head! That seems logical.

Shoop > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD
11/29/2014 at 00:30

Seeing as I have a 4wd truck with snowtires, I think I'm gonna keep down shifting.