Engine braking - good idea or pointless ?

EddScott · 13 Jun 2007 at 09:28

Downhill, I would maybe use the engine braking to control speed.

Other than that I tend to use brakes and sort of heel and toe it to lessen transmission stress.

Cheaper to replace pads than the clutch IMO.

Ste · 13 Jun 2007 at 09:29

Kappa said:
when I feel lazy I have just put my foot on the clutch and and brake, and my MPG shoots up faster than if I brake and engine brake.

Again, doing this the engine needs enough fuel to keep it going at idle, which may well be less economical than letting the wheels turn it over (no gas) while slowing down... anyone?

Sure I saw something about this on TG with Clarkson saying he didn't realise that knocking it into neutral while slowing down isn't actually the most economical course of action!

Saytan · 13 Jun 2007 at 09:43

Ste said:
Again, doing this the engine needs enough fuel to keep it going at idle, which may well be less economical than letting the wheels turn it over (no gas) while slowing down... anyone?

Sure I saw something about this on TG with Clarkson saying he didn't realise that knocking it into neutral while slowing down isn't actually the most economical course of action!

my bird is convinced that dipping the clutch = fuel economy loving, and utterly refuses to accept that EFI means that leaving it be is better. but then, she also likes to dip the clutch in corners, despite me forever telling her not to.

however, she'll still tell me i'm a bad driver....

Virdi · 13 Jun 2007 at 10:09

it's a strange one.

...as many years ago, driving instructors used to teach you to drop down gears as you are coming to a stop... however, nowadays... they just tell you to brake - brake - brake and then press the clutch down when you're just about to come to a standstill.

Meridian · 13 Jun 2007 at 10:34

InvaderGIR said:
My 205 does 60 in 2nd...which suprised me

Nearly all petrol cars can do 60 in second: it's so that when the company does 0-60 times, only one gear change (which knocks off at least 0.5 seconds) is needed. For this reason cars usually run a rather long second gear.

As for engine braking: engines are for accelerating, brakes are for braking.

M

OpenToSuggestions · 13 Jun 2007 at 10:44

engine braking is useful to me in the winter, as i dont have anticlock brakes and if i skid on ice im screwed. I also use engine braking coming to roundabouts so i dont have to stamp as hard on the brakes

djbenjo · 13 Jun 2007 at 12:03

megakid said:
If you're saying that using the brakes don't decrease MPG when compared to not using them, ofcourse they do.
All the energy your engine has generated (by using fuel) getting the car moving and up to speed (hence carrying momentum) is expelled through heat via your brake pads. If you don't use them then you just incur the standard frictional and air resistance forces to slow you down slower than you would with brakes hence you'd go further on the same fuel.

This is how I have always regarded it.

Also as mentioned, the wheels will turn over the engine above a certain rpm, rather than fuelling it.