Feathering the accelerator can be described as the action of lightly pressing the accelerator. Drivers may need to use this technique when they do not want their engine to stall.
To keep the engine from stalling or dying out completely, the driver must keep the perfect balance of both control and speed.
Contents
What does “feathering” even mean?
When you look in the dictionary for the meaning of this word, you will see several different meanings. However, one of the most simplistic and generic is to float, move, or wave like a feather. Or, it simply means to touch something or someone lightly.
The meaning of this term varies based on the activity that is taking place. For instance, in painting, the term feathering is a technique that means to achieve a seamless blend.
How do you feather a pedal?
Feathering the pedal is simply learning how to drive your vehicle with a light foot. When you learn this style of driving, you can avoid stomping on the accelerator to pick up speed. That being said, here are a few things that you should know about how to feather a pedal.
- When you place your feet on the pedal, only apply a light amount of pressure.
- To maintain a consistent speed when going up and down hills, touch the pedal with your feet gently with a minimum amount of pressure
- To maintain a smooth ride, keep your eye on the speedometer while lightly pressing down on the pedal
Can you feather the clutch as well?
Another technique that most people may learn from an instructor or another driver is feathering the clutch. Feathering the clutch means allowing the clutch to slip slightly, while also keeping it partially engaged.
When you use this technique on a manual transmission, you can keep the car from jerking back and forth when pulling off from a stop sign. Instead, you can pull off smoothly and safely without any problems.
What does feathering the gas pedal achieve?
Even though learning how to feather the gas pedal may not be easy to learn at first, it normally becomes second nature once you get the hang of it. Yet, why would anyone want to learn this technique of driving in the first place?
First off, there is a wide range of benefits that are associated with this style of driving. Some of the most advantageous are listed below.
Prolongs the life of the Engine.
When drivers are feathering their pedals, they can prolong the life of their engine. In fact, this is one of the primary benefits of using this technique to drive a car.
For instance, whenever a driver applies a light amount of pressure on their pedal, the engine speeds will only increase slightly, too. This means the engine does not have to work extra hard as it picks up speed.
Prevents excessive wear and tear on the rotors and brake pads.
When people drive fast all of the time, they tend to stomp on their brakes at the red light and stop signs. Unfortunately, this extra force and pressure on the brakes and rotors can be very destructive over time.
Specifically, because brakes and rotors are designed to last only so long and their lifespan is based on the type of driving that the owner does.
On the other hand, when the driver is skilled in feathering the gas pedal, they can go light on the brakes and rotors when they stop, too. This is especially the case for drivers who live in an area that requires them to go up and down hills frequently.
Improved fuel efficiency.
Another great benefit of learning how to feather the gas pedal is improved fuel efficiency. In fact, car owners can expect to use less fuel overall when the engine is not working so hard to maintain a constant speed.
Conclusion
Feathering the accelerator and other key parts of your car can be very beneficial to you, your car, and your pockets. This is primarily because feathering the accelerator can achieve a wide range of great benefits, including prolonging the life of the engine, preventing excessive wear and tear on the brakes and rotors, and improving fuel efficiency.
