2002 Corolla S 5-Speed - Engine Braking?

[ctan800]

I am trying to learn how to properly engine brake the car without causing extensive clutch wear, while at the same time being able to stop in time.

You see, where I live (Las Vegas), everyone cuts each other off, tailgates, and sometimes moves across FOUR lanes at a red light because they suddenly remembered where they are going.

So I need a technique where I got some idiot tailgating me by mere inches behind me.

So far I don't do the "blipping" the throttle or rev-matching technique, because I have only a month in experience of driving stick under my belt. What I do is step in the clutch pedal, downshift, and slowly let out the clutch and then gradually apply the brakes as I get closer. And then to a lower gear with the same process. All the way from 5-4-3, I dont bother with 2nd gear because my car at that point would have slowed to 20mph and I can just put the car in neutral and step on the brakes. And just by the way the car feels, I think it is causing damage to the clutch.

However! If I do the throttle-blip + downshift, my car looks like it picked up just ONE additional mile per hour, which causes the morons behind me to tailgate CLOSER.

Also in my month of driving, I noticed that gears 1-2-3 are fairly close in ratio, and gears 4-5 to be pretty wide in ratio. So if I get off the freeway (with no tailgating retards), I slow my car down to 50mph on 5th gear, then fourth, and then third.

So my downshifting speed ranges are...

60 to 50 mph = 5th gear
50 to 35 mph = 4th gear
35 to 20 mph = 3rd gear

Now what do you guys feel about what I am doing? Am I engine braking properly?

And if not, can you teach me a quick tip or something that will allow me to engine brake without getting rear ended?

 

[Scout706]

My theory

Why engine brake? To save the pads and rotors.

What part of the car gets 'worn' when engine braking? Well, the clutch, transmission, and I guess the interior engine parts - valvetrain, timing chain, and so on.

Which is easier and cheaper to replace when worn? Pads and rotors. I would only engine brake on those long mountain descents, to prevent brake overheating.

 

[ctan800]

I hear that a lot too. Do it mainly for mountains.

Now if I do that, lets say on the I-15 near Pomona where there are steep hills and fog everywhere or the CA-99 at Bakersfield am I supposed to keep the car in 5th gear as I coast down the hills?

I did some few steep hills in Vegas and it seems like the car's speed doesn't go under 50mph downhill, and I only downshift to 5-4-3 when I see a stop sign.

 

[John K]

ctan800 - I think your technique / strategy is good driving