Engine Brake in Traffic

[Richpatty]

For city / stop & go driving I prefer engine brake off. With the engine brake off the deceleration & coast when I take my foot off the throttle is a smoother experience. Engine brake on tends to be a bit more "jerky" with more deceleration, less coast and a somewhat more abrupt transition from coast to acceleration.

I completely agree…. And sometimes I like to coast a bit…

 

[DennisT]

I completely agree…. And sometimes I like to coast a bit…

Yep, depends on the traffic. If congested and people cutting in / out I’ll leave it on to help. If mellow traffic will leave it off to coast and get rolling start through lights etc.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

For those who think it makes driving less smooth, wondering if your accelerator works like mine? I am able to feather the accelerator pedal to make a pretty smooth deceleration where the engine braking engages in a couple steps.
Our engine braking works down to 20mph, below that speed it will not engage.
It is the same for everyone else?

 

[Richpatty]

I agree you can feather the accelerator, but that seems more effort than coasting…

 

[redbaron]

Keep in mind that minimal usage of brakes is also a bad thing. You want to get the smoothness off the pads and rust off the disc. That is only accomplished by heavy braking and heat.

Nothing wrong with engine braking but you do want to mix in enough actual braking to keep your pads and disc’s optimal for stopping.

Of course in stop and go traffic or descending long steep grades, engine brake only is the way to go.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

I always use my exhaust brake in the mountains, and I'm burnishing my brakes by doing hard braking occasionally. Using my brakes without the exhaust brake in city driving is most likely overheating the brakes and the tires. Ask @ARD .

 

[redbaron]

I always use my exhaust brake in the mountains, and I'm burnishing my brakes by doing hard braking occasionally. Using my brakes without the exhaust brake in city driving is most likely overheating the brakes and the tires. Ask @ARD .

Burnishing is the word I was looking for above. I knew it wasn’t glazed….thats the result of stop and go with brakes and extreme overheating. Glazed brakes have to be replaced.

Thanks!

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

@redbaron , just wait until you get old, some words won't come to you until the middle of the night, of course you don't need it then..

 

[Wemustrv]

I responded several days ago that I always use my engine brake except when it's raining. My question is, what reason is there not to use it?

I use mine in rain not sure why you wouldn't. Just curious as to why you wouldn't. I've been doing it for years.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

I use mine in rain not sure why you wouldn't. Just curious as to why you wouldn't. I've been doing it for years.

It would be similar to using only the rear service brakes, which could result in losing traction.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

It would be similar to using only the rear service brakes, which could result in losing traction.

Interesting, for those with tag axles, does the tag axle have brakes? Or is it just supporting weight?
If it doesn’t have brakes than the engine braking is only engaging 4 of the 8 wheels of on the ground (50%).
Those with tandem axles and engine braking would have braking on 8 of 10 wheels on the ground (80%).
Hadn’t considered this scenario before.

 

[Richpatty]

Tags do have service brakes….but the engine brakes only work in the drive axel (so 4 wheels).