I've been observing how my truck behaves hooked up to a heavy trailer and going down hills. With CC engaged the computer applies the wheel brakes to maintain the set speed. When using the exhaust brake I've noticed that when auto mode is selected the computer will try to hold the truck to the speed that the vehicle was travelling when the throttle was released. In order to do this it will automatically downshift the transmission and adjust the turbo vanes to get the necessary braking. When the exhaust brake is set to the on position (as opposed to auto) the transmission downshifts as normal .... ie the transmission doesn't downshift until the wheel brakes are applied. With the exhaust brake on the turbo vanes move to restrict the exhaust flow.So when going down grades I'm hitting cancel on the cruise control and useing the auto mode on the exhaust brake.

Ram's auto and full mode does the same. This is why I get mad at the TFL guys because they use the full mode instead of auto in their test. Auto will aggressively downshift without the brakes being applied to hold a certain speed while full mode does it when the brakes are applied.

I REALLY don't get this brake application on the Fords! I want cold brakes "IF" I need them. I tow at 33-35k combined, I leave TH and EB on ALL the time. I tow in cruise up and down grades as much as 14% without brake applications. The trick is to select the gear going downhill that you would have used to climb the same grade. Auto mode is useless I'm my opinion!This whole TFL brake application is a JOKE. Human intervention and how to do so should be shown!!!

Cummins12V98 wrote:I REALLY don't get this brake application on the Fords! I want cold brakes "IF" I need them. I tow at 33-35k combined, I leave TH and EB on ALL the time. I tow in cruise up and down grades as much as 14% without brake applications. The trick is to select the gear going downhill that you would have used to climb the same grade. Auto mode is useless I'm my opinion!This whole TFL brake application is a JOKE. Human intervention and how to do so should be shown!!!x2

4x4ord wrote:I've been observing how my truck behaves hooked up to a heavy trailer and going down hills. With CC engaged the computer applies the wheel brakes to maintain the set speed. ...So when going down grades I'm hitting cancel on the cruise control and useing the auto mode on the exhaust brake.That seems odd to me. CC applies the wheel brakes ???Certainly with the RAM, you can use cruise control and auto EB at the same time to control speed downhill.I don't recall it ever applying the wheel brakes.

Cummins12V98 wrote:I REALLY don't get this brake application on the Fords! I want cold brakes "IF" I need them. I tow at 33-35k combined, I leave TH and EB on ALL the time. I tow in cruise up and down grades as much as 14% without brake applications. The trick is to select the gear going downhill that you would have used to climb the same grade. Auto mode is useless I'm my opinion!This whole TFL brake application is a JOKE. Human intervention and how to do so should be shown!!!I agree....whoever is responsible for the decision to program the brakes to come on to hold the CC selected speed should be slapped.The auto exhaust brake works good for lighter trailers and or shorter grades. Like you say: on a long steep grade with a heavy load it is essential that you use a low enough gear to hold back without using wheel brakes.

2017 Ford exhaust brake and cruise control | Good Sam Community

44 Replies

brulaz
Explorer
May 13, 2018
4x4ord wrote:
I've been observing how my truck behaves hooked up to a heavy trailer and going down hills. With CC engaged the computer applies the wheel brakes to maintain the set speed.
...
So when going down grades I'm hitting cancel on the cruise control and useing the auto mode on the exhaust brake.

That seems odd to me. CC applies the wheel brakes ???

Certainly with the RAM, you can use cruise control and auto EB at the same time to control speed downhill.

I don't recall it ever applying the wheel brakes.
goducks10
Explorer
May 13, 2018
Cummins12V98 wrote:
I REALLY don't get this brake application on the Fords! I want cold brakes "IF" I need them. I tow at 33-35k combined, I leave TH and EB on ALL the time. I tow in cruise up and down grades as much as 14% without brake applications. The trick is to select the gear going downhill that you would have used to climb the same grade. Auto mode is useless I'm my opinion!

This whole TFL brake application is a JOKE. Human intervention and how to do so should be shown!!!

x2
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
May 13, 2018
I REALLY don't get this brake application on the Fords! I want cold brakes "IF" I need them. I tow at 33-35k combined, I leave TH and EB on ALL the time. I tow in cruise up and down grades as much as 14% without brake applications. The trick is to select the gear going downhill that you would have used to climb the same grade. Auto mode is useless I'm my opinion!

This whole TFL brake application is a JOKE. Human intervention and how to do so should be shown!!!
ShinerBock
Explorer
May 13, 2018
Ram's auto and full mode does the same. This is why I get mad at the TFL guys because they use the full mode instead of auto in their test. Auto will aggressively downshift without the brakes being applied to hold a certain speed while full mode does it when the brakes are applied.

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2017 Ford exhaust brake and cruise control

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