Engine braking....

[Rashman]

Hey guys.

I just wanted an idea of what your thoughts are on engine braking.

My old CLK (208) didn't have paddles up on the steering wheel.
But it did have a Tip-Tronic gearbox which you could utilise by tapping the gear shifter left & right.

This, however, never really seemed natural to me and I would have prefered a manual box.
I ended up just learning the behaviour of the engine and could time the gear shifts.
This meant that I made good/ normal use of the brake pedal.

Now, my 63 has paddles shifts.
It's awesome because not only do you have the gears at your finger tips, it also encourages you to keep 2 hands on the wheel (in my 208, I used to drive with just one hand on the wheel alot!).

Anyway, paddles feel very natural and I now make alot more use of the gears, where I didn't before in the 208.
I'm always in "M" mode.
I stay in "C" until the fluids, engine & transmission are up to running temperature and then straight to "M"!

I pretty much always use engine braking to aid slowing down and also just to make minor alterations to my speed. For example, when someone pulls into your lane in front of you, and you want to drop back 20ft or so. Down shifting a gear reins-in your pace ever so slightly allowing you to back away from the car in front without using the brakes.

I really don't like using the brakes unless necessary or unless I'm driving "enthusiastically".


Now don't get me wrong, I'm not down-shifting to 2nd gear at 70mph or anything like that!
I only downshift when I know the lower gear is WELL inside the safe rev range.

I'm just wondering whether I should be making more use of the brakes and less use of the engine.

I'm inclined to think that engine braking is fine to perform as long as you have abit of mechanical knowledge/ sympathy about you.
I also believe that this engine is more than capable of this sort of treatment.

What are your thoughts?
And what are your thoughts on the effects this could have on the 7G-Tronic gearbox?

[MIKE ZELL]

The brakes should really be used to slow down rather than the gears! Therefore you slow down to the correct speed for the gearchange first. Like you however I tend to downshift if someone pulls out and before bends and down inclines to save wear on the brakes.

[Rashman]

Originally Posted by MIKE ZELL

The brakes should really be used to slow down rather than the gears! Therefore you slow down to the correct speed for the gearchange first. Like you however I tend to downshift if someone pulls out and before bends and down inclines to save wear on the brakes.

Yeah, I'm with you. That's how I tend to drive too.

But like I say, I'm not downshifting ridiculously early or anything like that, and I only do it if the engine speed is right.

I, too, look to prolong the life of my brakes.
I also hate brake dust on my wheels!

Perhaps my driving techniques are fine, but maybe I'll prod that brake pedal abit more.

Thanks for replying, bud.

[Yuille36]

Rashman,

How the hell are you these days? If, I can make a comment, I spoke to my shop foreman at American Service Center in Arlington, VA. I posed a similar question to him, about engine braking, using the paddle shifters. He said that their are no concerns surrounding the transmission, you will not hurt it. The tranny will protect itself from over revving, and can take up to 600 ft/lbs of torque. I was very concerned, because like you I too downshift allot using the paddles, I just love hearing the burbling of the exhaust. I was afraid that I might hurt something in the beginning, but once he gave me the green light. Paddles beware, because I try to wear them out. Especially going from 4 to 3 to 2, listen to that beautiful sound of the exhaust. Music to my ears.

[Rashman]

Originally Posted by Yuille36

Rashman,

How the hell are you these days? If, I can make a comment, I spoke to my shop foreman at American Service Center in Arlington, VA. I posed a similar question to him, about engine braking, using the paddle shifters. He said that their are no concerns surrounding the transmission, you will not hurt it. The tranny will protect itself from over revving, and can take up to 600 ft/lbs of torque. I was very concerned, because like you I too downshift allot using the paddles, I just love hearing the burbling of the exhaust. I was afraid that I might hurt something in the beginning, but once he gave me the green light. Paddles beware, because I try to wear them out. Especially going from 4 to 3 to 2, listen to that beautiful sound of the exhaust. Music to my ears.

Hey hey!
How the hell you doin' bud?! lol

I'm cool thanks... just waitin' on this darned weather!
I thought things were starting to get alittle milder, but no.

It's great to hear that you, too, have thought about this stuff.
It's also encouraging to hear that the tranny is more than capable of handling stresses of downshifts.

It's also a relief to hear that it can handle up to 600lbs ft of torque.
I don't feel quite so nervous about my tranny now! lol

And yeah, I'm with you on the exhaust burble!
Sounds absolutely awesome, eh?!

I have the Harmon Kardon surround system in my 63.

Wish I could tell you how it sounds..... but I usually have it switched off in favour of the exhaust! LOL