DSG reving high when keeping speed going down hill. Normal?

[anonymousmoose]

Wondering if this is normal: when I drive the new Polo and I come to a steep hill, when using the break to keep the (60km/h) speed limit, the gearbox kicks down to 3rd gear and revs over 3000rpm. Before I put my foot in the break to keep speed it's in gear 6 or 7 and then kicks down to 3.

Normal?

[kaanage]

Absolutely normal. It's interpreting that you want to maintain your speed so it shifts down to help. It gets it right a surprising amount of the time

[Umai Naa!!]

Engine braking.

[anonymousmoose]

I don't notice this on my s-tronic Audi A4, but maybe it's more subtitle given its a higher end car?

[kaanage]

The programming will be completely different for the larger engine which will provide more engine braking as well as "normal" power and torque

[KiwiME]

Try not releasing the brake pedal completely while going downhill, just gently modulate. Certainly it downshifts the second time I touch the pedal without using the gas pedal in between. Our 2004 BMW does the same thing and it can be annoying when you want to coast a bit. I have to briefly tap the gas to get it to upshift.

[brad]

Maybe rather than use the brake, anticipate that you are going down hill & back off a fraction earlier & use the gearbox rather than brake?

[Ryan_R]

Or use tiptronic to select the hear you want. The manual recommends 3rd gear for steep declines and general advice is not to ride brakes for an extended period of time (ie down a mountain).

[kaanage]

I really don't think the OP is complaining about the car slowing down too much but is just querying the gearbox behaviour.

[dening]

Wondering if this is normal: when I drive the new Polo and I come to a steep hill, when using the break to keep the (60km/h) speed limit, the gearbox kicks down to 3rd gear and revs over 3000rpm. Before I put my foot in the break to keep speed it's in gear 6 or 7 and then kicks down to 3.

Normal?

Completely normal. My polo gti did it my new golf gti does it....my mk5 tdi didn't. So newer dsg engine combos are programmed to use engine braking as much as possible i think.

[The One]

Engine breaking as much as possible is correct. Less stress/friction on brakes etc. It's a good thing, enjoy it.

[anonymousmoose]

I just compared it to the S-Tronic Audi. The Audi on the same hill uses the actual brake more and stays in around 5th gear. The Polo uses the gears (3rd) to brake but it won't keep speed as well as the Audi. The Polo will continue to accelerate on a very steep hill where as the Audi holds speed.

[Melts75]

Yep, all dsg's have this function. Putting in sport mode will give you even more aggressive engine braking downhill.


2011 B7 Passat TDI highline wagon. I tinted the windows [emoji106][emoji106]

[KiwiME]

According to the 2014 owner's manual it's also supposed to coast (both clutches open) when you are off the gas but before you start braking. I can't say I seen this effect on the tach, it seems to just stay in 7th.

[kaanage]

I just compared it to the S-Tronic Audi. The Audi on the same hill uses the actual brake more and stays in around 5th gear. The Polo uses the gears (3rd) to brake but it won't keep speed as well as the Audi. The Polo will continue to accelerate on a very steep hill where as the Audi holds speed.

I thought you were braking when the 'boxes downshift