Ford 7.3 engine users?
Looking to start a discussion with Ford 7.3 gas owners and how they like the truck. My next truck will be pulling a 14-15K 5th wheel and will be a long bed crew cab. The 7.3 looks to be a really coo...
Forum Discussion
Grit dog wrote:
I’m curious what an “engine brake” looks like on a 7.3 or any gasser for that fact. Is it connected to the muffler bearings or the blinker fluid pump?
To the OP, yeah…..no. Not unless you want less towing capacity and less stopping ability and less mileage all while pulling a much bigger trailer a bunch of miles (in the future according to your last query).
Such a huge step backwards, exaggerated by what you plan on doing w the truck. Idk, don’t make any sense to me.
I know you don't like hearing from me, but maybe somebody will learn. About 3rd grade, I learned to drop the WD 45 out of road gear on the downhill with hay wagons, because brakes worked better for steering than stopping.
On a spark fired engine, engine speed is controlled by by controlling the amount of air going in. Fuel is added to use what airflow is available. Compression fired, (Diesel) speed is controlled by the amount of fuel put in, and air flows free or is pumped in as needed to burn the fuel.
Gas engine, when not pulling, air flow is near stopped. Drop a gear, force engine to spin faster than air flowing in will allow, and the vehicle slows. Back in the day, we called it compression braking, but it is really vacuum between piston and throttle plate.
OTOH, start down hill with diesel, you cut the fuel but the only thing that slows the engine/vehicle is friction. But because this would likely be a safety issue, they add "Exhaust Brake", restrict air leaving the engine.
I have never seen a comparison, side by each, like load, gearing, and displacement, how much better it works to hold air in, compared to holding it out. But I will never forget my first day I put my diesel to work. Friday, pulling out of quarry, grossing 110,000. The 427 GMC would drop down the grade, don't brake until on scale. Monday, 855 CID, come down hill in low gear, and can't get stopped on scale.
30 years latter, guy running that scale declared he would refuse to give bills to any driver that used Jake on hill. Quarry manager called me to find out why trucks where not hauling. Policy did not last 2 hours.
