This is my first auto car, and only recently noticed for the first time that the car does engine braking under certain situations. The case where I noticed it is where I was on a slight downslope, I hit the brakes, and then released. If found that the car downshifted and stayed there until I attempted to accelerate again.

 

Some makes call this “hill assist”, I think.

 

I think hill assist refers to application of brake when in D and stopped on an upslope to prevent rolling back.

 

Yeah, I've noticed for years that newer automatic transmissions would downshift if you're off the gas going downhill and you tap the brake. If that's not enough, you could always have switched to L. My Pilot had L1, L2 and L3, where it wouldn't shift beyond the selected gear. Handy when driving in a hilly area.

Yes, I've noticed that the RDX seems to have that "hill assist" feature. Plus, you always can switch the transmission to Sequential and use the paddles. That's what I do driving on back roads on the north shore of Long Island or the hills of Western Connecticut.

 

I've heard that called "hill holder" or brake hold but it's a different feature. The RDX has it and you can turn it on or off with one of the buttons on the left knee panel. I leave it off.

 

Yeah, that's "brake hold".

 

Honda use to call it grade logic:
The grade logic is downshifting to maintain your speed as you coast down a hill. It takes no input from the brake pedal. All it does is detect speed increase and decrease. If you apply the brakes obviously there is no need for engine braking.

During hill decent with foot off the throttle or light throttle the transmission will hold the present gear and not up shift……..controlling the speed using engine braking.

 

Grade Logic - that sounds familiar. I think that's what my Honda Pilot had.

 

Honda had been using the “Grade Logic” branding within their AT for a long time. It’s mentioned as a feature on the 1994 Accord

And here’s a press release talking more in-depth about the transmission on the 2001 Prelude

https://hondanews.com/en-US/releases...e-transmission

Brings back memories eh?

 

I was with Chrysler back in the mid 1990's and the Mitsubishi cars had some out with a similar type program. They first called it "Fuzzy Logic" which was more commonly used in Japanese vehicles at the time. I think someone decided to drop that name (which is the correct technical term for it) because some consumers thought the computer was confused or something.....

"Firms such as Boeing, General Motors, Allen-Bradley, Chrysler, Eaton, and Whirlpool have worked on fuzzy logic for use in low-power refrigerators, improved automotive transmissions, and energy-efficient electric motors".

 

Driving thru Rockies I found that cruise control does not work on very steep downslope. Setting drive mode to "S" instead of "D" as well as setting Sport+ mode helps to keep it within desired speed without using brakes. On the other hand I found in many places in Utah "No Engine Braking" sign.

 

I think that sign is more for trucks. The RDX engine barely makes any noise.

 

Trucks that "Jake Brake" can make a lot of unwanted noise -