Engine Brake?

[Hak]

During my limited miles driven (400 miles), when the car is coming to a stop with or without pressing on the brake, I've been noticing the car is braking on its own (similar feeling to an engine brake). This happens at around 30-0 mph and on both the sports and comfort mode. Turning off the forward collision avoidance assist made it less of an abrupt engine brake feeling but I could feel that it was still present. Has anyone noticed this while driving?

 

[Michael Goodness]

Regenerative braking? I seem to recall reading that somewhere.

 

[Chris]

Regenerative braking? I seem to recall reading that somewhere.

Regenerate what??
Its just the shift points built in the transmission profile. My optima does the same thing. When I am coasting, when I get to somewhere between 25 and 30 the transmission downshifts...

 

[Hak]

Ah okay. Thnx for the insight!

 

[Kia Stinger]

It happens with my Accord and I find it annoying. It slows the car down too much. If I'm slowing down for a red light and it's somewhat far away, I sometimes put the car in neutral just so I can coast to the light properly...

 

[Hak]

Why didnt i think of that...haha

 

[Chris]

It happens with my Accord and I find it annoying. It slows the car down too much. If I'm slowing down for a red light and it's somewhat far away, I sometimes put the car in neutral just so I can coast to the light properly...

I know this seems counterintuitive but in a lot of newer cars you are burning more gas coasting in neutral than you are if you coast in gear. When in gear the car can basically shut the fuel off to the injectors and let the engine braking keep the engine running. if you are neutral it has to pump enough fuel to keep the engine running without the help of engine braking..

 

[Kia Stinger]

I know this seems counterintuitive but in a lot of newer cars you are burning more gas coasting in neutral than you are if you coast in gear. When in gear the car can basically shut the fuel off to the injectors and let the engine braking keep the engine running. if you are neutral it has to pump enough fuel to keep the engine running without the help of engine braking..

Very interesting, I didn't know that... Now I have to try and figure out which is more important to me. THANKS! A lot...

 

[Kazz]

It happens with my Accord and I find it annoying. It slows the car down too much. If I'm slowing down for a red light and it's somewhat far away, I sometimes put the car in neutral just so I can coast to the light properly...

This is something I've done in the winter on ice many times. You're not fighting the engine and transmission with the brakes and trying to create friction on ice. It's just the brakes.

 

[EchoesMyron]

What Chris said above: the technical term for it is 'fuel cut'. Also if you have the car in sport mode, the transmission will downshift earlier and more abruptly when decelerating so you will notice it more. It isn't as noticeable in comfort mode.

Only hybrid or electric cars use regenerative braking. They use the rotation of the wheels when coasting to generate electricity and charge the high voltage battery. The resulting drag gives a braking effect.

 

[Mike_TX]

My 2016 Optima did the same thing, but they fixed it for the 2017 model year. It's a software issue, causing it to downshift too soon.

Check with your dealer to see if a software flash will correct it.

 

[Kia Stinger]

My 2016 Optima did the same thing, but they fixed it for the 2017 model year. It's a software issue, causing it to downshift too soon.

Check with your dealer to see if a software flash will correct it.

I'm definitely going to run it by the dealer when I go for my next oil change...

 

[Hak]

I'm definitely going to run it by the dealer when I go for my next oil change...

Keep us posted!