Do you engine compression brake?

[MADBADGER]

If im going to slow down I usually drop a few gears, punch the gas to rev match and let the engine help me brake. Does anyone else do this?

I have no idea if this is bad or not, usually when I drive with other people who drive manual they dont do it. Is it overly strenuous on the transmission?

*Note: I never go more than 2 gears. for example driving at 70 mph on the highway in 6th, taking an exit ramp I will rev to about 2,200 rpm and let the clutch out in 4th gear.

[matthew9440]

I do that. I never thought about it being bad?

[40years]

No different than what you do on a road course. It's all good.

[E.T.]

I like to do it sometimes, mainly just because it sounds cool. Mine's the auto, so it rev matches automagically.

[Angrybird 12]

Mainly on long steep downhill runs I will drop down to 3rd or 4th so I don't overheat the brakes. I have been doing that on all my cars and have had no ill effects. I usually cringe when behind someone riding their brakes going down a mountain then start smelling their brakes overheating.

[AGM 1LE]

do it all the time. down shift for pretty much every stop I make when im above 2nd gear

[Goober]

I most always downshift into turns and when slowing down in conjunction with braking. Unless of course I need to slow down or come to a stop very quickly. Then I'll just use brakes.

[lawdog]

I do it sometimes on my automatic on the way to car shows so I have less brake dust on the rims to wipe off, LOL

[MADBADGER]

Originally Posted by 130R

When I REALLY have to slow, I have an anchor I throw out...

anchor was too heavy so I flintstone it if I REALLY have to slow down.

[tramtwo]

The pros will tell you that brakes are cheaper than transmissions... what the hell do they know?! Nothing like a good bark!!

[ORANGE U NV]

I would be careful how much stress you place on your tranny. The act of braking (reducing stored energy) results in friction. I suppose it's a choice of weather you want to place that friction (wear) on the transmission or on the brakes. The brakes are designed for braking and are much cheaper to replace.

Of course there are circumstances where a driver would want to avoid over-heating the brakes and the transmission would work for that purpose (ie; racing or coming down a mountain).

[2SS 2011]

The automatics do it automatically.. the RPM levels are controlled by computer.. With an M6 it's controlled by our foot..Unless your letting it rev down from 6,000 RPM's .. You should be fine lol

I mean think about it .. The only true friction involved is actually engaging the clutch ..(clutch plates etc)

Once you are in gear.. you are in gear.. Revving down is the same as revving up to the next gear when you normally drive.. it's basically the same.. It works both ways

[ORANGE U NV]

There is gear friction, either accelerating or down shifting (gear braking). This friction is reduced by all the oil in the drivetrain componets.... but there is friction (wear) transmitting all the engine power to the tires or from the tires to the drivetrain when gear braking.

When placing a car in neutral, the only thing slowing you down is the tire friction, wind resistance and gravity. When you gear down and feel that braking force, thats the friction in your drivetrain that is slowing you down. Down shifting can be just as stressful (wear & tear) as hard accelerations on your drivetrain. I'm not saying do or don't.... but there's no "free" braking. You either wear (friction) the brake components or the driveline componets.

[AGM 1LE]

I dont think down shifting to 2.5k or less in conjuction with braking is that bad.