Snow, Traction, and Gears?

[paddyhasneeds]

I thought that when driving on snow/ice the general rule is to use the highest gear you can.

This morning I was having some fun coming up a hill in 1st in that I though the revs were getting a little high, so I tried to change to second only for the car to start to shimmy and squirm until I backed off and went back into first.

Speed was pretty low, so would it be the shift in revs on the gear change that did it, or am I just a st driver?

The car was a 1.4 Honda Civic FWD.

[Mafioso]

Strange. That would make more sense in a RWD car tbh. Even though I'm hardly using any revs in this weather (unless mucking about) surely it would be better to stay in first up said hill and have the option of engine braking as a back up?

[naffa]

Sounds like you may ahve given it more gas in 2nd gear than was needed so yes it is your driving.

[paddyhasneeds]

Mafioso said:

Strange. That would make more sense in a RWD car tbh. Even though I'm hardly using any revs in this weather (unless mucking about) surely it would be better to stay in first up said hill and have the option of engine braking as a back up?

You're probably right. The intention wasn't to speed up, just to keep similar speed but drop the revs.

[The fatboy]

what i have experienced was going upslope with first gear sometimes cause unneeded wheelspin. as on my civic the first gear ratio seemed to be quite large which i often have to get to 2nd gear quickly for acceleration.

[10 Pence Short]

I usually try to avoid using the clutch going up hill if the conditions are that slippery. Before you hit the hill get into the highest gear you can maintain your speed with all the way up. Once climbing just try to keep on a steady (as light as you can get away with) throttle with no sudden acceleration or deceleration.

[Mr Will]

A higher gear makes it easier to moderate your power output, but reduces the available engine breaking and shifting gears can unsettle the car.

You probably should have shifted into second before the hill, but having got half way up in first you would have been better off to just stick with it.

[paddyhasneeds]

Noted for if there is a next time. This was the main A5 and perhaps "gradient" is more accurate than "hill".

I must have done something right as myself and a van in front seemed to plough onward and upward whilst there was quite a queue of traffic some way behind - some trucks, some FWD, some RWD cars just sat there, which was a little odd, so I was just focussed on keeping some/any traction.