engine braking

[SGG]

I was riding in my mum's rx300 last week and got bored. I read the manual and was surprised to see a section dedicated to engine braking, including suggested speeds for gearing. I thought that was pretty interesting since I've read a lot of posts at CMPL where most people say you should just let the A/T do its job. So I wonder why Lexus decided to put it in for a luxury SUV but it's not in the camry manual.

[SpectraBlueCam]

I use engine braking everytime I drive my Camry. It's much easier with an aftermarket shifter which places the button on top.

[4A-GE]

same here w/ my camry.....that's why i funked up my Tranny....it MADDDDD SHAKES when it shifts from First to Second....

[SGG]

On 2001-09-20 02:31, 3S-FE wrote:
same here w/ my camry.....that's why i funked up my Tranny

so, are you attributing the rough automatic shifting now to your manual shifting in the past? are you still engine braking?

[Rookie Solara]

I think engine braking should be done ONLY when are you 40-50 mph or lower.....imagine you shift from D to 2 when you are driving 70-80 mph....you will blow your tranny very soon...

I do that once in a while like 1-2 time per year....afterall, we are driving A/T, no need to pretend we are driving a 5-speed..

I would like to do that on my RX300 as well, but that car is SLOW as hell...

Rookie Solara

[speedemn]

imagine you shift from D to 2 when you are driving 70-80 mph....you will blow your tranny very soon...

Are you sure that is possible. I THINK once by accident I did D to 2 and it didn't shift to 2. I think the computer recognizes your speed and only takes you to the lowest possible gear for that speed. I'm not totally sure though because I was too afraid to try it since then.

[SGG]

On 2001-09-20 11:16, Rookie Solara wrote:
I think engine braking should be done ONLY when are you 40-50 mph or lower.....imagine you shift from D to 2 when you are driving 70-80 mph....you will blow your tranny very soon...

rookie, of course you're right, but at 70-80, i go from D to 3 by turning O/D off. I tried engine braking a lot on my trip from NJ to OH last week instead of using brakes on the highway. I think it was a bit more control afforded to the driver. In regards to downshifting for more acceleration, I just don't like the fact that the shift points are controlled by how far I depress the accelerator. it seems kinda shady to me. I guess if i studied how it determines driving style, i'd be more comfortable with it.

But i think speedemn is right, all decisions still have to go through the computer, right? it wouldn't let you pass the rev limiter? dunno...

[speedemn]

ALSO... try revving the car past redline... it bounces off it... yet more evidence that the computer controls the revs even if you try to do it manually.

But i think speedemn is right, all decisions still have to go through the computer, right? it wouldn't let you pass the rev limiter? dunno...

[EKam]

I don't think I've ever put the engine into redline even though I tried. It would just make a shift 100rpm before it gets to it.

[speedemn]

Late gen 3 models have a limiter. Mine's 93... it doesn't... hence allowing me to bounce off just past redline.

Mark took his to 7000 RPM in 1st gear with his auto, from what Darryl told me.

On 2001-09-20 19:18, KaMuRi wrote:
I don't think I've ever put the engine into redline even though I tried. It would just make a shift 100rpm before it gets to it.

[camryDAN]

i manually shift all the time. with a speed limit of 20mph on campus, i can leave it in first usually and cruise at around 15mph w/o going over 3500k or so.

once or twice at a stop light i accidentally forgot i had it in 1 and i punched it and it just hits the fuel cut at redline. i have a 93 2.2L

i usually dont downshift into first unless im stopped because shifting from 2 to L at anything above 10mph causes my car to dive and the rpms shoot up and it looks and sounds really stupid. i usually can shift into 2 from D anywhere from 30 (if it already shifted to 3rd) to 50 but no higher. i did downshift into 2 like once or twice around 55 but i already had the gas mashed so it quickly jumped to redline. i just hate autos when ur cruising and someone messes with you, and you punch it and it drops back to 2nd for like 2 seconds then shifts to 3rd at 70mph, it makes my car hesitate so much and its already slow enough as it is :grin:

i have been manually shifting for well over 15k miles and around town i have no need to turn my o/d on except when i hit the interstate and im above 60mph. my tranny was last serviced at like 90k and its still strong at 117.5k!!! :smile: at least if i do break it, im getting a REAL 5speed hehe.

[MR2 TwinTurbo]

i think there's a difference from bouncing the needle of the red and downshifting into the red.
When you're accelerating, it bounces off the red cuz of the fuel cut off to save your car.
If you downshift going too fast and happen to go into the red your rev limiter can't help your cuz it has no control over the wheel speed. THus your rpms will stay in the red till it slows itself down.

don't mean to intrude or anything but the general is getting boring...so few posts happen there...
anyways hope this helps

[4A-GE]

...yea...i drive my Auto REALLY hardcore...and i'm regret now....i though Auto can handle it...but....aiya.....