Downshifting vs Neutral

[jdmsbiznatch]

so i've always wondered the facts behind downshifting vs putting it in neutral when coming to a stop.

I've always heard downshifting was better but was wondering what your opnions were concerning this issue.

Any pro's / con's ?

[Luti]

downshifting adds extra wear and tear to your cluctch/transmission but requires less use of brakes. you tell me which is easier to repair and replace...

[WGFletch]

Originally Posted by Luti

downshifting adds extra wear and tear to your cluctch/transmission but requires less use of brakes. you tell me which is easier to repair and replace...

+1 even tho it is "illegal" (atleast thats what ive always been told)

[Luti]

Originally Posted by WGFletch

+1 even tho it is "illegal" (atleast thats what ive always been told)

whats illegal? engine braking? ive seen signs prohibiting it in certain areas.

[ajp11]

i never heard engine braking was illegal...wierd. i downshift to fourth, and then to third, and just let that go until about 15mph, then just brakes from there. it works well, pretty smooth.

[theblue]

it's a compromise game... do a good balance of both. you'll get better MPG in gear then you will at idle coasting.

[Brent_Strong]

Engine braking can be illegal for semis in some areas. Coasting out of gear is illegal though.

[EF9Hatch]

Originally Posted by Luti

downshifting adds extra wear and tear to your cluctch/transmission but requires less use of brakes. you tell me which is easier to repair and replace...

I just use the brakes to slow down! down shifting is bad for the tranny!

[Cleck]

As long as it's not snowing, I use engine braking combined with the brakes. I don't downshift in the snow, that just invites trouble.

[96sohc]

Depending on my mood depends on how I drive

Just normal every day driving I pop it in neutral, but in the Miata I mostly downshift because its so easy to revmatch

[Schema]

I never ever downshift, and I still don't see why people do it, but I don't make a fuss.

[Luti]

Originally Posted by 88si

As long as it's not snowing, I use engine braking combined with the brakes. I don't downshift in the snow, that just invites trouble.

i find the opposite to be true. i always downshift in the snow, i feel its safer than stabbing the brakes and locking the wheels up.

now that someone mentioned it, would someone care to explain why its illegal to coast out of gear?

[ritfordprobe]

Originally Posted by EF9Hatch

I just use the brakes to slow down! down shifting is bad for the tranny!

Driving your car is bad for it too. If you rev match, don't grind gears, and shift properly, I think you are better off.

[WGFletch]

i ment coasting...

[Silver]

I pop it into neutral all the time. I downshift more in the Boxster during the summer, because it just sounds nice.

[darkvibe]

Originally Posted by theblue

you'll get better MPG in gear then you will at idle coasting.

eh? How does that work? Counterintuitive to say the least. Does the car lean out the mixture if you're engine braking.

[ritfordprobe]

Originally Posted by darkvibe

eh? How does that work? Counterintuitive to say the least. Does the car lean out the mixture if you're engine braking.

Yup, very much so. When I was tuning the green car, it would idle ~ 15:1 afr, and engine breaking would go up to free air, or 20:1 and leaner.

--mark

[Brent_Strong]

Injectors basically get turned off during engine braking.

[Gleason]

Originally Posted by Brent_Strong

Injectors basically get turned off during engine braking.

yup

my wide-band cant even read how lean it goes .

I put it in neutral most times. I also rev-match down shifts too, depends driving situation for me.

[Cleck]

Originally Posted by Luti

i find the opposite to be true. i always downshift in the snow, i feel its safer than stabbing the brakes and locking the wheels up.

now that someone mentioned it, would someone care to explain why its illegal to coast out of gear?

I was under the impression that with a rwd vehicle, downshifting can cause a loss of traction if you ds wrong. To be honest, I've never experienced it, so I can't validate that claim.

[Patrick]

I downshift almost everytime. I don't rev match. I just brake and downshift. I'm not stupid with it and wait until a certain rpm most times to downshift. I feel way safer in the snow downshifting instead of slamming on my brakes. My transmission still works awsome with 120K miles and the original clutch still.

[WGFletch]

driving to my cottage which is about an hour and has alot of hills i have def noticed better gas milage staying in gear instead of coasting down all the hills...i dont really understand how that works out at all but i could tell the difference

[EF9Hatch]

Originally Posted by ritfordprobe

Driving your car is bad for it too. If you rev match, don't grind gears, and shift properly, I think you are better off.

I do rev match but i really try not to down shift all the time!

[SPDboy]

I downshift to hear my exhaust burbles.....I <3 the pops

[hurleyint1386]

Originally Posted by Brent_Strong

Coasting out of gear is illegal though.

Really? Why is this? I usually do because I thought it saved gas? But according to the thread, it's better to stay in gear. But why would it be illegal?

[autoxr37]

Originally Posted by ritfordprobe

If you rev match, don't grind gears, and shift properly, I think you are better off.

QFT. If you know how to drive I guarantee that down shifting to make use of engine braking is insignificant from a wear and tear perspective compared to just driving the car hard via accelerating hard.

I personally always down shift when I come to a stop. I just blip the throttle to rev match and then down shift. If you do it right it should be smooth as silk.

[Monochrome83]

Originally Posted by Luti

downshifting adds extra wear and tear to your cluctch/transmission but requires less use of brakes. you tell me which is easier to repair and replace...

Amen. Downshifted my Kia for the first 3 weeks of life, then never did it again. Always looked at it like the above statement.....

Stoos

[ritfordprobe]

Originally Posted by hurleyint1386

Really? Why is this? I usually do because I thought it saved gas? But according to the thread, it's better to stay in gear. But why would it be illegal?

I believe it is because you are out of control of your car. If you had to accelerate through something, or avoid something by using the throttle, you would be unable to quickly.

Just my best guess.

--mark

[bracciA4]

my ford ranger i would downshift all the time (to a creep in 1st basicaly) my audi i put it in nutral or leave it in 4th or 5th down shift jerks the car to much gotta stay on the cluth to long to keep it smooth

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Brent_Strong

Injectors basically get turned off during engine braking.

Yup like gleason said, when i had my wideband it showed off the scale lean while engine braking. I always downshift til about 15mph then i go to neutral even in the snow.