engine braking
Throttle-off speed reduction
Engine braking is using a vehicle's engine to slow down rather than the brakes.
When you release the accelerator, the engine's internal resistance—compression in the cylinders—creates drag that decelerates the vehicle.
Drivers use engine braking on long descents to prevent brake overheating, or in slippery conditions where gradual deceleration is safer: I downshifted and let engine braking do the work going down the mountain.
- brakeDevice to slow motion
- retarderSomething that slows
- decelerationDecrease in speed
- downshiftingLowering gear or pace
- gear downLower transmission ratio
jake brake · runaway · transmission · slowdown · torque · overrun · throttle response · safety mechanism · fuel efficiency · fuel saving · grade · reverse thrust · steep · steep grade · mountain · mountain pass · clutch · diesel
- car skillsdriving, steering, parking, parallel parking, shifting
- stopping methodscoasting, friction, emergency brake, hand brake, foot brake
- engine behavioridling, running, stalling, starting, revving
- vehicle dynamicsacceleration, handling, steering, traction, cornering
- fuel efficiencyfuel economy, gas mileage, fuel consumption, efficiency rating, fuel saving
- manual transmissionclutch, gearbox, shift, shifter, gear stick
engine brakingdisc brakes
Friction-based vehicle decelerators
drum brakes · regenerative braking · air brakes · parking brake · hand brake
engine brakingacceleration
Rate velocity changes
powering up · accelerating · throttle · speeding up · full throttle
engine, brakes, engines, braking, braked, engined, engine's, unbraked