Lesson 3:
Engine Braking
Objective:
At the end of this lesson, you'll be able to keep your speed under
control and slow down without using the brakes.
Lets Get Started!
Engine braking is a useful tool to slow down without using the wheel brakes. It's most useful
when going down a long, steep hill. Riding the brakes down the hill can cause overheating,
and in a worst case scenario, brake failure. However, using engine brakes can cause wear
on the transmission. I don't mean to scare, but for now, you should only use engine brakes
when descending a very long, steep hill, where your speed is increasing faster than you
want it to.
As you come down the hill, lift your foot off of the gas. If the speed continues to increase faster
than you want it to, then it may be time to use the engine brakes. Shift down, but keep your
foot off of the gas. The engine speed will increase, but the car will slow down. Downshift again,
and the engine speed will increase, while the car will slow down faster. Just as long as you don't
put the engine into the red, you can continue using engine brakes to slow down. It's that simple.
Why does this work?
To understand why it works, remember that each gear has a maximum speed. Once your reach
the upper limit of that gear, the car won't go any faster unless you shift up. In simple terms,
if you downshift from 5 into 4, the car's speed will slow down until it reaches the upper limit
of fourth gear. This happens because instead of using the engine to turn the wheels, you
are using the wheels to turn the engine. The engine wants to resist this, and so, you
slow down.
As I said before, engine brakes should only be used in certain situations. The brake lights don't
activate, so make sure that there are no cars following closely behind. Also, don't use it in a
residential area, because the sound of a high revving engine is fairly loud. All-in-all, it's a useful
tool when the situation needs it.