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John Disdale
Member
Rob - Don’t laugh my dog loves the stuff as well.
John Disdale
Member
Have you not heard of "safe sex" - which I understand is OK at speeds under 100mph.
JanF
Member
JD,
Saving brakes by using the engine to slow down instead of the brakes is very well possible: using the engine to slow down the car, means you just need to use the brakes less. This counts even more driving down hill. Apart from that, it prevents that the breaks will become overheated.
What I ment to say with 'shutting' the throttle, is already explained by Werner and Maersk, I think.
Where I, provisianally, disagree with Werner is the fact he says the engine will wear out faster, using it to decelerate. I've never heard any technician say that, and neither have I ever read that. But...convince me, Werner!
Regards,
JanF
2001 1.4 Petrol Exclusive
Cobalt Blue Metallic
Saving brakes by using the engine to slow down instead of the brakes is very well possible: using the engine to slow down the car, means you just need to use the brakes less. This counts even more driving down hill. Apart from that, it prevents that the breaks will become overheated.
What I ment to say with 'shutting' the throttle, is already explained by Werner and Maersk, I think.
Where I, provisianally, disagree with Werner is the fact he says the engine will wear out faster, using it to decelerate. I've never heard any technician say that, and neither have I ever read that. But...convince me, Werner!
Regards,
JanF
2001 1.4 Petrol Exclusive
Cobalt Blue Metallic
D
dodd
Guest
john, as i've replied on another thread, 44mpg on the school run, cold, distance travelled 4 miles.
TDI se with crippling expensive options.
TDI se with crippling expensive options.
Werner and JanF,
Using the engine to brake is not only safe but recommended by instructors over the land, the reason for this is that is gives you greater stoppage per distance, it give almost the equivalent to having 4 disc brakes, the only time the engine may become worn is when you changer from a very high gear to a very low one (5-2 or 4-1) besides the fact that the car wont physically allow you to do this without much strain on your part, when you drop the gears in such a drastic manner it causes excessive revving (granted its not redline revving because again the A2 wont allow you to but the excessive revving) would mean a service is needed much quicker because parts of the engine may wear (not a techy so dont know what parts but do know it happens) oil may need changing sooner. This however does not save on the brakes because i would assume when you engine brake you use the normal brakes as well to aid in the deceleration so they would still ware but not as quickly because less preasure is being used, if you just engine brake then alas your engine will wear or should I say be less efficient you will notice it in acceleration and an increase in noise at post 100mph speeeds (not to say I don that or anything
).
Audi A2 1.4SE 2001, Brilliant Silver, Rear electric windows and Panasonic MR555 (rubbish) stereo, 2 extra 13" 190watt speakers (plus the standard 8 from audi).
Using the engine to brake is not only safe but recommended by instructors over the land, the reason for this is that is gives you greater stoppage per distance, it give almost the equivalent to having 4 disc brakes, the only time the engine may become worn is when you changer from a very high gear to a very low one (5-2 or 4-1) besides the fact that the car wont physically allow you to do this without much strain on your part, when you drop the gears in such a drastic manner it causes excessive revving (granted its not redline revving because again the A2 wont allow you to but the excessive revving) would mean a service is needed much quicker because parts of the engine may wear (not a techy so dont know what parts but do know it happens) oil may need changing sooner. This however does not save on the brakes because i would assume when you engine brake you use the normal brakes as well to aid in the deceleration so they would still ware but not as quickly because less preasure is being used, if you just engine brake then alas your engine will wear or should I say be less efficient you will notice it in acceleration and an increase in noise at post 100mph speeeds (not to say I don that or anything
).Audi A2 1.4SE 2001, Brilliant Silver, Rear electric windows and Panasonic MR555 (rubbish) stereo, 2 extra 13" 190watt speakers (plus the standard 8 from audi).
John Disdale
Member
JanF,
The brake pads on my Audi Quattro lasted for 70,000 miles before needing replacement, so I guess its not necessary to describe what was part of my driving style. During 12 years the engine and gearbox were never touched apart from a few cambelts and oil changes, so I hardly murdered the engine.
