Engine as brakes down a mountain

Allworth wrote:
There is a difference between "brakes" and "breaks". Now that the topic of going downhill has been covered, it is time for spelling class. Look them up.

If you didn't have anything more than that to contribute, you could have just not made a post, I think everyone else got the drift of the post, no matter how it was spelled.(Or Spelt) :R

someone alluded to the tow haul mode in the V10. Use it. Its the button on the end of your shifter. That is usually sufficient enough for me to keep my speed down enough to stay off the brakes. It the grade is a real steep downgrade, I will downshift after gently braking to slow the rig down. I think as long as you are cognizant of the fact that you need to use your brakes conservatively, you will be fine.

It's generally pretty difficult to overspeed the engine on a vehicle with a modern computer-controlled automatic transmission. The computer will shift the transmission as necessary to avoid damaging engine speeds.

The Ford V10, in particular, can safely and happily run at high RPMs (at least high by truck engine standards) for long periods of time without damage, even though it sounds as though it's about to self destruct at any moment.

There is a difference between "brakes" and "breaks". Now that the topic of going downhill has been covered, it is time for spelling class. Look them up.

Some of the back road places I camp are steep enough that I put my Ram 2500 gasser in 4 low and 2nd gear to get the engine geared down enough to hold me at 10 to 15 MPH.

Chandalen wrote:
This makes me feel a little better... I always think high RPM's is gonna hurt the engine/transmission. In perspective, possibly hurting the engine is better than overheating breaks and not having them when needed.

So.. everyone is in concensus that the vehicle downshifting and staying at 4k RPM is OK for engine and transmission (assuming 6k is redline)

Won't hurt a thing. My 1st car saw redline quite frequently (88hp will do that). Still going strong at 175k when the body gave out to rust.

I do a lot of downshifting coming down mountains/hills and regularly will go down at 4-5k RPM. Doesn't hurt a thing assuming your engine is in good shape. There's one hill I've done near 3 miles down at 4-5k RPM and no worries from the engine.

Stay under redline and you will be fine. Best to save the brakes for the true emergencies.

Engines have a "red line", that is an RPM number which you are advised to not exceed. It's usually around 5,000 or 5,500. My motorhome doesn't have a tach but the redline is usually far above what sounds uncomfortable to the ears. 4500 sounds pretty loud but won't hurt a thing.

Definitely makes sense. I don't know how long and steep that grade is but the principle is to avoid using the brakes so much that they might start getting hot and fading or just putting on a lot of wear. Always use a lower gear to brake. Just use some sense. Don't down shift to your lowest gear going 50 MPH. Downshift to one gear below the top one around 50 or so before you start down the steep part and if it looks like that's not going to do it brake enough to slow down to 30 or so then go down to the next one. If you do it right you shouldn't need to brake a lot and only intermittently.

This makes me feel a little better... I always think high RPM's is gonna hurt the engine/transmission. In perspective, possibly hurting the engine is better than overheating breaks and not having them when needed.

So.. everyone is in concensus that the vehicle downshifting and staying at 4k RPM is OK for engine and transmission (assuming 6k is redline)

How about using the additional trailer brake push button on my trailer brake controller? I imagine thats just wearing the camper breaks down a bit faster, but no other harm?

There is no place on Skyline Dr. that you will need to be in Low gear, it is rather hilly in spots but not like prolonged 6% grades, remember, the speed limit on Skyline is only 35 MPH in the first place.