2016 Silverado 3500 - Ike Gauntlet Pull
Looks like the Chevy still outperforms the Ram on the time up the Gauntlet and more importantly outperforms in exhaust brake performance too. Link
Forum Discussion
transamz9 wrote:
My 2013 in full mode downshifts and applies full exhaust braking. The exhaust brake on full always tries to slow the truck at a curtain rate no matter what the speed. If the truck is not slowing down it will put out 100% of it's capability and will down shift when able to do so and not red line. In auto mode it does what it has to to hold a curtain speed. The two modes put out the same braking force.
The point I'm trying to make is that if the exhaust brake has enough power to hold the truck it will do it in either mode. The only difference is that in full on mode it will continue to slow the truck until around 20mph. On auto mode it will slow the truck until it hits the set speed then adjust it's output to just hold that speed.
Not exactly, as I said before the EB in full brake mode will not downshift to keep speed like auto mode will in certain situations. Full mode will downshift as you gradually slow down (as it naturally does without the EB)if the exhaust brake is strong enough to slow the truck down in the gear it is in. If it is not strong enough to slow the truck down in the gear it is in then it will NOT downshift to become stronger like auto mode will.
For example, say you were coming down the Ike towing 20k at 60 mph as the truck weight and grade was overpowering the EB in 6th gear and you start to gain speed. The exhaust brake in full mode will not downshift to become stronger when you are gaining speed and you have to apply the brakes in order to slow down in these scenarios where the force of the weight and grade is stronger than the force of the EB in high gears.
In auto mode it is a different story. If it is set at 60 mph and you start to gain speed, the EB in auto mode will automatically drop down a gear or two (since the higher the rpm the stronger the exhaust brake is) to keep you from gaining speed helping you slow down without touching the brakes.
This is only in certain extreme situations like the Ike where the load and grade is more powerful than the exhaust brake is in 6th or even 5th. About 99.9% of the time (or 100% of the time for most people who don't live by mountains) the full mode EB in 6th gear is strong enough to slow you down or at least keep speed without the need of a downshift like you say you usually experience.
