I was just talking to a friend about braking ability on our cars, and the benefits of engine braking. I was thinking that its better to use the brakes, but he is adamant that the engine braking makes you stop much better. Does engine braking really help that much in trying to stop the car? I would think that in a situation where you have to stop fast, downshifting would take to long. It doesnt seem like engine braking would be very good for the engine either. Do you guys know if engine braking is bad for the motor or not?
Thanks
Mike

 

I find engine breaking works very well, since my governor is out of whack and won't downshift out of OD till I'm near stopped. So shifting into at least D helps a lot.

 

Brake pads and rotors are easier to replace than engines and transmissions, so why not play it safe?

 

the only thing it could hurt really is the tranny unless you shift it to a low gear then floor it thinking you were in a higher gear and surpass red line a lot, then there goes your engine. Accually downshifting utilizes more of the tranny and helps move arround fluid from those dark corners, this is good unless there is already metal particles in it.

 

I engine brake regularly during everyday driving and have been for years, still on the original 164k+ mile motor. Just don't go buck wild (5000+ RPM downshifts).

 

yeap, I've belted thousands of engine braking miles.

You know, there's this one road up north Denver in the suburb of Thorton, that has a sign that states 'no engine braking, under city ordinance bla bla bla'. To this day, I have no clue for WTF? That is the only one I've seen in Denver, & the surounding burbs including where I live.

It's not a super steep hill or anything.
WTF?

Ron

 

I would think like said earlier, as long as you're not downshifting, so it's at like 5k rpms, you'll be fine. Though I don't have it go over 3k rpms, doesn't sound to good with the exhaust all loud and stuff.

 

Engine braking on a passenger car helps to control speed, not slow the car to a stop.

I like to use engine braking when I am in the mountians (back when I was in Roanoke) because I could keep the speed under control on some of those really twisty downhills without overheating my crappy factory brakes.

Ronterry: I don't think that the sign applies to cars. Have you ever heard a Kenworth coming to a stop or on a long hill? It's loud. The exhausts on those big trucks have valves that will block the exhaust manifolds and actually slow the pistons on the exhaust stroke. (Also known as a 'Jake Brake') It saves them from having to apply partial braking for long periods to keep the speed down. A lot of towns have ordinances that say big trucks can't use their engine brakes within the town limits.


My Ex used to try to downshift for every stop, before she'd hit the brakes. Good thing her Volvo had big bumpers. :lala:
(this is the same Ex who 'couldn't drive Automatic' and ran my T/A in to a ditch)

 

Ron - We have those signs in several places where I live. I never understood them either until I was following behind someone whose brake lights weren't working. If you aren't paying close attention, it can be easy to not notice the guy ahead of you slowing down when there aren't red lights telling you he is.

Sure it all comes down to paying attention... but we all know how attentive every one out there is.

 

SpeedCat's explaination sounds better. He got it in while I was typing. lol

 

Thanks for making that clear guys.

I would also like to clarify engine braking on my part, and you guys are right on par. I don't use the gears to slow down, but rather I drop in 3rd so I can maintain speed while going down hill.

The facts are, on Pikes Peak I remember signs posted to tell people NOT to ride there brakes, and to use engine braking or stop and let the brakes cool periodically on decent.
I don't remember seeing any sand pits to save your @##, but it's been about fifteen years since my visit.
It's still no surprise that the brake shops down the hill do so well.


Ron

 

I heard this was true, but I dunno to believe it or not. Someone told me downshifting runs the motor lean...I dunno how true that is.

 

Hay ron just steal the sign, if it never reapears, it was not very important, besides it would go good with the colection in the basement or at least to start one.

 

 

There still aren't any sandpits on Pikes Peak, if you miss a turn it's all over with!!!!! I took my car up it last year for the 3rd time, that's a fun trip driving to over 14,100 ft. up a mountain. I always use engine braking on long descents to keep the brakes cool, and if the engine starts revving too high I'll touch the brakes a little to slow down some. Pikes Peak has a brake check point about 1/3 way down to check to see if peoples brakes are overheating. I always pass.

 

That must be something new. They didn't have that brake check the last time I was there in '86. Only thing they checked, was going in the park was that you had at least a half tank of fuel.

I live in the damn state, and only drove it twice In fact If I climb on the roof of my house I can see it Man I even had flight training in the springs. Oh well, I need to drive that sucker this summer.

Hey 'DartByU' If you havn't tried the train that goes up the peak, oh man that is fun. They have a special third rail that rachets a special anti death gear or something


Ron