Do you guys use engine braking?

[FlyinMSP]

Wrong, engine is till making its turns at high rpms. Need fuel in order to turn...

Nop. Actually you can make an engine turn by pushing the car (or going downhill), in gear, while it's shut off

 

[NCZ13]

i downshift coming into pretty much all stops, unless im around 20mph, and then i just put it in neutral.

 

[Kosh]

the wheels keep turning on the car....and the pistons are still moving because it stil ignites..if the rpms go high the engine has to compensate with fuel/air

RPM does not equal fuel usage. Increasing the RPM under load equals fuel usage.

 

[We Are Ninja]

I frequently use engine braking to scrub a little speed, but if I know I'm coming to a complete stop, I'll put the car in neutral or get onto the clutch and brake normally.

 

[Kosh]

Nop. Actually you can make an engine turn by pushing the car (or going downhill), in gear, while it's shut off

I wouldn't try pushing a car in gear while it is off. It won't go anywhere unless you push really ******* hard

Think about roll starting. Disengage the clutch, get up speed as said above and pop the clutch while in gear. The car will start if the key is turned because the moving car starts the engine turning.

 

[speed3shon]

no fuel is used if you are in gear and off the gas...

the drivetrain spins the crankshaft, thats what keeps the pistons turning, not combustion.

 

[PlatinumMSP]

it helps wear down your gears evenly, i always engine brake

 

[crashkelly]

the wheels keep turning on the car....and the pistons are still moving because it stil ignites..if the rpms go high the engine has to compensate with fuel/air

still wrong...

 

[crashkelly]

The momentum of the car rolling makes the pistons go up and down without the need for little explosions in the cylinder.

+1! Thank you!

 

[fourthmeal]

Some fuel is used on decel, but it is nearly equivelant to idle speed. Certainly not a large number. Heel-toe downshifts are by far the best way to engage a lower gear and coast. BTW, the EGR system goes very active when doing these decel coasts, so watch out for high EGT's from running lean and running exhaust gas through the intake again.

Good post on why drag racers shut down after a race. Neat to know.

 

[Siscim23]

Yeah I never engine brake. Like the poll says, brakes are cheaper than engines.

 

[jred321]

it says clutches

 

[gru]

If you're downshifting and blippin' the throttle engine breaking is fine. The less you spool the turbo when doing this the better though.

 

[dkswim]

yes i rev match and engine brake what good it dose theres not a lot of braking from engine

 

[Siscim23]

it says clutches

Yeah, whatever. (doh)

 

[LENNY127]

here is my 2 cents, before I bought my 07 speed 3 , I had a 00 Nissan Frontier with 298k miles , I bought it at 220k miles and in the 3 years I had it I never changed the brakes nor a single part of the engine. I ALWAYS!! engine brake.

 

[CantCMe]

It's too much fun for me not to. I tried not to years ago but it feels wierd...love to hear the exhaust when I engine brake.

 

[knowledge007]

Me too, sometimes I do it just for that. But for the most part I coast when I need to stop...

 

[iwannagofast]

(laugh) I have a SOLUTION!

Take your car to 60 mph and leave it in gear then shut off the engine!! (laugh)

If your car slows down more than it does on and in gear.. then it's not using any gas

if your car slows down a bit less, then that extraforce must come from somewhere... (gas?)

BTW i hold no responciblity for this comment (rockon)

 

[BuckDich]

I always downshift. It's not an issue of which will cost you more, brakes or a clutch, because a clutch will last 50,000k+ with the right owner and with downshifting. If you don't downshift and soak up everything with the brakes, you'll be getting 10-20k out of them, maybe. Cost is about the same.