Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: Brynjaminjones on May 04, 2014, 10:33:06 AM

Title: Engine braking with AW4
Post by: Brynjaminjones on May 04, 2014, 10:33:06 AM

This is a stupid question, but you lot may well have the answer...

I like to try to engine brake wherever possible in the XJ (with the AW4), but I'm reluctant to try to shift into 1-2 when I'm going too fast in the fear of causing damage.
At the moment, I slow down to about 20mph and shift into 1-2, and it goes straight into 1st.

In 3 I get no engine braking below about 60mph, but I often want to engine brake when going about 35-45mph. If I were to shift into 1-2 at this speed, would it go into 1st as it does at about 20mph, (this is what I'm scared of), or would it actually go into 2nd?

In other words, is it possible to shift into 1-2 and not have it go straight into 1st?

Title: Re: Engine braking with AW4
Post by: JamesH on May 04, 2014, 11:04:49 AM

Yes it will go into second if you are going fast enough, I do this offroad quite a bit because 2nd can be useful.

I wouldn't bother on road, use your brakes and let it shift when it does naturally. Brakes are easier and cheaper to replace than a gearbox if you overheat it or it does something weird and goes bang.

Modern autoboxes have good downshifts and engine braking, the AW4 doesn't.

Title: Re: Engine braking with AW4
Post by: Dutch on May 04, 2014, 11:18:12 AM

Ahw ... wants to preserve his little new pads  :hysterical:

Here ya go Captn' Abe pugwash  :003:

Title: Re: Engine braking with AW4
Post by: bigjeepzj on May 04, 2014, 11:28:15 AM

 :hysterical: be nice  to the young one

Title: Re: Engine braking with AW4
Post by: ferretjuggler on May 04, 2014, 11:31:40 AM

 :iagree:

I gotta agree with James
Every time you downshift you are putting avoidable wear on the friction linings in the transmission.

Now think about it.

What is the easiest to replace.

All the brake bands and clutch plates in the AW4,  or a set of brake pads :017:

Title: Re: Engine braking with AW4
Post by: Brynjaminjones on May 04, 2014, 11:50:31 AM

Cheers guys, my thought was just that surely so long as you downshift at the right speed it shouldn't cause any more wear than when you're driving uphill at the same engine speed.


Dutch, funnily enough you're not the first one to have suggested taking an anchor! :hysterical:

Quote from: bigjeepzj on May 04, 2014, 11:28:15 AM

 :hysterical: be nice  to the young one

Thank you, everyone seems to like to take the piss out of me :003:

Title: Re: Engine braking with AW4
Post by: Dave69 on May 04, 2014, 10:16:03 PM

the AW4 has no real engine braking when in normal road use, just stick it in D and leave it there. No point dropping it to any other gear. Engine braking in low range and 2nd is pretty impressive for an auto when off road