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Should I use low gear going down a mountain pass?
Yes. On a long, steep descent like Coal Bank, Molas, or Red Mountain Pass on US-550, shift to a lower gear before you start down. The engine then holds back the car, so the brakes do less of the work and stay cooler. Use the brakes in short, firm presses instead of riding them. Ace AutoFix checks brakes in Durango after a hard mountain trip.
Brakes feel off after a mountain drive? Call (970) 317-2009 or Book appointment online. Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Why does a lower gear help on a long downhill?
In a lower gear, the engine turns faster and resists the wheels. That resistance, often called engine braking, slows the car without the brake pads touching the rotors. On a short hill it barely matters. On a descent that runs for miles, it matters a lot.
Brakes slow the car by turning speed into heat. If they are the only thing holding the car back for a whole descent, that heat keeps building in the pads, rotors, and fluid. Too much heat leads to brake fade, where the brakes stop less well than they did at the top. The Colorado Department of Transportation advises drivers to downshift to a lower gear on steep grades and to use the brakes sparingly and in short bursts instead of riding them.
How do I shift to a lower gear in an automatic?
Most automatics give you a way to pick a lower gear. It might be an L, 2, or 3 on the shifter, a manual mode that moves with plus and minus, or paddles behind the steering wheel. The owner's manual shows what your car has and how the maker wants you to use it on hills.
In a manual transmission, a common rule of thumb is to go down the hill in about the same gear you would use to climb it. In either kind of car, watch the tachometer and keep the engine below the red line. Do not shift into neutral to coast. That takes the engine out of the job and puts it all on the brakes.
Where does this matter around Durango?
US-550 north of Durango crosses Coal Bank Pass, Molas Pass, and Red Mountain Pass on the way to Silverton. Those descents are long, with tight curves and little room to pull off. A driver who rides the brakes from the top of Coal Bank can arrive at the bottom with hot, fading brakes. A driver in a lower gear usually arrives with brakes that still have plenty left.
Winter adds one more reason. CDOT's winter driving tips say to switch to a lower gear on downhill stretches and tap the brakes gently, which helps avoid burning the brakes and keeps traction on icy roads.
Next step: if your brakes smelled hot, felt soft, or started making noise after a mountain drive, see our brake repair in Durango page for the pad, rotor, caliper, and brake fluid work Ace AutoFix does.
Will using a low gear hurt my engine or transmission?
Using a lower gear the way the owner's manual describes is normal use. The engine will sound busier than it does on the highway, and that is expected. What you want to avoid is forcing a gear so low that the tachometer runs into the red.
If the transmission slips, shifts hard, or will not hold a gear on a grade, that is worth a look. Ace AutoFix does transmission service and fluid and transmission replacement. Our transmission and drivetrain page covers that work.
What should I check after a long descent?
Pay attention on the way down and after you park. A burning smell, a pedal that feels soft or sinks, a pulse in the pedal, a grind, or a pull to one side are all signs the brakes took a beating. If any of those show up, keep the next trips short and in town and get the brakes looked at before another pass.
At Ace AutoFix we look at the pads, rotors, calipers, and brake fluid front and rear, then tell you what we found and what it will take before any work starts. We can send text and photo updates, and nothing gets added without your OK. The price is labor and parts, with no supply, ordering, or disposal fees. Our posts on inspecting brakes before driving to Silverton and why brakes grind go deeper on the warning signs.
Book with Ace AutoFix
Call (970) 317-2009 or Book appointment online. Ace AutoFix is locally owned at 320 Wilson Gulch Dr, Durango, CO 81301, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Cars and gas or light-duty trucks. No diesel.
How do I use a low gear going down a mountain pass?
- Slow to a safe speed before the top of the descent, while the road is still level or climbing.
- Shift to a lower gear before you start down, using the L or numbered position, manual mode, or paddles your owner's manual describes.
- Let the engine hold your speed. When you need to slow more, press the brakes firmly, then let off instead of riding them.
- If the car still picks up speed, slow down with the brakes and shift one gear lower. Keep the engine below the red line.
- If you smell hot brakes or the pedal feels soft, pull off at a safe spot and let the brakes cool before you go on.
- After the trip, if the brakes smelled hot, felt soft, or made new noise, call (970) 317-2009 or book online at aceautofix.com for a brake check.
Questions people ask
Should I use low gear going down a mountain pass?
Yes. On a long, steep descent, shift to a lower gear before you start down so the engine holds back the car. The brakes then do less of the work and stay cooler. Use them in short, firm presses instead of riding them. The Colorado Department of Transportation gives the same advice to help prevent brake fade.
What gear should I use going down Coal Bank Pass?
Use a gear low enough that the car holds a safe speed with only light, occasional braking. In an automatic, that might be L, 2, or 3, or a lower step in manual mode. In a manual, a common rule of thumb is about the gear you would use to climb the same grade. Keep the engine below the red line.
Is it bad to ride the brakes downhill?
Yes. Holding the pedal down the whole way keeps the pads on the rotors and builds heat in the pads, rotors, and fluid. Too much heat leads to brake fade, where the brakes stop less well. Brake firmly to slow down, then let off, and let a lower gear do the rest.
Can engine braking damage my car?
Using a lower gear the way your owner's manual describes is normal use. The engine will sound busier, and that is expected. Avoid forcing a gear so low that the tachometer runs into the red. If the transmission slips or will not hold a gear on a grade, have it checked.
What are signs my brakes overheated on a mountain drive?
A burning smell, a pedal that feels soft or sinks, a pulse in the pedal, a grind, or a pull to one side. If you notice any of these, keep trips short and in town and have the brakes checked before another pass. Ace AutoFix looks at pads, rotors, calipers, and brake fluid in Durango.
How do I book a brake check at Ace AutoFix?
Call (970) 317-2009 or Book appointment online. The shop is at 320 Wilson Gulch Dr, Durango, CO 81301, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Cars and gas or light-duty trucks. No diesel.
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