Key insights

• ⚙️ Engine braking in a manual transmission vehicle is not a bad idea but using the clutch to slow down or downshifting abruptly can lead to clutch wear and disrupt the car's balance.
• 🚗 Engine braking is simply letting off the throttle while in gear to slow the car down.
• 🔧 When you slow down a gasoline engine car, the throttle valve closes, creating a vacuum and making it hard for the engine to pull in air, which slows you down.
• 🚫 Contrary to popular belief, it's not the compression that slows the car down. Closing the throttle valve creates a vacuum, making it difficult for the engine to pull in air.
• 🔥 Engine braking isn't a bad idea and has benefits, including turning kinetic energy into heat and utilizing the engine's dedicated cooling system.
• 🛣️ Driving in manual mode is efficient and reduces brake wear, especially on long steep descents.
• 🌡️ Engine braking is important for long descents to prevent brake fade. It's unlikely to put too much heat into the engine from engine braking. A broken thermostat can affect engine cooling during descents.
• 🌡️ When going downhill, the engine coolant temperature may drop due to the cooling circuit running continuously, but modern cars have thermostats to maintain an efficient temperature range.

Q&A

• Does engine braking affect engine cooling?

  It's unlikely to put too much heat into the engine from engine braking. However, a broken thermostat can affect engine cooling during descents. Modern cars have thermostats to maintain an optimal temperature range, even when going downhill.

• Is driving in manual mode efficient?

  Driving in manual mode shuts off fuel injection when your foot is off the gas, which is more fuel-efficient. It also reduces brake wear, especially on long steep descents, and prevents brake overheating and brake fade.

• What are the benefits of engine braking?

  Engine braking turns kinetic energy into heat and utilizes the engine's dedicated cooling system. It also reduces brake wear, especially on long, steep descents, and is important for preventing brake fade. These benefits are applicable to both manual and automatic transmission vehicles.

• What is the effect of closing the throttle valve when slowing down a gasoline engine car?

  Closing the throttle valve creates a vacuum, making it difficult for the engine to pull in air. This process, contrary to popular belief, is what slows the car down, not the compression of the engine. Most of the energy from compression goes back into pressing the piston down, with very little lost to heat in this transaction.

• Why should I avoid using the clutch to slow down?

  Using the clutch or abruptly downshifting to slow down can lead to clutch wear and disrupt the car's balance. It's not a recommended way to decelerate a vehicle.

• What is engine braking?

  Engine braking is simply letting off the throttle while in gear to slow the car down. It comes from the throttle valve being closed and creating a vacuum, which makes it difficult for the engine to pull in air.

• 00:00 Engine braking in a manual transmission vehicle is not a bad idea but using the clutch to slow down or downshifting abruptly can lead to clutch wear and disrupt the car's balance.
• 00:46 When you slow down a gasoline engine car, the throttle valve closes, creating a vacuum and making it hard for the engine to pull in air, which slows you down. Contrary to popular belief, it's not the compression that slows the car down.
• 01:35 Engine braking isn't a bad idea and has benefits, including turning kinetic energy into heat and utilizing the engine's dedicated cooling system.
• 02:24 Driving in manual mode is efficient and reduces brake wear, especially on long steep descents.
• 03:14 Engine braking is important for long descents to prevent brake fade. It's unlikely to put too much heat into the engine from engine braking. A broken thermostat can affect engine cooling during descents.
• 04:06 When going downhill, the engine coolant temperature may drop due to the cooling circuit running continuously, but modern cars have thermostats to maintain an efficient temperature range.