Engine braking: Save fuel and reduce wear with this pro technique

Engine braking is simple but requires some practice and a good "feel" for the vehicle. To do this, just take your foot off the gas pedal while keeping a gear engaged. A vital rule: the lower the gear, the more the car slows down.

For example, when descending a hill, shifting from fifth to fourth gear will help reduce speed. Shifting to third gear will slow you down even faster, but you need to watch out for excessive engine revolutions, which can lead to high repair costs. Thus, it is worth getting to know your car—each model has different gear ratios. The key is to match the speed to the gear and the slope of the route.

In modern cars, during engine braking, fuel is not supplied to the cylinders, which means you drive "for free." The exception is older vehicles with carburetors, where fuel is still delivered, making the saving zero. This might be discouraging for older drivers.

This technique reduces brake pad wear. It's particularly useful in the mountains, where the braking system can overheat during long descents, depending on its condition and efficiency.

However, improper use of this technique can be harmful. For instance, too sudden an engine brake, such as shifting down two or more gears at once, causes the clutch to be heavily loaded, leading to faster wear. Such actions also negatively affect the state of the dual-mass flywheel, which is designed to reduce vibrations.

Another issue is safety, especially in rear-wheel-drive cars. Although most new vehicles have an ESP system that stabilizes the rear axle, it's still important to be cautious. Shifting down from a high gear on a wet or slippery surface can cause a rear axle skid. While electronics help, common sense and the laws of physics are entirely different matters that cannot be ignored.