ok well the maintenance light thing, i've noticed it blinks for like 5 seconds I start my car, and then it goes off

i really dont know if it always did that but i feel like it ididnt, i have an integra gsr 2000, yall think anything is wrong?

and how do you down shift? i was messin around with switching gears and the closest thing i do that i think would be downshifting is im goin like 60 mph in 5th, and i know in 3rd 60 mph is like 5-6 rpm, so when goin 60 in 5th i push the clutch in, rev to about 5-6 rpm and switch to third, but seems like it doesnt do what i feel like everyone talks about when downshifting

o and would an exhaust leak effect mpg?