I don't know if you guys out there use engine brake so often or not. I found
it very useful in Winter.

However, I'm afraid doing so may damage the clutch.

Rob Duncan <robduncan (AT) gbronline (DOT) com> wrote

through all the gears (after you get going) with NO clutch at all.
I have done it in many cars and trucks.
the clutch cable broke in my 1972 volvo and i drove all the way home in the
city...!!

"Daya" <me (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

Arent brakes cheaper than clutches? Why would you want to destroy your
clutch? Stop doing that my man, brakes are cheaper.


Rob

On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 18:14:52 -0800, "Rob Duncan" <robduncan (AT) gbronline (DOT) com>
wrote:

I don't understand how engine braking destroys the clutch? In fact, maybe
I don't understand what is meant by engine braking? Please elucidate.

....Ron

In article <tNadnQeaY5i917ndRVn-jA (AT) gbronline (DOT) com>,
robduncan (AT) gbronline (DOT) com says...
It's cheaper to push the car than to use the engine.

Besides, why would downshifting cause significant clutch
wear? It wears a heck of a lot less than starting from a
stop - and we don't even blink about doing that.

--
Cam
'02 RS

Ron Ginter <ronginter (AT) rogers (DOT) com> wrote in
news:q0q8205khu6eggbapblvkl7rlkf7fqee5r (AT) 4ax (DOT) com:

It doesn't. If the engine & transmission speeds are matched before
releasing the gas pedal there will be virtually NO wear on the clutch.
Engine braking is a great way to prolong brake life. Especially if you
frequent the mountains.

-S.S.-

On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 20:29:30 -0800, Cam Penner
<Cam.Penner.news1ATpleasedontspamgoldmedalsystems. com (AT) hotmail (DOT) com>
wrote:

Some folks may wear their clutches when they downshift if they don't
match their engine speed by blipping the throttle.

So for folks incapable of doing that, I suppose they shouldn't engine
brake. For the rest of us...

nate

On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 19:55:28 -0500, "Daya" <me (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote:

Modern advanced driving teaches 'brakes to slow, gears to go'. This is
fine as far as it goes, but there are certainly instances when
changing down through the gears will improve stability and increase
safety....particularly when descending steep hills. I would also agree
that it is a must on slippery surfaces, where you want to use the
brakes as little as possible and only very gently.

No question of clutch damage if done properly.

David Betts
davidb (AT) motorsport (DOT) org.uk

<David Betts> wrote:
Do you realize your post is just a couple of non-sequitors?

IMHO there are no differences between applying the brakes and downshifting
in an AWD car. Both apply stopping force to all four wheels - I would think
the brake pedal allows more control to the amount of braking force.

I think the misconception of the utility of engine braking for cars comes
from people seeing truckers doing it. Truckers downshift on long hills with
heavy loads because they have enough momentum to cause brake-fade by the
time they get to the bottom of the hill.

RWD cars get a bit of "stability" because downshifting only applies braking
to the rear wheels. With big heavy V8 engines over the front wheels,
applying the brakes can cause you to fish-tail.

God help you if you downshift in a FWD going down a slippery hill - spin,
spin, spin!

--
Dominic Richens | dominic (AT) alumni (DOT) uottawa.ca
"If you're not *outraged*, you're not paying attention!"

For those who know how to double clutch on the downshift, you get the
smoothest connection of drive train and engine. On a snowy downgrade, with
AWD you get smooth engine braking without pitching the vehicle forward, as
happens when you use the brakes.

Unfortunately, my spouse has warned me that my next car must be an
automatic. Ugh!

But even with an automatic, when downshifting, you can gently "feather" the
throttle as you downshift.