What are the effects of high engine braking RPM?
2 Answers
The main effects of high engine braking RPM are: it can cause certain damage to the engine, as it exceeds the load the engine can bear. However, if the RPM is within four to five thousand, it will not have any impact on the engine. Additional information: 1. Engine braking is the process of using the resistance of the engine's operation to slow down the vehicle. When the actual driving speed of the car is greater than the speed it should have in that gear and throttle position, it enters the engine braking state. 2. During gear coasting, the engine RPM generally does not get too high. After releasing the throttle, it will not exceed the normal driving RPM. Since coasting is a deceleration process, the RPM will gradually decrease. As for long downhill driving, if you want to coast in gear, both the speed and RPM will increase progressively, requiring a higher gear or a steeper slope.
When the engine braking RPM is too high, as a driver who frequently navigates mountain roads, I find it quite dangerous. Last time on a highway downhill, the tachometer suddenly shot up to 5000 RPM, the car began to shake violently, and the entire body was swaying, making it hard to control the steering. This not only makes driving terrifying but also increases the risk of accidents because you have to divert attention to handle the feeling of losing control. From a mechanical perspective, when the engine operates at such high RPMs, internal components like pistons and bearings wear out alarmingly fast, easily leading to overheating and damage. Fuel consumption also skyrockets, burning money invisibly, and over time, repair bills will pile up. The noise is so loud that conversation becomes impossible, affecting comfort. I recommend everyone use the foot brake more when decelerating and not rely too heavily on engine braking. Regularly checking engine oil and the cooling system for maintenance can also help mitigate the issue.
