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.

Related

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

Categories
Opposites
braking method

engine brakingdisc brakes

Friction-based vehicle decelerators

drum brakes · regenerative braking · air brakes · parking brake · hand brake

acceleration vs. deceleration

engine brakingacceleration

Rate velocity changes

powering up · accelerating · throttle · speeding up · full throttle

active vs passive energy use

engine brakingpower delivery

Transmitting energy to users

fuel consumption · propulsion · driving force

Family

engine, brakes, engines, braking, braked, engined, engine's, unbraked

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G