Tow/Haul on Truck

Oh, absolutely. Hauling the camper on your back it's senseless not to utilize the engine/tranny to ensure your don't overwork one or the other climbing/descending hills.

A long tow/haul story . Several weeks ago in my Ram I picked up a 24 foot cargo trailer to deliver to Daytona from Quitman Ga , maybe 275 miles . My buddy in almost the same truck picked up almost same trailer . When we filled up with fuel in Deland Fl my buddy used 4 more gallons of fuel than i did . The only thing that we did different was that he always runs tow/haul , he sez that all the towing forums say that is the way to go ! I say baloney ,when you are running at legal speed limits in FLAT country you probably do not need to use tow;haul .Your truck will tell you when it is time to turn tow/haul on . If your transmixer is searching , shifting back and forth , thats the time to turn it on !!
Most of my trailer spotting is on the coasts of Ga , Fl , and Alibammi , ain't no hills !

Kayteg1 wrote:
Closing turbo vanes makes new kind of brake. I still think it should be classified as an engine brake.

Me too.
An exhaust brake is also called an engine brake - and technically, it is an engine brake. But so is the effect of the transmission in lower gear descending a hill.
Perhaps the rv.net dictionary should read:
Engine brake: restricted air flow before combustion
Exhaust brake: restricted air flow after combustion

Regardless, the automotive world will continue to use the two terms interchangeably.
Lastly, an exhaust brake is NOT a Jake brake according to Banks Power article: How an exhaust brake works

Closing turbo vanes makes new kind of brake. I still think it should be classify as engine brake.

Thanks for all the helpful responses! I always learn so much for you all! I began making a habit out of pushing the tow/haul button on before I start driving. glad I asked.

bighatnohorse wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
Someone please explain the "engine brake" on the Powerstrokes. . . .

I'll give it a shot. . .
To my knowledge, the newer Powerstrokes use a Variable Geometry Turbo (sometimes called a variable vane turbo).
In engine brake mode, the turbo vanes are closed, thus choking off air flow and causing engine compression braking - thus the term "engine braking".

In exhaust braking, there is a butterfly valve used, either after the turbo or in the exhaust pipe.
http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/engine/0705dp-ford-f350-exhaust-brake-system/

Engine braking can occur without the use of a butterfly valve.

Yes, they do have a vgt that acts as an exhaust brake. All the light duty pickups use the turbos for the exhaust brakes now. Slightly different method than a butterfly valve down stream but same effect. They both choke down the exhaust for back pressure.
I understand that part, but there were a few folks talking about an engine brake AND an exhaust brake being used on the new Pstrokes. But I think you've confirmed that they only have an exhaust brake. Thanks.

Fwiw, exhaust brakes are very different than engine brakes. They both provide re tarding horsepower but engine brakes do it via the valve train, cracking the exhaust valves open at the right time to lower cylinder pressures to aide in slowing the rotation of the engine.

I use mine.

Grit dog wrote:
Someone please explain the "engine brake" on the Powerstrokes. . . .

I'll give it a shot. . .
To my knowledge, the newer Powerstrokes use a Variable Geometry Turbo (sometimes called a variable vane turbo).
In engine brake mode, the turbo vanes are closed, thus choking off air flow and causing engine compression braking - thus the term "engine braking".

In exhaust braking, there is a butterfly valve used, either after the turbo or in the exhaust pipe.
http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/engine/0705dp-ford-f350-exhaust-brake-system/

Engine braking can occur without the use of a butterfly valve.

Someone please explain the "engine brake" on the Powerstrokes.
Exhaust brake, yes, and much improved in 2015? For the Pstrokes.
I'm not aware of any light duty truck that comes with an engine brake (I'm talking compression brake/Jake brake).
However I believe it's Pacbrake does offer an aftermarket engine brake, the Load leash, that works in conjunction with the exhaust brake.
Do the scorpion engines have something similar or is this confusing engine brake with exhaust brake?

I use mine when the camper is on. On flat freeway work, it makes no difference, but accelerating, decelerating, or in the hills, it will delay the upshift points and be more aggressive on downshifting to hold speed.

Over on the Ford truck forum, there is a transmission engineer from Ford posting. He says on the 6.7L Ford, it will make no difference in transmission temp (that is thermostatically controlled on this truck, unlike previous trucks) and no difference to transmission life. It just makes the truck more pleasant to drive with a load in the hills.

The 2015 and up Ford has a different turbocharger (actually the same as the previous years chassis cab units) and an exhaust brake switch. This turbocharger has more effective exhaust braking than the one fitted to the 2011-2014 and they added the switch so you could choose. On the '15 and up, the exhaust brake will work with or without tow/haul engaged, but is more effective in tow/haul because of engine RPM.