The braking effect of the engine is greatest when the engine is near the governed RPMs and the transmission is in the _________gear

The braking effect of the engine is greatest when the engine is near the governed RPMs and the transmission is in the _________gear

• A. lower gear
• B. higher gear
• C. neutral
• D. reverse gear

Answer: (A)

Engine braking comes from the engine resisting the wheels when you close the throttle. The resistance you feel is strongest when the engine is turning faster, which happens when you downshift into a lower gear. In a lower gear, for the same road speed, the engine RPM rises toward the governed range, and the engine itself helps slow the vehicle. If you stay in a higher gear, the engine RPM stays lower and the braking effect is much weaker. In neutral, the engine is disconnected from the wheels, so there’s effectively no engine braking. Using reverse gear isn’t appropriate for slowing a forward-moving vehicle.

Engine braking comes from the engine resisting the wheels when you close the throttle. The resistance you feel is strongest when the engine is turning faster, which happens when you downshift into a lower gear. In a lower gear, for the same road speed, the engine RPM rises toward the governed range, and the engine itself helps slow the vehicle. If you stay in a higher gear, the engine RPM stays lower and the braking effect is much weaker. In neutral, the engine is disconnected from the wheels, so there’s effectively no engine braking. Using reverse gear isn’t appropriate for slowing a forward-moving vehicle.