Engine braking
I almost never use first until I come to a complete stop.
- Get on the freeway (with no cars behind you).
- Travel at about 45 mph steady.
- Downshift to 2nd gear. Do NOT touch the gas or brake pedals.
Two things will happen. First, your engine will quickly spin up to high RPMs (but shouldn't redline, that's why I picked 45 mph). Second, your car will slow down. That is engine braking. It's a good way to scrub speed.
Another example: When I'm driving my '69 Camaro, if the stoplight turns red, I downshift 4-3, then 3-2, and then 2-1 as I'm getting close to stopping. The car slows itself to a stop just from running in a lower gear. I don't have to hit the brake pedal until I'm doing 1 mph in 1st gear and actually want the car to STOP MOVING.
Those examples help?
- Travel at about 45 mph steady.
- Downshift to 2nd gear. Do NOT touch the gas or brake pedals.
Two things will happen. First, your engine will quickly spin up to high RPMs (but shouldn't redline, that's why I picked 45 mph). Second, your car will slow down. That is engine braking. It's a good way to scrub speed.
Another example: When I'm driving my '69 Camaro, if the stoplight turns red, I downshift 4-3, then 3-2, and then 2-1 as I'm getting close to stopping. The car slows itself to a stop just from running in a lower gear. I don't have to hit the brake pedal until I'm doing 1 mph in 1st gear and actually want the car to STOP MOVING.
Those examples help?
Also, while this is miniscule in the scheme of life, when 'engine braking' or using the engine to come to a stop, as the car is decelerating using the engine (i.e. when you downshift as you come to a stop), the injectors are not firing. This is as opposed to putting it in neutral where the injectros still fire as the car tries to maintain idle speed. Miniscule fuel savings but fuel savings nonetheless.
