I cut the difference and never shift out of 1rst so I don't have to decide whether to downshift or brake in neutral.

 

I would usually just cruise down in neutral except when i need to stop a bit quicker i just drop it to the next lower gear and so on. i been doing that on my other car and i had it for about 5 yrs and there's nothing wrong with my tranny. the rev is usually below 4k

 

No, it's not doing anything the car doesn't do on it's own. The concept of engine braking is the same on a manual and an auto. Why should I let the car shift on its own if it's not helpful for the driving conditions at the time. If the tranny thinks the engine is pushing the car OK, then it will try to get into the highest gear it can for economy. Why limit the engine/tranny push using the brakes when I can adjust the amount of push with the tranny? If you stuck the stick into 5th whenever it was able to push the car, you would get better economy, assuming you drove it for slow accel, the tranny would pull you just fine in most terrains. But you don't because you don't want to have to downshift if you need more power feeling. It's just that most people think they don't have to pay attention to the car when they are driving an auto. If done right, like capt.boomer explains above, it isn't hard on your engine. You just don't want to do it where it will over rev the engine. And don't forget if you've got it out of D...

IMO, it's not a question of doing one or the other but applying both in their proper amounts for the situation at hand. Excessive braking is harder on more than just brake pads. It can affect rotors, alignment, get you rearended or viceversa. It also adds to traffic congestion when people are braking instead of coasting and/or a little engine braking. Engine braking happens whenever you take your foot off the gas and deccelerate, you're just managing it with the tranny instead of a range of speed within one gear...

 

You never want to take your car out of gear when your driving even if your coming to a complete stop... what happens if someone is coming up on you fast and you need to manuver out of the way or if you for some reason need to get a way quick... Also engine braking is not the worst thing for your engine but its also not the best. It waste gas and makes your engine work harder than it has too. Just use your brakes and keep your car and gear and shift when appropriate.

 

Check your facts... Engine braking doesn't use gas. If you were using gas, you wouldn't be engine braking, you'd be doing the opposite. Engine braking happens by the force of the engine turning BUT not having the engine fire.

Taking your foot off the gas and having it make the car deccelerate IS ENGINE BRAKING. Explain how that's bad if you do it within the rpm range on a given gear. Just don't down shift to first. If you do it right, it is not hard on your engine and not only that, it is easier on your brakes.

 

ok explain to me how downshifting and jumping up a 1000 rmps is not harder on your car than just taking your foot off the gas? Use some logic on that one bro... more RPM more gas.

 

That's true - when you are accelerating. The reason the rpms jump 1000 is from the gearing, not from your engine. If your engine is using gas, that equals little explosions that push the pistons down creating power. When you AREN"T using gas, the pistons are turning and pushing air but no fuel and no spark.

The engine is speeding up due to the force of the wheels turning and pushing back up thru the powertrain thru the tranny. It's completely the opposite effect that pushes your car when the engine is doing it.

 

scionicman is right.

 

brakes are cheaper than clutches

 

clutches last longer than brakes.

 

the faster i wear down my brakes the faster i'll have an excuse to upgrade pads or maybe even more

 

brake pads are cheap and easy - engines and clutches are not. Which one do you want stopping your ride?

 

i don't see any conclusive evidence that shows engine braking is detrimental to the car. someone even said it was the recommended method of braking in the manual.

 

Check this thread on may 6th:

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...nshift&start=0

poll and topic is just what your looking for. Read the replys, some say new stuff others just echo what others have said.

Good luck.

 

Scionman is incorrect. The force of the wheels does cause the engine to go up in rpm, but the ecu automatically adjusts and fires accordingly. Otherwise the engine RPM's would go up but there would be no noticeable increase in sound. The engine revs, because the engine is firing more times per second. Besides, you've gotta rev match in order to not prematurely wear out ur clutch and synchros, so you're getting on the gas in either case when you downshift. That being said, it sounds cool and is fun, so I do it.

 

I second that

 

If this were true, you're car would NEVER stop except under braking power. If you're going down a hill and take your foot off the gas, does the ECU give it more gas to match the RPMs like you state? If so, you could never slow down without the brakes alone, you'd accelerate down hills. Don't just theorize off the top of your head, there's simple science involved here. If the engine is firing, you will be accelerating, when you are DECCELERATING, the engine isn't firing. It's still turning and pumping air, but little or no fuel is being used.

Get back to me when you've had some years of driving experience and maybe do a little research. Google is your friend...

Think of this concept: Your car is moving along at 65 MPH. The wheels, drivetrain tranny engine all turning at the same speed. Momonetum of the car pushing along. Now when you go to stop it, would it be better to slow it ALL down at the same speed or should you apply the brakes and cause ONLY the wheels to begin to slow while the rest of the drivetrain is turning for 65MPH. Then it has to compensate for this change in your halfshafts, tranny, etc. That sounds like more stress than engine braking and keeping everything turning evenly and slowing everything together. Like I said before, there's a balance of the 2 that you want to use...

 

Listen buddy, theres no way you can tell me the engine isn't firing, it's obvious it is, you can hear it. I'm not saying the ecu automatically gives it effing gas, but it will fire off ur plugs according to the speed of the engine. Otherwise ur engine wouldn't make any noise, just as a car makes no noise if left in 3rd and pushed down a really long, steep hill. The car might hit 50 mph, but it wouldn't just be revving happily along as it is when u downshift to brake. The force of the engine which slowly tapers off its rpm's is what slows you down. You have the entire engine not wanting to move, and being forced to move by the wheels, when the clutch is engaged and you're not on the gas. Therefore if you're not keeping ur rpm's at a consistent level, or going upwards, naturally you will slow down.

 

You are so completely wrong on this. Do some research, don't just think hard about it...

 

same for me..