is running exhaust brake all the time ok?

[way2roll]

In my new F350 with the 6.7 I like to run the exhaust brake even when not towing. I find it helps in stop and go traffic and requires me to use less brakes. But is it OK to run it all the time? I mean it's just pressure with no real moving parts right? I've read several forums that have differing opinions, but majority says there is no harm in running it all the time.

[ford_truck_guy]

rhagfo wrote:

IdaD wrote:
It's actually a good idea to run it. Main exception would be on slick roads, I'd turn it off then.

X2
I wish there was a setting to have it activated at startup, with the ability to turn off for slick roads.

When I am using it on my "20" Ford and shut the truck down with it on, once I restart the engine, I get a note on the dash asking if I want to keep the Exhaust brake on or not . . .

[ford_truck_guy]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:

NamMedevac 70 wrote:
Are they loud Jo like the 18 wheelers. I do see signs everywhere. This from a newbie.

NO, you cant hear them , the only way to know you have one engaged is feeling it slow you down......

Are you sure you have one? I can hear mine, maybe that’s why it works so well. 😉

Perhaps "IF" I turned down XM-350 to a lower decibel I would in fact hear it ! :B

[Grit_dog]

Cummins12V98 wrote:


TH keeps your truck in the correct gear for instant acceleration. I hated it when I tried running without on my 11 HO DRW with 68rfe. With I loved the trans.

In my case, being under geared with oversize tires, TH just makes it less bad, but still doesn’t keep the rpms up quite high enough for my liking when empty/bobtail.

When towing, (in my situation , not enough gear and too much tire) the 68 works pretty admirably. It still gives up some to the torque shift and Alli. I haven’t ever worked a Aisin truck to compare.
When unloaded, my truck as equipped just exaggerates the bad behaviors inherent to a stock 68rfe. And the inherent “shift flare”, the unlock, shift, lock sequence is almost enough to make my skin crawl! Lol.

[Grit_dog]

ford truck guy wrote:

NamMedevac 70 wrote:
Are they loud Jo like the 18 wheelers. I do see signs everywhere. This from a newbie.

NO, you cant hear them , the only way to know you have one engaged is feeling it slow you down......

I can hear mine just fine! A bit less since I added a resonator to the straight pipe!
But exhaust brakes (inline or vvt actuated) aren’t as loud as engine retarders (Jakes). And they are completely separate of each other and operate very differently.

Exhaust brakes are mildly loud on a straight pipe vehicle. Jake brakes are what you commonly hear being much louder.

[Grit_dog]

SweetLou wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
No Idea on a Ford. On my 11 and now 15 RAM every single start I hit the Tow Haul and Exhaust Brake buttons.

I did that too thinking it helps with the longevity of the exhaust brake. My actuator went out at 90K this year.

Your actuator went out, but the vanes didn’t clog up and stick, correct?
2 different things.
I never believed that a vgt needed to run the exhaust brake as the vanes are basically constantly moving anyway. However I was corrected and it makes sense.
When accelerating, the vanes range of motion is much less as they never “close down” to choke off the exhaust. Whereas the exh brake moves the vanes through the rest of their total range of motion because it reduces the % open much more than a base line, no boost condition.

[Grit_dog]

JRscooby wrote:
Every time I see a discussion about exhaust brakes I have to wonder if there has ever been a comparison of the whoa power of like sized diesel w EB/gas with closed throttle. (I know I nearly died the first time I expected a 855 CID Cummins without Jake to hold me back as much as 427 GMC did)
Unless it can be shown the exhaust brake ******* a lot more than the throttle plate, slick roads with it on would be no more dangerous than gas engine.

Idk about any of the GM L5Ps or the newer Powerstrokes, and it feels like you’re just fishing for a response to reply to about how these “little” pickups aren’t “real” trucks like you the pro truck driver, drive.
But I can assure you that both the aftermarket in-line brake I put on our old truck and the turbo brakes on the newer Rams have significantly more whoa power than any of my gassers, even the 10 speed that drops 3 or 4 gears when descending a hill with a trailer pushing it down the hill.

[Grit_dog]

ktmrfs wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

IdaD wrote:
It's actually a good idea to run it. Main exception would be on slick roads, I'd turn it off then.

X2
I wish there was a setting to have it activated at startup, with the ability to turn off for slick roads.

no reason they can't have it work like cruise control. Have the exhaust brake default to on, and if the ecu detects any wheel slip from rear wheels locking up disengage exhaust brake. Modern cruise controls will kick of instantly if they detect traction wheel slip.

It does already on Rams, or I believe I experienced that last winter when I was towing in snow and still in 2wd.

[Jim-Linda]

Have EB on Cat in FL60. Rig is 25 years old. It has BD exhaust brake that is turned off only on downhills in rolling country, EB will engage when not needed. The only drawback I can see is in city type traffic when EB engages, following vehicles are not aware of truck slowing due to no Brake light. No failures, original disk pads.

[way2roll]

Thanks all for the replies. I like using it, like I said in stop and go traffic, I almost don't need the brakes at all. I don't find it changes my shift patterns like TH does. As far as it making any noise, I would say a little, but only because of the "drag" on the engine as opposed to just coasting to a stop. It certainly does not make a noise like a jake brake on big rigs.

Anyway, thanks again, good discussion. This is my first diesel (aside from a Kubota tractor I used to own) so still learning little things about them.

[Cummins12V98]

NamMedevac 70 wrote:
Are they loud Jo like the 18 wheelers. I do see signs everywhere. This from a newbie.

Big rigs have “engine brakes”. Our trucks have “exhaust brakes” that make much less noise and don’t need to follow those signs restrictions.

[Cummins12V98]

ford truck guy wrote:

NamMedevac 70 wrote:
Are they loud Jo like the 18 wheelers. I do see signs everywhere. This from a newbie.

NO, you cant hear them , the only way to know you have one engaged is feeling it slow you down......

Are you sure you have one? I can hear mine, maybe that’s why it works so well. 😉

[Cummins12V98]

SweetLou wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
No Idea on a Ford. On my 11 and now 15 RAM every single start I hit the Tow Haul and Exhaust Brake buttons.

I did that too thinking it helps with the longevity of the exhaust brake. My actuator went out at 90K this year.

Mine went out early also but that Has nothing to do with the mechanics of the turbo.

[Cummins12V98]

Grit dog wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
No Idea on a Ford. On my 11 and now 15 RAM every single start I hit the Tow Haul and Exhaust Brake buttons.

Wife generally never does, but our younger son who is generally the passenger usually does for her…lol.
I’m probably 50/50. And more like 90/10 when it hits that early upshift and I’m doing 1100rpms lugging it trying to accelerate, or hit the first big hill and end up using the service brakes.
If I had deeper gears, and or smaller tires and a transmission that didn’t shift like a wet bag of dog poo, I would probably use the functions less. Especially tow haul.

TH keeps your truck in the correct gear for instant acceleration. I hated it when I tried running without on my 11 HO DRW with 68rfe. With I loved the trans.

[ford_truck_guy]

NamMedevac 70 wrote:
Are they loud Jo like the 18 wheelers. I do see signs everywhere. This from a newbie.

NO, you cant hear them , the only way to know you have one engaged is feeling it slow you down......

[NamMedevac_70]

Are they loud Jo like the 18 wheelers. I do see signs everywhere. This from a newbie.