Engine Braking Using Manual Mode '04 C240
11-10-2007, 09:26 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Southeast Florida
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
2012 GLK 350
Engine Braking Using Manual Mode '04 C240
Is it harmful to downshift manually to use engine braking. I am not trying to shift from D to 2 going 70 MPH.
11-10-2007, 09:45 PM
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Orange County
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes
on
15 Posts
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
Well, first the transmission will not let you shift into 2nd doing 70. The use of the engine to slow the vehicle is indicated for long downhill grades where excessive speed and use of the service brake might cause brake failure. In Florida which is about four fingers above sea level everywhere you'd never find a place to use the engine to slow the car.
I don't think it will harm the car, but it is more a matter of economics. Brake pads are about $ 80. A transmission is about $ 6,000. I know which one I would use to slow the car.
I don't think it will harm the car, but it is more a matter of economics. Brake pads are about $ 80. A transmission is about $ 6,000. I know which one I would use to slow the car.
11-11-2007, 04:11 AM
#5
Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2005 C230 Kompressor SS
11-11-2007, 08:44 AM
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
'05 C230SS 6MT, 1966 Triumph TR4a IRS, Shelby Cobra 427 Supercharged
It puts a lot of extra wear and tear on the engine mounts and can make them fail prematurely.
11-11-2007, 12:24 PM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 673
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
F10
i would use engine braking as an aid to braking on emergency cases, but not normally, i downshift all the time if im on an upper gear and going uphill, i would also use it to control the acceleration going downhill. if theres no need to use engine braking, i won't. that was a good analogy there, comparing the price of tranny and brake pads/rotors.
Trending Topics
11-11-2007, 02:23 PM
#8
MBWorld Fanatic!
I doubt there's any actual data that shows it's harmful.
I downshift all the time. Mountain roads I run at 3,
local freeway over the mountain I run at 4.
And on speed runs through the hills I use the gears a lot, occasionally downshifting to 2 on tight corners.
115 K miles...no issues yet.
Just make sure you flush the tranny regularly.
2nd from 70 mph? Not likely will the engine allow it, and if it did, that WOULD be bad. I can get up to nearly 90 in 3rd gear.
I downshift all the time. Mountain roads I run at 3,
local freeway over the mountain I run at 4.
And on speed runs through the hills I use the gears a lot, occasionally downshifting to 2 on tight corners.
115 K miles...no issues yet.
Just make sure you flush the tranny regularly.
2nd from 70 mph? Not likely will the engine allow it, and if it did, that WOULD be bad. I can get up to nearly 90 in 3rd gear.
