What is engine braking?

Engine braking is the process of taking your foot off the accelerator when in gear and allowing your vehicle to slowly come to a stop without using the brakes. Many motorists do this regularly without realizing and will then shift down the gears to come to a gradual stop, which is known as downshifting.

There can be benefits to engine braking but it’s important that you do it mindfully. Discover how engine braking works, the benefits and when not to use engine braking.

How can you use your vehicle’s engine as a brake?

In petrol engines, when decelerating, the air intake is closed, creating a vacuum that limits the airflow to the cylinders. This vacuum imposes significant resistance on the pistons, subsequently decelerating the engine. In a diesel engine, the fuel flow is reduced significantly by the fuel system management.

When will you feel the effects of engine braking?

You will feel the effects of engine braking as soon as you ease off the accelerator. Moving down the gears will also help you gradually slow down without using the brake pedal. Engine braking can be a safe method to gradually slow down your vehicle but it’s important to assess the situation first.

The benefits of engine braking

In the right situations, engine braking can be a safe and effective method to slow down:

Driving downhill

Engine braking is particularly useful when driving downhill. If you stay in a lower gear, this will help you maintain a slower speed and allow you to have more control over the vehicle.

Driving on snow or ice

It can also be preferable to use engine braking during icy conditions as using the brake pedal could lead to loss of traction and skidding. Therefore, using engine braking can help provide a more controlled driving experience in slippery conditions.

Can increase fuel efficiency

Harsh braking can lead to high levels of fuel consumption, so using engine braking and coming to a gradual stop is a useful way to help increase fuel efficiency.

Disadvantages of engine braking

While engine braking has its perks, there are a few things to be mindful of:

No brake lights

The most important thing to remember is that when using engine braking, your brake lights won’t flash to alert other drivers you are slowing down. As a result, you shouldn’t use engine braking when traveling at high speeds as you could slow down abruptly with little warning to other road users.

Strain on gears

Engine braking during high speeds can put strain on your transmission, so it’s best to use it while the car is traveling at slower speeds.

Strain on the clutch

Excessive engine braking could also place additional strain on the clutch and create wear on the clutch assembly.

Ultimately, you should use engine braking selectively and not as a replacement for using the brake pedal.

If you find that your brakes are not as responsive as they used to be, it’s essential to get them looked at as soon as possible. Book in for our free brake check and we’ll give them a thorough inspection to identify the issue.

We also offer a free clutch check, so whatever the problem, our experts are here to help.

You can also shop brake parts and clutch parts online, with free click and collect available across over 200 of our stores.