It will depend, like others said, your individual truck and what your owner's manual says. When I had my 2005 Chevy 2500HD I didn't use it much when I towed heavy, except when climbing hills. My particular truck did not have grade braking, and in hot weather the transmission would actually run 10-20 degrees hotter with tow/haul engaged. Other users have reported cooler trans temps, and grade braking would be a very useful feature, especially combined with an exhaust brake.