I have heard that engine braking is bad and that one should never engine break. I have heard from others that engine braking is harmless and more efficient than using brake pads. Can someone please clarify this once and for all for me?

 

What do you mean engine brake? Like exhaust brake.....or down shifting while comming to a red light?

 

You will get different opinions.

Technically you should always have your car in gear while driving. This allows you more control. It is very poor technique to dip the clutch while going around corners or while coming to stop.

If you can, keep the car in an appropriate gear for the speed while slowing. Granted this takes practice as rev matching is not necessarily easy. It, however, is fun and if at any time you need to apply the throttle you will be in an appropriate gear to do so. i.e. not in 5th at 20mph.

It definitely does not damage anything to use the engine to slow.

 

It's not bad at all. As long as it's engaged and not slipping there's no additional wear to it. The wearing comes from the dis- and re-engagement process.

Harmless, and in conjunction with brakes is the most efficient way to stop the car.

Done...

 

yes I am talking about down shifting as opposed to going into neutral while going down a hill.

 

Our cars aren't diesels. Only diesels have engine brakes. Thats what makes that farting like noise when they are slowing down.

 

Depends what you're trying to do, are you racing on a road course or going down a long hill? Going down a hill, yes leave the car in gear and use the engine. In most states it's illegal to cost down a hill anyway.

Jackermeister your engine will act as a brake just take your foot off the gas with the clutch out at high rpm and see what happens.

 

Alright, newbie question here, but what exactly do you mean by engine breaking? The only context I have heard about it before in is with diesels engines.

 

Our brakes are also assisted by vacuum: having the car in gear helps you work the brakes more effectively and makes sure your car doesn't stall (unlikely for some, more likely for others) leaving you without any power brakes.

Its a balance between a bit of clutch wear and more brake wear. You WILL wear out your brakes sooner if you never use your engine to stop. Down shifting is up to you, and you should be very good at it before trying to do it in a critical situation.

 

Engine Braking - Not BREAKING

Just leaving the car in gear, say as you go down a hill - to help control the speed, and or slow the car down as opposed to pushing in the clutch and JUST using the brakes

 

- 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?

 

Yeah same here. Its illegal for diesels to engine brake here, but they still do it. It says that when you come into the state. I also use my engine as a brake. Coming down wolf creek pass you'd probably burn the hell out of your brakes. So I know what people are talking about.

 

Maybe the title should be called down shifting?

 

Actually that "farting" sound is the Jake brake system. Anyway I rather change brake pads than a clutch anytime, because as you go from 4-3,3-2,2-1, there is clutch wear happening there.

 

Or exhaust brake or compression brake, Jake Brake is a brand name.