Downshifting and letting car slow down by itself

[turtleboy]

I cant remember where I heard or read this, but it was saying something about when you were slowing down to down shift and let the engine coast to your stop. Does it make any sense or was it just another one of those suggestions. I've done a mix of everything the past 250 miles and ready to let her rip!

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[Blacksheep]

It's cheaper to replace brake pads than the clutch. You downshift when youre intending to go get back on the gas and always rev match. Itll save your clutch.

 

[Tamadrummer88]

Woah hold on there. I was taught that downshifting to let the car slow down by engine braking is easier on the brakes and preferred to slow down with a manual. Why would it be bad on the clutch?

 

[ilkhan]

Woah hold on there. I was taught that downshifting to let the car slow down by engine braking is easier on the brakes and preferred to slow down with a manual. Why would it be bad on the clutch?

Its not hard on the clutch unless you are letting it slip. Blip the throttle to match revs and won't add any appreciable wear.

 

[ecolulz]

Are you just breaking the motor in? If so, engine braking is very important for a balanced break-in.

 

[GT Pony]

I never downs shift when slowing down at a light or stop sign. Just leave it in the gear you're in, use the brakes lightly (engine is still adding some breaking) until it's slowed down to about 10 mph, then throw it in neutral and use the brakes.

 

[MagneticA]

Using the engine is a fine way of slowing down, so long as your rpms aren't way out of whack. Using the engine is one of the finer points to manual transmission driving - one of the advantages it has over automatic transmission. And if you drive in slippery conditions you can add a couple +1s to this.

 

[OppoLock]

I'm that asshole that blips from 6th to 2nd spiking revs up to the midrange when slowing down. I just think of it as an opportunity to listen to the exhaust.

No practical wear to be afraid of.

 

[turtleboy]

Are you just breaking the motor in? If so, engine braking is very important for a balanced break-in.

Yes, mainly for break in. And for the others I have an auto, so i'm not too worried about possibly wearing out my clutch.

 

[Firepath]

If you rev-match on downshifting you can still slow down the car with the engine, with no significant slipping or wear on the clutch.

On any of the cars I've owned, I've never replaced brake pads, all were second-hand and 2 (of 3) of them were automatic... People seem to love braking way more than is necessary (in daily-driving). Let off the throttle when you see a wall of cars in front of you at a red light, don't just keep going along at the speed limit and brake harder / longer to end up stopped behind them anyway...

My bike is the same story, and it is a big, fat, heavy, slow Harley, and I generally only need to use the brakes in the last 5-10 feet when coming to a stop. That isn't slowing down for a quarter mile either, that is slowing down at a reasonable pace.

 

[Blacksheep]

I never downs shift when slowing down at a light or stop sign. Just leave it in the gear you're in, use the brakes lightly (engine is still adding some breaking) until it's slowed down to about 10 mph, then throw it in neutral and use the brakes.

Also this

 

[Todd15Fastback]

Are you just breaking the motor in? If so, engine braking is very important for a balanced break-in.

No balanced break-in. Drive it hard as soon as you get it. It will reward you forever.

 

[IvanCRF]

No balanced break-in. Drive it hard as soon as you get it. It will reward you forever.

I broke it in very hard. My Mustang has not burned a drop of oil.

 

[Strokerswild]

No balanced break-in. Drive it hard as soon as you get it. It will reward you forever.

This. :cheers:

I was relatively easy on mine for the first 25-30 miles or so, then it was game on. Bounced it off the rev limiter the first time shortly thereafter.

Breaking them in easy just results in poorly seated rings....

 

[68fbjjz109]

Do you think the 25-30 miles matters?

I have heard start it drive it tills it gets to running temp and have at it.

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