mkirsch wrote:
What is all this malarkey about "engine braking?"
I've owned several full size pickup trucks, all with small block V8's except my '03 Chevy 3500, and NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM could hold ITSELF back on any sort of incline using the engine alone. Downshift downshift downshift, rev rev rev, faster faster faster... I ALWAYS had to control the descent with brakes.
The ONLY truck I've ever owned that would control itself on a hill is the '03 Chevy 3500 with the 8.1L and Allison. Turn on tow haul mode, hold the brakes for 3 seconds, and the hill would have to be EXTREMELY steep to need brakes, and then only a brief tap. However, the truck still needs frequent application of brakes to maintain speed with any sort of trailer behind.
Unless you're throwing out a ship's anchor at the top of the hill, you're using brakes.
Obviously, it will depend on a few factors (total weight, engine size & grade).
I was shocked how good the V10 in our 2008 is as an engine brake (F250 towing around 7500lb trailer).
Sure if we are doing a 8-10% downgrade, I have to hit the brakes every so often but far less than if we just relied on the wheel brakes.
With a 4-5% grade, I generally don't have to touch the brake pedal at all.
Of course a smaller engine will provide less engine braking but it should still be your first line of defense as it can provide it's braking power pretty much constantly and indefinitely.
