Exhaust Brake

Good answers and good learning here.

Thanks to all.

The Mad Norsky wrote:

06Fargo wrote:
When it is mild so the pack snow/ice is good and slippy you can use your retarded brake to effect a kind of slow motion parking brake turn as the rear wheels lock up a bit -

When you aren't hauling huge loads in Outer Slobbovia - :)

I was kind of wondering about that.

The exhaust brake on slick roads that is.

I'm not thinking about Outer Slobbovia right now - give me a few more minutes though, and who knows????? :B

Anyway, are there road conditions so slick that one maybe should NOT use the exhaust brake???????? Course on the flip side, if they are that slick, then one should not be driving on them anyway.

Yes there are roads like that - yesterday - just below freezing and sunny = icy & freezing rain here today ... had to palm the wheel to negotiate the turn, rally style... if you have all wheel drive engaged there is less drama when the traction is lost...

The Mad Norsky wrote:

Anyway, are there road conditions so slick that one maybe should NOT use the exhaust brake???????? Course on the flip side, if they are that slick, then one should not be driving on them anyway.

I sure would not use them when pulling a trailer on slick roads (snow or really wet). That is a good way to jack-knife.

Yeah, yeah, I know...many people think that a jack-knife is when the TRAILER makes a big looping swing around the truck. Those people watch too many movies. Most jack-knifes are caused when the truck stops, but the trailer keeps coming. The rear of the TRUCK gets pushed sideways, and the trailer drives right on through.

So, using Jake brakes (what us old timers called exhaust brakes)when roads are slick is a BAD BAD thing. Exhaust brakes only stop the truck, the trailer is still coming. You can see where that is likely to end up!?!?!?!?!

Without a trailer can be so-so dangerous. It can still cause the rear wheels to lock up, and locked up wheels on a slick road is NEVER good.

AS FOR THE OP... They help you stop, save on brake pads, why not use them. Besides, they sound COOL.

ScottG wrote:
On new trucks it moves the impellers on the turbo to create the back pressure. If you don't use it often enough they get clogged up with carbon and eventually stick.

I have head this as well but believe it to be a myth...

Just watching my turbo vane position in my Edge CTS without the exhaust brake on its all over the place based on output demand. Its not like without the EB on its not ever going fully open or close.

One negative aspect of using around town is that you have to remember your BRAKE LIGHTS do not come on when the EB engages. So if you have it set aggressively and someone is tailing you just be prepared.

06Fargo wrote:
When it is mild so the pack snow/ice is good and slippy you can use your retarded brake to effect a kind of slow motion parking brake turn as the rear wheels lock up a bit -

When you aren't hauling huge loads in Outer Slobbovia - :)

I was kind of wondering about that.

The exhaust brake on slick roads that is.

I'm not thinking about Outer Slobbovia right now - give me a few more minutes though, and who knows????? :B

Anyway, are there road conditions so slick that one maybe should NOT use the exhaust brake???????? Course on the flip side, if they are that slick, then one should not be driving on them anyway.

When it is mild so the pack snow/ice is good and slippy you can use your retarded brake to effect a kind of slow motion parking brake turn as the rear wheels lock up a bit -

When you aren't hauling huge loads in Outer Slobbovia - :)

I got a Chevy Silverado 2500 Diesel

I normally run my Ram 3500 EB in Auto. Really helps when braking. If you run full on, it's loud, acts sooner and more aggressively. It will slow you to almost a stop with out hitting the brakes, just let off the go pedal. Around town, I run EB in auto, along with Tow Haul mode on. This holds gears longer, snappier acceleration. Get out on the hiway, take off the TH (if not towing).
Added feature on the Rams is that when starting the CTD cold, turn on EB to help with a much quicker warm up. Use this with the idle up feature to warm up even quicker.

Gonecamping444 wrote:
Just got a new pickup with exhaust brake on it,I was told that some people keep it on all the time,What's the reason for that?Thanks

cause it just SOUNDS so cool when you slow down!

Yep, every time I drive it I turn into Walter Mitty having some marvelous adventure driving huge loads across the treacherous Hindu Kush Mountains in outer Slobbovia.

Mind you, there are others, obviously without my imagination, who claim it keeps the turbo cleaner, reducing carbon build up.

Myself, I prefer the Walter Mitty explanation. :B

I only turn it on in the hills. Haven't needed it in the flats.