As I have mentioned in the past it seems such a pity that modern cars like the A2 (or Golf) cannot be driven in the same manner as the good oldies. I am of course slowly adjusting to “non drivers” cars and accepting that this is part of growing old.
Regards
John Disdale
The brake pads on my Audi Quattro lasted for 70,000 miles before needing replacement, so I guess its not necessary to describe what was part of my driving style. During 12 years the engine and gearbox were never touched apart from a few cambelts and oil changes, so I hardly murdered the engine.
As I have mentioned in the past it seems such a pity that modern cars like the A2 (or Golf) cannot be driven in the same manner as the good oldies. I am of course slowly adjusting to “non drivers” cars and accepting that this is part of growing old.
Regards
John Disdale
maersk
Member
What a wuss! Brakes? what are brakes? why do you need them?
My consumption of fuel disregards DIS, which is unreliable. Worked out by the anorak method - same pump same click stop on the pump averaged out over 18 months - gives a minimum (best) of 72mpg and a running average of 58 mpg. Absolute worst was 44 mpg during performance testing not long after running in.
Still pleased as I dont drive like a granny and have (using the same methods) regularly achieved single figures from a 328 BMW and a 2.9 4x4 Sierra. Best figures achieved in continental cruising at 80 to 85 mph.
My consumption of fuel disregards DIS, which is unreliable. Worked out by the anorak method - same pump same click stop on the pump averaged out over 18 months - gives a minimum (best) of 72mpg and a running average of 58 mpg. Absolute worst was 44 mpg during performance testing not long after running in.
Still pleased as I dont drive like a granny and have (using the same methods) regularly achieved single figures from a 328 BMW and a 2.9 4x4 Sierra. Best figures achieved in continental cruising at 80 to 85 mph.
From my point of view (and that's what it is, feel free to disagree!),
engine braking wears out the clutch (you have to engage the clutch at relatively high revs), and the engine, because when braking, the internal forces applied are reversed, resulting in much faster wear.
It is true that you don't wear the brake pads out as fast, but ask yourself what is easiest/least expensive to replace: break pads, or a clutch (or doing 100000 km less with your engine?). I can only say that I have never seen a taxi driver brake using the engine. Then again, I've only taken a taxi a few times
(I do agree on the point of safety though, that you should keep your engine in gear as much as possible).
Werner Huysegoms
engine braking wears out the clutch (you have to engage the clutch at relatively high revs), and the engine, because when braking, the internal forces applied are reversed, resulting in much faster wear.
It is true that you don't wear the brake pads out as fast, but ask yourself what is easiest/least expensive to replace: break pads, or a clutch (or doing 100000 km less with your engine?). I can only say that I have never seen a taxi driver brake using the engine. Then again, I've only taken a taxi a few times
(I do agree on the point of safety though, that you should keep your engine in gear as much as possible).
Werner Huysegoms
J
John Dusdale
Guest
All the descriptions sound like we have a lot of experts here. It's a good idea to wear the 3000bucks engine to to give 200bucks brakes a longer live. Yeaa. And i like the idea to reduce the stoping distance by using the engine. Just my opinion...
Regards
John Dusdale
Regards
John Dusdale
John Disdale
Member
Looks as though I have a close relative on the forum
John Disdale
Member
Actually its all very exciting and I have just written to Cilla Black to see if she could unite us, because its likely that I have a twin brother who has forgotten how to spell their surname. Anyway if you attend the A2OC social and see two black blokes with ginger hair carrying a Tesco bag, and walking around with a limp whilst stuttering –“its your round” you will know that Cilla was successful.
Regards
John Disdale
Regards
John Disdale
M
mostin
Guest
300 miles on a tankful of diesel is about the norm for my 120 mile B road daily round trip. This allows for foot to the floor driving wherever possible and absolutely no economy measures in place (ie. A/C blasting out, lots of reving at traffic lights). My 30K mile service was about £200. I have now done 50K miles and had new front tires at 28K and due another set shortly. Rears are still fine. Had front pads & disks (!) a couple of weeks ago plus a couple of bulbs and that's it.
1.4TDi SE, no extras (poverty spec.)
1.4TDi SE, no extras (poverty spec.)
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