What is an Engine Brake?

[StAnthony]

Engine braking refers to the process of lifting the throttle pedal without depressing the clutch, utilizing the compression resistance, internal friction, and intake/exhaust resistance generated by the engine's compression stroke to create a braking effect on the drive wheels. Below is additional information on engine braking: 1. Engine Braking: Also known as "coasting in gear"—keeping the gear engaged without applying throttle, the engine provides no traction to the vehicle. Instead, the rotation of the wheels drives the drivetrain, and the idling engine generates a counteracting resistance. The higher the gear, the less the engine affects the vehicle, and vice versa. This differs from clutch braking, brake pedal braking, and parking braking. 2. Engine Braking Process: The engine generates torque during operation, which is transmitted to the clutch or torque converter via the flywheel. After being adjusted for speed and torque by the transmission, it is passed to the driveshaft (front-wheel-drive vehicles do not have a driveshaft). The driveshaft then transmits this modified torque to the vehicle's drive axle, where further speed reduction and torque increase occur before being output through the half-shafts to drive the wheel rotation.