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Engine Braking by constantly changing to 3 from D

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mazzaw12
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Year and Model: 2000 V70 I
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Post by mazzaw12 »

Hi everyone, I have recently bought a V70 2000 Automatic and I'm curious about engine braking.
I never had an automatic car before and I'm intrigued by the behavior from my gearbox. It always goes down to like 1200rpm when I let go from the gas, providing virtually no engine braking.
I also noticed that if I shift to 4 I get some engine braking and at 3 it holds like a one pedal drive. I really enjoy the ability of choosing how much engine braking the car provides, like on a manual.
However, will I somehow wear my transmission faster it I keep doing that? I'm open to change my driving style if it will prolong my transmisson's lifespan.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts

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misha
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Post by misha »

I had '97 850 2.5 20v which i drove for 26 years.
Bought it almost brand new back in 2000 with only 70k km.

Car had around 450k km when engine burnt a valve on 4th cyl few months ago.
Never changed transmission oil,since Volvo says "sealed for life" and never had any problems with it.
Never used transmission for engine braking.
Drove it in "D"...used sport,econ,winter mode and kickdown when needed.

Sold it as it is...the buyer pulled the head,professionally rebuilt it and car is back on the road.

Transmission works like the 1st day i bought it back in 2000.

So....don't use transmission for engine braking.
2010 S80 D5 / restyling / fully equipped / Twin turbo / Savile Gray Metallic (492)

History of Volvos in the family:
'71 144 S
'73 144 De Luxe
'78 244 DL
'78 244 DL
'79 244 GLE
'85 340 GLS
'97 850 2.5 20v / fully equipped / Motronic 4.4 from the factory / upgraded with S,V,C,XC70 instrument cluster / polar white wagon

hausmeister
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Post by hausmeister »

I use the brake pedal, helps keep them rust free. On long downhills of course downshift.
I am not sure how it should behave from new, I already had to replace the TCU, and recently the TPS which also changed shifts. But it is similar that there is almost no engine breaking in D
850 T5-R '95 auto Image

mazzaw12
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Post by mazzaw12 »

Thanks for the replies. I'll just drive it like a carb car ;)

454cid
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Post by 454cid »

mazzaw12 wrote: 12 Sep 2026, 09:33 Thanks for the replies. I'll just drive it like a carb car ;)
Carb car?
1996 850
1999 S70 GLT (sold after deer hit)

2010 Ford Focus SE
2006 Cadillac CTS
1996 Mercedes C220
1999 Chevrolet K3500
1969 Buick LeSabre Custom 400

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abscate
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Post by abscate »

454cid wrote: 12 Sep 2026, 15:04
mazzaw12 wrote: 12 Sep 2026, 09:33 Thanks for the replies. I'll just drive it like a carb car ;)
Carb car?

It’s a car used to distribute bread and pasta
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mazzaw12
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Post by mazzaw12 »

454cid wrote: 12 Sep 2026, 15:04
mazzaw12 wrote: 12 Sep 2026, 09:33 Thanks for the replies. I'll just drive it like a carb car ;)
Carb car?
One with a carburetor ;)

454cid
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Post by 454cid »

mazzaw12 wrote: 13 Sep 2026, 22:53
454cid wrote: 12 Sep 2026, 15:04
mazzaw12 wrote: 12 Sep 2026, 09:33 Thanks for the replies. I'll just drive it like a carb car ;)
Carb car?
One with a carburetor ;)
Ok, but how do you drive it differently?
1996 850
1999 S70 GLT (sold after deer hit)

2010 Ford Focus SE
2006 Cadillac CTS
1996 Mercedes C220
1999 Chevrolet K3500
1969 Buick LeSabre Custom 400

454cid
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Post by 454cid »

abscate wrote: 13 Sep 2026, 06:24
454cid wrote: 12 Sep 2026, 15:04
mazzaw12 wrote: 12 Sep 2026, 09:33 Thanks for the replies. I'll just drive it like a carb car ;)
Carb car?

It’s a car used to distribute bread and pasta
:D
1996 850
1999 S70 GLT (sold after deer hit)

2010 Ford Focus SE
2006 Cadillac CTS
1996 Mercedes C220
1999 Chevrolet K3500
1969 Buick LeSabre Custom 400

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