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S vs D engine braking
Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 7:06 pm
by noddy
I have noticed when normal driving in D, the car try's to run on more when coasting to a halt than when in sport mode, resulting in more braking and I guess worse fuel economy?
Coming from a manual, it feels like I am constantly on the brakes unless I leave it in sport mode!
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Re: S vs D engine braking
Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 8:20 pm
by MikeFish
When in sport you will be in a lower gear therefore more engine braking being applied. Drive will result in a higher gear for a selected speed and therefore less engine braking. Think of it as being in a manual car and doing 30 coming up to a roundabout; in 5th the car will keep rolling but if you drop the 3rd the higher engine revs will be more effective at slowing the car.
However, modern engines use zero fuel when rolling along with no accelelorater being pressed. So yes you will wear out your brakes more in the higher gear but you won't be using any more fuel.
Re: S vs D engine braking
Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 8:21 pm
by MikeFish
in fact, being in sport mode means you would have been using more revs before coming up to the junction therefore using more fuel than if you wee in Drive. So in Drive you will use less fuel but more brake pad wear, and in Sport you will uuse more fuel but less brake pad wear.
Re: S vs D engine braking
Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 9:55 pm
by noddy
Interestingly (maybe not) the instantaneous mpg figures seem better when engine braking in sport vs drive?
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Re: S vs D engine braking
Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 10:23 pm
by Sammyb349
noddy wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2017 9:55 pm
Interestingly (maybe not) the instantaneous mpg figures seem better when engine braking in sport vs drive?
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Would put that down to the fact that turning the engine over in higher gears is more streaneous at lower revs, hence the change down when you get back on the accelerator pedal. All it's achieving is a "smoother" drive not the most optimal (brake pad wear versus fuel, or any other consumable battle combination)
Re: S vs D engine braking
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 12:17 am
by Rallyz
If you want a bit more engine braking when in D (or S), just drop a cog or two with the flappy paddle. It'll go into Manual temporarily and will go back to D either when you stop or when it deems it's time to go back. You can also force it to go back to D by just flicking the gear lever left and right.
I think you can also cancel Manual by holding the upshift paddle for a couple of seconds (at least you can on VWs), although I usually forget which paddle to use so use the gear lever anyway! I'll have to try it tomorrow now you've reminded me.
Re: S vs D engine braking
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 6:10 am
by GrahamS4
Rallyz wrote:If you want a bit more engine braking when in D (or S), just drop a cog or two with the flappy paddle. It'll go into Manual temporarily and will go back to D either when you stop or when it deems it's time to go back. You can also force it to go back to D by just flicking the gear lever left and right.
I think you can also cancel Manual by holding the upshift paddle for a couple of seconds (at least you can on VWs), although I usually forget which paddle to use so use the gear lever anyway! I'll have to try it tomorrow now you've reminded me.
Holding the paddle won't revert to auto like it does on some DSG. As the RS is a B8.5, reverting to auto from paddle use in D or S is a pull back of the gear stick (D/S toggle).
Re: S vs D engine braking
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:38 am
by Rallyz
Thanks for that, I'll try it later, a pull back is slightly neater than a left-right flick.