Engine Braking Sucks(?)
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,906
Likes: 145
From: SE Louisiana
Engine Braking Sucks(?)
Here's a comment extracted from another thread (about MPG):
"We did very little braking, but used engine braking instead by shifting down (which did suck about half a quart of oil)."
Does engine braking do this? If so, how and is it a significant concern?
"We did very little braking, but used engine braking instead by shifting down (which did suck about half a quart of oil)."
Does engine braking do this? If so, how and is it a significant concern?
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
From: Newport TN
what kind of bike. a crotch rocket or standard model no problem. stripped down crusier no problem but get into the heavier touring bikes and you can really tax that motor downshifting and motor brakeing and that could cause oil to blow by maybe.
espically if he is really hammering in the twistys on a Ultra or somesuch.
espically if he is really hammering in the twistys on a Ultra or somesuch.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Oakville, MO.
Engine braking is a very useful tool. I always use it on my bike, and any other manual trans. vehicle, for that matter. However, the extreme manifold vac. situation created by doing this can cause oil to sneak past the rings, or more likely, valve stem seals if they are not in good shape. If they are flat worn out, you will see the telltale blue smoke every time you roll off the throttle.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
Thank you, mopardik, for the correct answer. I'm the guy this thread is referring to.
Our bike "uses" no oil, never did. However, in three days of driving mountain roads in Yellowstone at 45 mph, we never got out of 4th gear and used brakes only to come to a stop. We did downshift earlier than normal, which brought the rpm's up higher than I would normally have in a closed throttle situation. This creates a higher vacumn than normal in the cylinder during the intake stroke when not much air/fuel mix is drawn into the cylinder, which can cause oil to suck past rings. Also, some grades were extended downhill grades. Both my lady and I often commented about the cars in front of us riding their brakes all the way down grades, even though numerous signs told motorists to use lower gears.
Do a web search and you can find many articles about it, including using engine braking during break in periods to help suck the break-in wear particles off your cylinder walls and expel them out the exhaust.
Our bike "uses" no oil, never did. However, in three days of driving mountain roads in Yellowstone at 45 mph, we never got out of 4th gear and used brakes only to come to a stop. We did downshift earlier than normal, which brought the rpm's up higher than I would normally have in a closed throttle situation. This creates a higher vacumn than normal in the cylinder during the intake stroke when not much air/fuel mix is drawn into the cylinder, which can cause oil to suck past rings. Also, some grades were extended downhill grades. Both my lady and I often commented about the cars in front of us riding their brakes all the way down grades, even though numerous signs told motorists to use lower gears.
Do a web search and you can find many articles about it, including using engine braking during break in periods to help suck the break-in wear particles off your cylinder walls and expel them out the exhaust.
Last edited by MNPGRider; Aug 9, 2009 at 12:04 PM.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 763
Likes: 1
From: North Edwards, CA
Engine Braking Can Be a Bad Thing
-clutch-
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
During normal riding conditions (NOT in the mountain twistys) it's important to understand that using your drive train to slow you down generates excesive wear on the engine, transmission, primary chain, and final drive belt. IMO it's NOT a good habit, and can cost you hard earned $$$. Brake pads are a lot cheaper than drive train components. Just my .02
-clutch-
-clutch-
As others have said, every time you roll off the throttle, you are "engine braking," unless you have pulled in the clutch.