I've heard in a stick shift, if you're not hauling weight its ok to start in 2nd gear

or if you're on ice and don't want to slide as much you can skip first...


Is this true? or would it kill the ol' clutch?

 

You are loading the engine and your computer's AFR response will go to crap. Just learn how to drive in first with a soft foot. You can also make it knock.

 

always use 1st unless in low ranger 4x4 are unless you have a graney 4 speed then you can use second gear

 

In a ranger always use first. Unless you are stuck in the snow mud sometimes being in a higher gear and lugging the engine will give you that grip to get out. An example I had my big truck stuck in the ice in Queens last week. I was just spining wheels in first and reverse so I used 6th and high range reverse and was able to get myself out.

Not if it's a once in a blue moon ocurance. I do agree you'll tare the truck up pretty good if you take off in 2nd plus in a ranger on a normal basis

 

we do not have 'granny' first gears in the M5od trans...no ranger has a granny gear. a granny gear is an extremely low geared 1st gear in the trans. Normally, a 1st gear ratio would be like 3.50:1....granny 1st gear ratio is upwards of 6.00:1....meaning 6 rotations of the engine = 1 rotation of the rear drive shaft. in the 80's, ford offered two different manual transmission behind the 6.9/7.3L diesels...one had granny low(so you could start in 2nd)...the other was a regular ratio trans(like in the ranger).


when i wheel in snow, i always start in 2nd for the wheel speed and the poor traction aiding me into spinning the tires easily in 2nd.

 

So if its absolutely needed i can start in second if i can't get traction, but don't do it unless i REALLY need to?

(BTW i live in Texas we only get ice like once a year)

 

You know what I noticed about ice is that even if your tires are spinning, pushing in the clutch a small amount and letting off the clutch in 1st will more often then not get you out of whatever you are in.

 

You don't need to start in 2nd gear... like it's been said, Rangers don't have an abnormally low first gear. It will just make undue wear on your clutch and can cause some other times. I don't know about low-traction driving... I just kick it into 4x4 and get on with my life =P

 

Its not going to hurt the transmission. If you do a bad job and ride the clutch, it of course can wear out the clutch faster. I used to do it all the time as long as I was on flat ground or a downhill grade or I was already rolling forward.