Wannabee wants to know how an engine brake works when the engine isn't linked to the drive wheels when it's out of gear???
Not a good idea to coast at anytime especially down a hill but without all the name calling its not a very wise choice. Hope you learned a lesson here. Arrive alive be safe
the ecoroll system on the volvo ishift [automatic] works like this; you set your cruise speed and you set your engine brake speed, you never take the truck out of drive [tranny engaged] as the truck rolls down the grade the tranny will kick into nuetral and the engine idles. when the truck rolls fast enough to hit the engine brake speed the rpms come up reengages the tranny and then the engine brake holds the high speed that was set, when you are at the bottom of the grade the tranny will kick back out and will free roll untill you slow back to cruise control set speed and then reengages the tranny and resumes cruise. this system is available in volvos with ishift and macks with m shift trannys and is a great tool for fuel economy. ....happy trails
I'm glad those days are over. Nashville to Los Angeles with only a 2 hour nap in Amarillo turned my hair gray. Lucky to be alive; some of those drivers I knew died early in the sleeper berth. I shouldn't even admit doing something like that.
This is funny. If you are coasting down hill in gear, your engine cuts off the fuel to the engine acting as a brake. It is built into the engine system and when an engine brake is used, it further adds compression to the engine by closing off the valves.
Many years of ''coasting'' and i am here to talk about it...Imagine that Mr DOT and these useless STUDIES....DOT and FMCSA are wrong once again in there findings...
I didn't take this as directed at new drivers. I know my response was within my philosophy on informing new drivers. I believe that a question like this is ok to ask and I agree with Guntoter there needs to be more experienced drivers responding with information and responsibility.
