A money shift is a catastrophic driver error in a manual transmission car where a lower gear is accidentally selected instead of a higher one, such as shifting from third to second instead of fourth. Because the wheels mechanically drive the engine through the clutch, this forces the engine RPM far past its safe limit. It is called a money shift because the resulting valve float and piston collisions cost thousands of dollars to repair.
Heard on the job
He tried to bang fourth gear at the track but hit second instead, did a massive money shift, and put a rod through the block.
Insider tip
Stiffer engine and transmission mounts help prevent the drivetrain from twisting under heavy load, which keeps the shift gates aligned and reduces the chance of a money shift.
Also heard as
- Money shifting