You are driving downhill with a manual. What gear will you use to take a long, steep downhill grade?

• A. A higher gear than climbing
• B. A lower gear than if climbing the hill
• C. The same gear as climbing
• D. No gear changes needed.

Answer: (B)

When you’re going downhill in a manual, you use engine braking by downshifting to a lower gear. This makes the engine resist the wheels more, which slows the vehicle without relying mainly on the brakes. It gives you better control on a long, steep grade and helps prevent brake overheating. You downshift to a gear lower than the one you’d use for climbing, so you have stronger engine braking to manage speed. Using a higher gear would reduce engine braking, leaving you to depend more on the brakes and risking fade. Not changing gears would also miss out on engine braking, increasing brake heat and making the descent harder to control.