Engine braking occurs when the retarding forces within an engine are used to slow a vehicle down, as opposed to using an external braking mechanism such as friction brakes or magnetic brakes.
The term is often confused with several other types of braking, most notably compression-release braking or "jake braking" which uses a different mechanism entirely. Correct use of the term only applies to petrol engines and other engines that throttle air intake (As opposed to, e.g. diesel engines or electric engines).
Read more about Engine Braking: Petrol (gasoline) Engines, Diesel Engines, Two-stroke Engines, Applications, Legal Implications
Famous quotes containing the word engine:
“There is a small steam engine in his brain which not only sets the cerebral mass in motion, but keeps the owner in hot water.”
—Unknown. New York Weekly Mirror (July 5, 1845)