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Your engine is designed to withstand fuel-air explosions. When engine braking, all it does is compress and expand air, at much lower pressures, so revolutions d

by hx87 10y ago

Your engine is designed to withstand fuel-air explosions. When engine braking, all it does is compress and expand air, at much lower pressures, so revolutions during engine braking are easier on your car than those during regular driving. Clutches get less wear during engine braking because it doesn't slip. When you disengage and reengage the clutch because you're using the regular brakes to slow down, the clutch slips and damages itself. In the end, the reason for engine braking isn't to reduce the cost of brakes--it's a safety measure that keeps the brakes cool for emergencies & miscalculations, since overheated brakes don't work.

dvtv75 10y ago
> Clutches get less wear during engine braking because it doesn't slip. When you disengage and reengage the clutch because > you're using the regular brakes to slow down, the clutch slips and damages itself. And when you have to change down, while engine braking? (I have an odd learning style. Please don't mistake this for "You're wrong because..." It's a case of "I don't understand why, so...") A friend once told me that the UK required you to half-engage the clutch while using the brakes and the engine together. I've also read something to the effect of modern brakes are much more efficient so (at least one) UK "advanced driving school" teaches that it doesn't really matter. I have an older car (1998 Mazda 626 wagon). It's a manual, and when I drive downhill I put it into third and let it coast, braking to reduce speed. Should I be putting it into second, and letting it run up to 3500-4000 revs? Should I leave it in third, and use the brakes? Does it consume more fuel to do this, in a car of that era? I've often meant to ask my local mechanic about this, but never think about it when I'm there.
- rubberstamp 10y ago
  Drive with clutch disengaged. Use clutch only while you quickly shift into an appropriate gear. The longest I use clutch is when I am starting of from a stop in first gear. Once I have momentum, dip clutch fully and shift and release clutch as soon as gear us shifted. When clutch is half pressed, clutch plate gets highest wearing as plates are half pressed against each other, not enough friction is there to stop clutch disc slipping (as it is while clutch is not engaged) against each other thus causing wear. When clutch is fully pressed, the clutch plates are seperated so they dont rub against each other and wear. The way I shift is as I approach a downhill I keep driving it in gear rather than coast. If its steep downhill, you can brake ahead to lower your speed to something you are comfortable at. Shift down to the gear for that speed and then back off the gas if you need engine braking. You can use brake in combination with engine braking gear if you needs to slow down more than using engine braking alone. I shift down when speed gets lower than in current gear.

by hx87 10y ago

dvtv75 10y ago

> Clutches get less wear during engine braking because it doesn't slip. When you disengage and reengage the clutch because > you're using the regular brakes to slow down, the clutch slips and damages itself. And when you have to change down, while engine braking? (I have an odd learning style. Please don't mistake this for "You're wrong because..." It's a case of "I don't understand why, so...") A friend once told me that the UK required you to half-engage the clutch while using the brakes and the engine together. I've also read something to the effect of modern brakes are much more efficient so (at least one) UK "advanced driving school" teaches that it doesn't really matter. I have an older car (1998 Mazda 626 wagon). It's a manual, and when I drive downhill I put it into third and let it coast, braking to reduce speed. Should I be putting it into second, and letting it run up to 3500-4000 revs? Should I leave it in third, and use the brakes? Does it consume more fuel to do this, in a car of that era? I've often meant to ask my local mechanic about this, but never think about it when I'm there.

rubberstamp 10y ago
Drive with clutch disengaged. Use clutch only while you quickly shift into an appropriate gear. The longest I use clutch is when I am starting of from a stop in first gear. Once I have momentum, dip clutch fully and shift and release clutch as soon as gear us shifted. When clutch is half pressed, clutch plate gets highest wearing as plates are half pressed against each other, not enough friction is there to stop clutch disc slipping (as it is while clutch is not engaged) against each other thus causing wear. When clutch is fully pressed, the clutch plates are seperated so they dont rub against each other and wear. The way I shift is as I approach a downhill I keep driving it in gear rather than coast. If its steep downhill, you can brake ahead to lower your speed to something you are comfortable at. Shift down to the gear for that speed and then back off the gas if you need engine braking. You can use brake in combination with engine braking gear if you needs to slow down more than using engine braking alone. I shift down when speed gets lower than in current gear.