i avoid downshifting except for speed control down passes, etc. for DD use, i often just pop into neutral and coast if i know i'll be stopping. i also am quick to let off the gas when i see the light ahead. my wife keeps on the gas way too long and brakes way too much. i figure i get bad enough mileage and don't want to replace my brakes either, so i'll take it easy on both.

i warm up the truck for a minute or two if it has sat out for hours or overnight, but typically it's in the garage and never below freezing. i'll try to keep it under 2500 rpm for a couple minutes until it starts to warm up, then i'm back to normal. anyone ever listen to "car talk"? the maliozzi (sp?) brothers gave out advice to keep it under 2500 for a bit, but that idling isn't all the rage, either. at some point, i would think there's the potential for more wear even at lower RPMs if you let it idle until it warms up. who knows...!

 

I use the engine for braking, but gently. I have gotten LONG service life from brakes & clutch by being careful.
I do NOT 'warm' my truck up prior to driving (unless the windshield is frozen over!). I simply stay off the accelerator until it reaches operating temp.

My daily driver is my '89 SR5 PU, 3.0 V-6 5-speed.
Over 230,000 miles on the ORIGINAL engine & transmission. Doesn't burn oil, and runs excellent. Good 'ol dino oil, changed every 3 to 5 thousand miles.
On 2nd clutch (only replaced the original at approx 60K mikes because of a noisy throw-out bearing). So I have maybe 170,000 miles on the replacement clutch. Clearly, careful engine braking doesn't have much effect on the clutch.
I have only replaced half the original brakes (think it was the front). The other half of the brakes are ORIGINAL from when I purchased the truck new in '89. No lie. They are checked for wear at least once a year; shop keeps telling me that they are within specs. Doxon Toyota in Auburn takes care of me. Pretty good folks there.

Jim

 

Is she from Tulsa? The lights downtown are timed at about 25mph, you can just slowly roll thru town without hitting any red, but most drivers act like it's a series of drag races.

 

I don't know why people with manual trannys don't use the clutch to slow down. the engine/tranny/clutch was manufactured for that purpose. even auto trannys downshift and use the engine to slow.

I always downshift to slow (while braking as well). It seems that most of the argument above is that wearing out breaks is better than the clutch. Honestly, if you drive your manual correctly, by the time you wear out your clutch (even with downshifting to slow), you've gone through way more sets of brake pads, and possibly rotors. I'm willing to bet that my clutch will wear out at the same time as any of the people who don't downshift to slow...

just something to think about

 

i have one of the weaker transmissions and i don't want to blow it up any time soon. yes, downshifting is better if you're going down long grades while towing something, but in normal traffic its usually pretty pointless imho.

 

Most of the time I just shift into neutral. My truck has brakes for a reason.

Seriously though, I warm up for 10 minutes during winter and about 15-30 during warmer weather.