When will you feel the effects of engine braking?

Explanation: When you take your foot off the accelerator, engines have a natural resistance to turn, caused mainly by the cylinder compression. Changing to a lower gear requires the engine to turn faster and so it will have greater resistance than when it's made to turn more slowly. When going downhill, changing to a lower gear will therefore help to keep the vehicle's speed in check.

Category: Vehicle handling

References: The Official DVSA Guide to Driving: Section 5, The Official DVSA Guide to Driving: Section 7