Does skipping gears damange cars?

Question

I recently had to have my car repaired because the fuel pump stopped working. Since the car is a 2003, I though it was kind of odd for it to fail so quickly and wondered if it had to do with how I drive. The only thing I do differently from normal is that I tend to skip gears. I will often shift from 1st to 2nd, then 4th, then 6th. Skipping 3rd and 5th all together. Sometimes, when in a high speed merge, I will get to cruising speed in 3rd and then go straight into 6th. Could this be killing my car?

BTW, it's a 2003 Audi A4 3.0.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Those are two different issues. Your fuel pump could have been  bad, or bad fuel has taken a toll on it. Yur car is 3 years old so if you have a lot of miles on it then it could be time for the fuel pump to go bad.

The way you describe your shifting behavior isn't too bad. and skipping a gear or two is alright to do just as long as you aren't "red-lining" or increasing your engine speed too much (RPM) before shifting gears. By doing so, you could burn out a lower gear. 

Fifth and 6th gear is generally your cruising gears, and third and fourth gear can usually take a good winding out. But, try not to do that. Keep track of your RPM and listen to your engine. Consider going through the gears the "standard" way and see what feels best.

I suspect you might also be due for a tranny flush. If your car has about 60K miles on it go ahead and have the transmission flushed. While it is being flushed they can look at the fluid to see if there is anything to be concerned about.

gsschulte · Answer

no i do it too the fuel pump will be something totally different. you fuel pump may be from letting the tank go empty even once as its an electric fuel pump in the gas tank most likely.

ineednostinkingid · Answer

The two are unrelated, but you should learn to use the manual transmission properly. Third and Fifth are actually there for a reason.

Anonymous · Answer

if the revs are up that high and you go directly into 6 gear it would not cause a problem.

jbbsbrock · Answer

Grinding the gears could hurt the car.

harib · Answer

i does no longer permit it "bathroom" down the engine once you do it yet, no it always does no longer rely. I each so often get lazy like that and don't wanna shift continually so I bypass a kit each each so often.

Anonymous · Answer

It takes eight seconds for  YahooAnswers page to load for me to be able to click on  [add your answer] box. is my computer slow??

macy5 · Answer

YES! That is hard on your transmission!

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Does skipping gears damange cars?

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