Well, that "L" button is pretty useless,,,

[Hot Runr Guy]

'24 Lariat EB AWD, found myself on a winding downhill stretch of road in PA this week, signed at 9% grade. Figured this was as good a time as any to try the L-button and see if there was any compression braking available, damn did the rpm's shoot up to 5k+! It certainly doesn't drop just 1 or 2 gears,,,,,,

HRG

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[Carlitos_92]

So besides the noise, it had a negligible effect on your speed?

I am curious how the 8-speed handles grades like that when a cruise control speed is set. My last car was the first one I ever owned with any kind of "grade logic" where it would downshift by itself to try and hold a speed. Worked pretty well, but as an NA V6, it probably had a lot more compression braking ability than a turbo I4 theoretically designed for 87 octane...

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

So besides the noise, it had a negligible effect on your speed?

Couldn't tell you, I bailed out of it once I saw how high the rpm's were,,,,

HRG

 

[ShadowChas]

'24 Lariat EB AWD, found myself on a winding downhill stretch of road in PA this week, signed at 9% grade. Figured this was as good a time as any to try the L-button and see if there was any compression braking available, damn did the rpm's shoot up to 5k+! It certainly doesn't drop just 1 or 2 gears,,,,,,

HRG

I don’t believe that “L” is for low gear… (I think it’s for leaving the vehicle once in neutral?), but I could be mistaken? And only the FX4 and Tremor models have hill descent control from the factory.

 

[Maverickman74]

Tow mode might be more effective.

 

[710-oil-614]

Couldn't tell you, I bailed out of it once I saw how high the rpm's were,,,,

HRG

Why would you do that? It isn't a diesel - being up 4500-5000rpm is where you would realize any type of compression braking on the 2.0 Singer.

Overall though - L is not very effective.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

LOLS
At 75mph my Miata is pushing about 4200 RPMs. I don't usually drive the car much faster than that but it has been up to 90mph once or twice...

The computer won't let you over-rev the engine. Even my 91 Taurus SHO would cut spark/ fuel at the 7200 RPMs redline, and the computers are much better now.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Tow mode might be more effective.

Will give that a try the next time.

HRG

 

[cclark]

I had the same thing happen while trying it out on a long, winding, 10% grade. Engine braking did the work and less foot on the brake, but that 5K rpms scared me too much to stay in it, so I played with tow/haul mode and it did better.

 

[tom_tucker]

Will give that a try the next time.

HRG

I'll tell you. I was up on the Canadian border in Maine and main road was so rugged it was like a 4WD road. Tow/Haul was the preferred mode. So bumpy I needed constant revving to stabilize at slow speeds. Don't use Google maps in North New England.

 

[tom_tucker]

I had the same thing happen while trying it out on a long, winding, 10% grade. Engine braking did the work and less foot on the brake, but that 5K rpms scared me too much to stay in it, so I played with tow/haul mode and it did better.

Great North Mountain or any of the others. I've learned to throw some brake dust. EB or Atkinson, I'm not gonna ride the ICE all the way down anymore. I mix in some brake checks.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

'24 Lariat EB AWD, found myself on a winding downhill stretch of road in PA this week, signed at 9% grade. Figured this was as good a time as any to try the L-button and see if there was any compression braking available, damn did the rpm's shoot up to 5k+! It certainly doesn't drop just 1 or 2 gears,,,,,,

HRG

I haven't engine braked in my tremor, yet. I would expect that it would drop 0-8 gears to whatever gear it could keep max engine rpm below red line (or max allowed by software). Should have cruise on so computer knows how much additional hydraulic braking is needed if any. The L-button works great in my lariat hybrid maverick. The first time max engine braking occurred I said "oooh crap".

 

[Deva]

this is a great thread!
my commute to work 5X a week is over a 10% pass. I was really bumped that the mav. was not a stick shift. for years i swore i would not buy a vehicle that was not.

anyway i am in my slow season so i have only been over the pass a cpl times and there not much snow and ice, however i'll give both a try the L and tow/haul a try and see what works best for a long descent.

so far the regen. is working pretty good but when there is more weather i'll deff. need to be at slower speeds.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Will give that a try the next time.

HRG

L is VERY effective in the Hybrids.

L and tow/haul are much the same in the Hybrids going downhill.

In the hybrids though, with variable transmission it can be a variety of RPM's.

Basically it starts with high rpm, like 4500, and if speed drops, then it backs down to 3500, then 2500 if speed continues to drop.

 

[NJBob]

I don’t believe that “L” is for low gear… (I think it’s for leaving the vehicle once in neutral?), but I could be mistaken? And only the FX4 and Tremor models have hill descent control from the factory.

Think it's mostly for a car wash.

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