Braking with the gears what ridiculous practice

Conor_3

nullogik wrote: »

I was taught to brake with the gearbox by a car driving instructor only two years back. I then changed instructors and was told by the new guy that it was unnecessary with modern cars and just to use the foot brake. Confusing...

Anyway I drive an auto now so it doesn't really matter.

And when you've lifted off the accelerator and are slowing to stop over a distance, say the length of a sliproad, can you tell us all what the auto gearbox does? Does it stay in top until you stop?

Conor_3

pault123 wrote: »

Hold on I think i'm misssing something here? Why would the driver in 5th have to go into 2nd!!?? The driver in 5th who had slowed down to 20mph with engine braking would simply press the brake and put the clucth down as he pulls up to the lights. The brakes would stop the car.

..as the engine was fighting the brakes due to the fact the ECU's anti-stall was trying to do its job?

Conor_3

pault123 wrote: »

Its like saying i'll check my tyre pressure before EVERY journey and my oil and water incase something else goes wrong.

I do those checks every day on my lorry and AFAIK, it's pretty much an expected system to be in place as EVERY haulage company has daily check sheets. And I've been glad I have on more than one occassion too as one day I parked up the motor after a run and on my daily check the following day, found large chunks of the tread missing.

pault123

Conor wrote: »

I do those checks every day on my lorry and AFAIK, it's pretty much an expected system to be in place as EVERY haulage company has daily check sheets. And I've been glad I have on more than one occassion too as one day I parked up the motor after a run and on my daily check the following day, found large chunks of the tread missing.

Why do HGV's keep making there way into this conversation?

I should hope so too in a haulage company but 99% of car drivers don't check there tyre pressure oil and water EVERY day!!!

pault123

and i would hope 99% of sane people don't worry themselves sick their brakes are going to fail everytime they stop the car, so use the gears to brake "just incase"

goldspanners

pault123 wrote: »

Its like saying i'll check my tyre pressure before EVERY journey and my oil and water incase something else goes wrong.

you should though.

admittedly i dont but its not that bad a practice.

tomstickland

I've made a special "how not to do it" video. Feel free to get excited.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSpKuOPbTOA

pault123

LOL! Tom that video is amazing , I may have to make one myself :beer:

I would desribe my braking technique as a lot less "hectic" than that vid :T

pault123

watched it again and its a perfect example of my original post question! The speed you drop through the gears to scrub off mph is exactly what I am trying to understand.

Can you try driving with engine braking and staying in gear as long as possible, perhaps with only one downchange if needed and use the footbrake and clutch when revs require? and post a vid of the results! would be very interesting.


I may try NON MSE DRIVING on my way to work tomorrow :rotfl:


The other point people have raised about if you don't drop down 5-4-3-2-1 then need to pull off again quickly what do you do? - Since i'm already in neutral with my foot on the brake slowing down - I simply put the car back into the appropriate gear to match the revs without even thinking about it and pull off.

JoeyG

Not sure if this has already been mentioned, but excessively low revs (eg 20mph in 6th gear) places excessive strain on the reciprocating components, such as engine bearings, connector rods, crankshaft and pistons.

Therefore, selecting the right gear for your speed will preserve the longevity or your engine, irrespective of whether your speed is increasing or descreasing