Okay, so engine braking in automatics was confusing me at first. I kept hearing manual drivers talk about downshifting to slow down, but my car’s an automatic with just “Drive” and “Low” settings. Felt weird not understanding my own car.
Started Simple with the Manual
First thing I did? Dug out the dusty owner’s manual under my passenger seat. Flipped straight to the “Transmission” section. Saw that “L” doesn’t just mean “Low” for hills like I thought – it actually locks out higher gears. Manual called it a “grade assist” feature. Lightbulb moment: engine braking! But felt vague. Needed to actually feel it.
Finding a Safe Spot to Test
Went hunting for a quiet, steep hill on a backroad near me. Cruised up to 40 mph in “D” mode first. Then: foot off the gas completely. Car just coasted freely, barely slowing down – felt like it wanted to roll forever. Brake pedal was the only way to control speed. Didn’t like that.
The Actual Experiment
Next lap, did the same thing but slapped the shifter into “L” while moving. Felt the transmission jolt a bit as it dropped gears. Now, foot off gas again at 40 mph? Instant difference. Car yanked itself back hard, like getting tugged by a rope. Speedometer dropped way faster without touching brakes. Steering wheel vibrated slightly from the engine working. Crazy how much resistance the engine creates!
Putting It Together & Why Bother
Turns out it’s just the engine fighting itself. In “L”, higher gears are blocked. At high revs (like 3-4k RPM in my test), pistons churning against closed throttle = natural braking force. Super useful stuff:
- Saves brakes on long downhills
- Less brake fade on mountain roads
- Feels more controlled than coasting
My automatic won’t let me pick exact gears like a manual, but that “L” mode? Pure engine braking magic once you use it right. Took 15 minutes of hands-on testing to click – way better than just reading forums!
