Engine Braking
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Elder User
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From: Coleman, Wisconsin
Engine Braking
Is it good or bad to downshift and let the engine slow you down? I do it on occasion with my Mustang just cause it sounds cool, and because it's a 5speed. But in any vehicle, does it wreck anything after a certain period of time??
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: DC
Re: Engine Braking
Originally posted by Boss50
Is it good or bad to downshift and let the engine slow you down? I do it on occasion with my Mustang just cause it sounds cool, and because it's a 5speed. But in any vehicle, does it wreck anything after a certain period of time??
Is it good or bad to downshift and let the engine slow you down? I do it on occasion with my Mustang just cause it sounds cool, and because it's a 5speed. But in any vehicle, does it wreck anything after a certain period of time??
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Blue Hill Township
I usually downshift when driving my manual car, it just kinda became habit. In an automatic, you don't want to change gears when stopping. Just leave it in Drive. Also, if you can double clutch, there is hardly any wear on the clutch.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Connecticut
I have always downshifted. That is how I was taught how to drive and have always been told it is the good thing to do. My last truck was a 92 and only replaced the clutch once in 2002 but only because I had to replace the throw out bearing, so we did it all...Jay
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Salem, MA
I use my engine to slow my truck all the time, with the 300 straight six there is plenty of power to slow the vehicle using the engine. If you engage the clutch when the engine is running at the speed it would rev to when you use the clutch to slow the vehicle, and then release the gas to use the engine braking no harm is being done to the clutch.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
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From: Thomson, GA
To simplify hulks post-
match engine speed-
ie- at 45 MPH in 3rd, rev the engine to ~30000 before you let the clutch out into 2nd (depending on gearing of course)
match engine speed-
ie- at 45 MPH in 3rd, rev the engine to ~30000 before you let the clutch out into 2nd (depending on gearing of course)
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Salem, MA
thanks MuchToMyDelight, i knew what i wanted to say but i couldnt get it across in a way that all the genious' here would understand
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Iowa
if u watch tractor trailers come to a stop they always down**** to slow down, so obviously it doesnt hurt anytihng if anything it saves on your brakes, everyone that i ride with including my dads trucks they always downshift including me and nothin has ever broke or anything so i dont think it hurts to downshift if most people do it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Black Hills of SD
Muchtomydelight, You have an engine that will rev to 30000? Is it a turbine? Just kidding, I know it was a typo.
However consider this. A deisel engine contols its speed from the fuel so it never has a restriction in the intake. A gas engine during compression braking has the throttle plates closed under an rpm much higher than an idle. This tends to put some reverse forces to work, the most noticable will be pulling oil past the intake valve seals. Now on a healthy engine it really isn't a problem, but if it is a high miler, it may suck oil past the valve guides and rings. I once had a 360 with bad valve seals. It used oil but never smoked, except coming off the mountain in third and then it would fog the mosquitos. I compression brake, lightly.
An intersting sidenote on downshifting. I used to get a couple gernaded clutches a year in my shop from people that would have a light change up ahead and just go ahead and slid the shifter down to first at 65 or so because then they would be ready when the light changed. Most of them couldn't comprehend that even though they never let the clutch pedal out the disc had to hit about 10,000 when they did that.
However consider this. A deisel engine contols its speed from the fuel so it never has a restriction in the intake. A gas engine during compression braking has the throttle plates closed under an rpm much higher than an idle. This tends to put some reverse forces to work, the most noticable will be pulling oil past the intake valve seals. Now on a healthy engine it really isn't a problem, but if it is a high miler, it may suck oil past the valve guides and rings. I once had a 360 with bad valve seals. It used oil but never smoked, except coming off the mountain in third and then it would fog the mosquitos. I compression brake, lightly.
An intersting sidenote on downshifting. I used to get a couple gernaded clutches a year in my shop from people that would have a light change up ahead and just go ahead and slid the shifter down to first at 65 or so because then they would be ready when the light changed. Most of them couldn't comprehend that even though they never let the clutch pedal out the disc had to hit about 10,000 when they did that.
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From: Thomson, GA
WB3, yeah, its a turbine unit from a M1A1 Abrams. 1500 HP more than that POS small block.
I didnt think about the grenaded clutch thing, as I too have shifted into 1st at 45 (well, that would only be 4000 RPMs with my 3.25s), but i still hadnt thought about that.
I didnt think about the grenaded clutch thing, as I too have shifted into 1st at 45 (well, that would only be 4000 RPMs with my 3.25s), but i still hadnt thought about that.
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