Engine brake question

[idtrout1]

Traded in my 2004 duramax for a 2017 Powerstroke which comes with a engine brake. I have never had an engine brake before and was wondering what you do or how to use it when coming down a hill pulling a 5th wheel. So my question is when you are at the top of a hill beginning your descent with a 10,000 trailer behind what do you do or how do you use the engine brake on a powerstroke to hold you back. Thanks like to know what to do before I get to that situation.

[DutchmenSport]

wnjj wrote:

DutchmenSport wrote:
...

You're confusing "grade braking" with an exhaust brake. ...

I stand corrected! yes you are correct.

(but still, used together ... it's awesome!)

[Michelle_S]

All I can say is that on my 2011 Silverado 3500 with just over 105K miles is: Turn the key to start, then press the Exhaust Brake button, then into drive and go. If towing, right after engaging the Exhaust Brake is to engage Tow/Haul mode then go.

[wnjj]

DutchmenSport wrote:
Exhaust brake will do the same thing as manually putting your truck in a lower gear when coming down hill. It will hold your truck in whatever gear you are in and not allow an upshift to a higher gear, thus allowing the truck to move even faster. With exahaust brake, the engine will rev, it can get pretty high and sometimes can become a bit daunting, but that's what's it's suppose to do. When the engine reves that high, then you press the brake pedal and slow the entire rig down, sometimes, even enough to drop into the next lower gear. But normally, it will just rev the engine maybe 1000 - 2000 rpms higher than normal running.

The thing it does is keeps your transmission locked in the current gear so it won't upshift when coming down hill. It does not hurt anything to engage it the moment you start your engine (towing or not). I've used mine in the mountains of NC, Tennessee, and KY, even when not towing. But towing is where it really shines.

Now, the opposite is Tow-Haul mode. Tow Haul cause the transmission to shift up to the next highest gear at a higher engine RPM.

Cruise control holds the speed steady.

Now, turn on all 3, and you virtually never have to touch the brake or the accelerator once you reached your desired speed.

Tow-Haul will keep the RPMs up when climbing hills so your truck maintains max power in a lower gear. Exhaust Brake keeps the truck in it's current gear when going down hill so the lower gear is actually keeping you from accelerating. When Cruise Control is flipped on, everything just happens! It's so sweet!

You're confusing "grade braking" with an exhaust brake. Totally different beasts.

Grade braking is as you describe, "holding a lower gear." Exhaust brakes restrict the exhaust flow to significantly increase the ability of the engine to hold back (no matter what gear you're in).

Tow haul mode works up and down hills and on the flat. It generally minimizes the number of shifts, staying in either lower or higher gears longer. The shifts are also done more firmly. On trucks without an exhaust brake, tow/haul usually causes more aggressive grade braking.

[Grit_dog]

Push the button, watch what happens. Exhaust brakes are a great addition to light duty diesels.

[SpeakEasy]

DutchmenSport wrote:


Now, the opposite is Tow-Haul mode. Tow Haul cause the transmission to shift up to the next highest gear at a higher engine RPM.

Not necessarily. Maybe it depends on which brand of truck you have. On my Ford, Tow/Haul does what you've said when climbing, but on a down-hill it automatically downshifts, essentially applying "engine braking."

-Speak

[SweetLou]

DownTheAvenue wrote:
You spent a ton of money on your truck. Why would you not spend a little time reading your owner's manual? The answer to your question and many others will be found there, all written by the people who know best- the people who designed and built your truck.

X2

[DutchmenSport]

Exhaust brake will do the same thing as manually putting your truck in a lower gear when coming down hill. It will hold your truck in whatever gear you are in and not allow an upshift to a higher gear, thus allowing the truck to move even faster. With exahaust brake, the engine will rev, it can get pretty high and sometimes can become a bit daunting, but that's what's it's suppose to do. When the engine reves that high, then you press the brake pedal and slow the entire rig down, sometimes, even enough to drop into the next lower gear. But normally, it will just rev the engine maybe 1000 - 2000 rpms higher than normal running.

The thing it does is keeps your transmission locked in the current gear so it won't upshift when coming down hill. It does not hurt anything to engage it the moment you start your engine (towing or not). I've used mine in the mountains of NC, Tennessee, and KY, even when not towing. But towing is where it really shines.

Now, the opposite is Tow-Haul mode. Tow Haul cause the transmission to shift up to the next highest gear at a higher engine RPM.

Cruise control holds the speed steady.

Now, turn on all 3, and you virtually never have to touch the brake or the accelerator once you reached your desired speed.

Tow-Haul will keep the RPMs up when climbing hills so your truck maintains max power in a lower gear. Exhaust Brake keeps the truck in it's current gear when going down hill so the lower gear is actually keeping you from accelerating. When Cruise Control is flipped on, everything just happens! It's so sweet!

[DownTheAvenue]

You spent a ton of money on your truck. Why would you not spend a little time reading your owner's manual? The answer to your question and many others will be found there, all written by the people who know best- the people who designed and built your truck.

[rhagfo]

azdryheat wrote:
What does your owner's manual say?

For my Duramax, the manual says I don't need the engine brake until I'm towing above 15,000 pounds. You may not even need it with the light-weight trailer you're towing.

When I tow my 19,000 pound trailer, the engine brake is always on. Once you turn it on just drive normally and it'll do what it has to do. Make sure your transmission is in manual when going down a mountain grade. Let your lower gears help keep your speed down. Your wheel brakes are not supposed to do all of the work, or even most of the work. Downshift the tranny and use the engine brake to keep your speed down; your wheel brakes are secondary braking items. Like I said before, your truck may not even know your trailer is back there.

Really bad advice, use it all the time when towing! Saves the service brakes for that stupid idiot that thinks you can stop on a dime!!
Sorry ther is nothing sweeter than that low rumble of an exhaust brake coming down a long grade and never having to touch the service brakes the whole way!!!

[Ivylog]

Even with a liight weight trailer there is no reason not to use the exhaust brake...save wear on your brakes.

[Travlingman]

There are 2 different modes of the engine brake on the 2017. When you press the engine brake button 1 time, that is manual mode. It will start braking when you release the gas pedal. As you brake again the truck will downshift and will brake more. When you press the button the 2nd time, this is auto mode. When you release the gas pedal it will remember the speed you are at and hold it at that speed. Press the button a 3rd time and it turns it off.

[Greene728]

Turn on the brake, engage the tow/haul and enjoy the ride, the truck will handle the rest.

[ScottG]

It's like the service brake; you use it when you need it.

[azdryheat]

What does your owner's manual say?

For my Duramax, the manual says I don't need the engine brake until I'm towing above 15,000 pounds. You may not even need it with the light-weight trailer you're towing.

When I tow my 19,000 pound trailer, the engine brake is always on. Once you turn it on just drive normally and it'll do what it has to do. Make sure your transmission is in manual when going down a mountain grade. Let your lower gears help keep your speed down. Your wheel brakes are not supposed to do all of the work, or even most of the work. Downshift the tranny and use the engine brake to keep your speed down; your wheel brakes are secondary braking items. Like I said before, your truck may not even know your trailer is back there.