Here in the PNW (Bend) when it snows there is no road control and everything turns to ice. I have been riding around in S1 to use the dynamic braking to slow down when taking the foot off the gas pedal. If you exceed 30, it automatically goes into S2. Will this technique hurt the car? I assume that with the electric motors only the back EMF or the field voltage is changed when using this method. I am usually in EV doing this and wondering if this would hurt the car in ICE?





































r
ing if in ICE it would be OK?

 

No mechanical problem for the computer controlled modern car, aside from microscopic accelerated wear; like .00001% more.

The main problem is that engine braking may be too much for the most slippery ice, and ABS, stability control, etc may not have an algorithm to understand what is happening if you lose traction in a slower speed, no pedals situation.

 

I've heard this particular issue discussed for many years about the effects of using engine braking on slippery roads and whether or not ABS systems (or the equivalent if it exists within transmission control systems) are smart enough to prevent loss of traction and control. Never found any source with a definitive answer, so without that I would have to agree with bt10 that its perhaps not wise to use this method for slowing or controlling speeds on slippery roads. The risk could be amplified by FWD cars or even part time AWD cars where the majority of engine braking would occur only on the front. In these conditions use the brakes appropriately to get even braking across on 4 wheels plus knowing that ABS and stability/traction control systems are designed exactly for these scenarios, no need to improvise.

 

My experience in extremely slippery winter conditions with an ICE, rear wheel drive was to put the transmission into neutral when stopping to avoid the rear wheels continuing to put down torque and skewing the rear end, but use the brakes gently. Lately I have had a Jeep 4x4 and steering control is excellent in the snow and ice, but that, of course, does not help in braking. I am looking forward to the AWD of our NX450 h+ (scheduled for delivery February 1, 2025).

Ray B