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
Isuzu LCF models has exhaust brakes std in early 80's. Those rigs needed them for steeper than 10% grades. Less than 6% freeway grades were not a big deal. Granted most of those driven were at gvwr, not gcw. As they went the most powerful creatures.
My 05 dmax, the grade braking of the Allison worked fine when I was in the greater than 15-20k gvwr realm. Freeway weren't a big deal. Greater than local 10% grades, needed the trans grade braking plus an occasional use of truck and trailer brakes.
I will say, exhaust brakes are good to have on diesels. The rigs I have driven with exhaust brakes, behaved as they should. As the engines as designed do not have the best potential compression braking vs gas rig. I believe Scooby pointed out the why.
I still believe for most interstate driving, a gas rig appropriately loaded, with current technology, will be fine into the low 20k realm.
The only thing a diesel will have generally speaking, is power at 10k feet vs the gas bring 30% down to to elevation. As I don't know if any diesels with out a turbo. With the advent of the eco boost style engines, elevation power loss will not be an issue.
Marty
Marty
My 05 dmax, the grade braking of the Allison worked fine when I was in the greater than 15-20k gvwr realm. Freeway weren't a big deal. Greater than local 10% grades, needed the trans grade braking plus an occasional use of truck and trailer brakes.
I will say, exhaust brakes are good to have on diesels. The rigs I have driven with exhaust brakes, behaved as they should. As the engines as designed do not have the best potential compression braking vs gas rig. I believe Scooby pointed out the why.
I still believe for most interstate driving, a gas rig appropriately loaded, with current technology, will be fine into the low 20k realm.
The only thing a diesel will have generally speaking, is power at 10k feet vs the gas bring 30% down to to elevation. As I don't know if any diesels with out a turbo. With the advent of the eco boost style engines, elevation power loss will not be an issue.
Marty
Marty
