Ford Engine Brake??? - Page 2

atom ant · 08-29-2014, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwg

They call it an Exhaust Brake. But that's really marketing, from a technical standpoint it's a turbo brake. I'm not sure if any Light Duty truck actually has an exhaust brake (Maybe Dodge). That technology is usually limited to Medium and Heavy Duty trucks. Same for a Jake Brake.

But for the purposes of this conversation, yes it does have an "exhaust brake" It'll definitely help keep speeds down when travelling down hill. To test the feature out take one for a test drive up the I-70 corridor with no trailer. When coming down set the Cruise Control to 60 MPH (or lower) WITH Tow/Haul engaged. It will maintain that speed utilizing engine braking (again an actual Turbo brake) AND downshifting the transmission automatically. It's a very cool and useful feature.

Thanks LWG! It turns out I-70 is a very convenient place to try it out for me

I'll be heading over the divide Saturday

homeguy · 08-29-2014, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atom ant

Thanks LWG! It turns out I-70 is a very convenient place to try it out for me

I'll be heading over the divide Saturday

In a new truck?

spindrift · 08-29-2014, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryL

With the Cummins, you can leave it in auto(D), and the transmission, and EB will do the work for you. If you just barely touch the brake pedal, the truck will downshift as needed. You might even have to take your foot off, if it slows too much.

The Dodge system is head and shoulders above Ford's. It's the one, and only, thing that doesn't impress me about my Ford.

almcc · 08-29-2014, 12:57 PM

Not sure that all that manual shifting is required with the Ford, when I start to head down a hill (in tow/Haul mode) I tap the brake and the tranny switches from 6 to 5th gear, if I'm unhappy with the speed decline I tap the brake again and the tranny goes down another gear (assuming that the speed is within range of the lower gear engine speed). At the bottom of the hill I press on the gas pedal and the tranny up-shifts again.

I find that in cruise control the tranny doesn't downshift as quickly to control the speed on steeper hills so I shut down the cruise before those steeper hills. I also shut down the cruise control going up some hills as I don't like the tranny going down a couple of gears and running the engine much above 3,000-3,500 RPM, these diesels can do those revs but after all, it's a diesel, not a gasser!

0nTheRoad · 08-29-2014, 01:44 PM

Thanks to all for the great replies...happy towing!!!

**piper guy** · 08-29-2014, 02:13 PM

I handle mine the same way almcc does. In tow/haul it's very easy to control. have only had to go manual one time and that was on a descent on a little two lane road that I'd prefer to forget (don't ask me how we wound up on it .....)

atom ant · 08-29-2014, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homeguy

In a new truck?

Yeppers

- finally.

Anyone have the "hill descent"? I don't but it reads like it actually applies brakes for you?

**piper guy** · 08-29-2014, 02:21 PM

Congrats Brad !

Hill descent is for off-road only. I believe it's part of the FX4 package. It kicks off at around 7 mph if memory serves. My SRW had it and I remember reading the manual to see how it works.

spindrift · 08-29-2014, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atom ant

Yeppers

- finally.

Anyone have the "hill descent"? I don't but it reads like it actually applies brakes for you?

Change that sig!!

atom ant · 08-29-2014, 02:37 PM

Thanks guys - already a happy clam

Should have it hitched and rolling in the AM - and ironically to the same place where my sig picture is now. The new pic will just have a new grille on the front!

lwg · 08-29-2014, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spindrift

The Dodge system is head and shoulders above Ford's. It's the one, and only, thing that doesn't impress me about my Ford.

IMO that's about the only thing the Dodge has over the Ford. I do agree though, Dodge does have a better engine brake. But at the end of the day the Ford one works fine, betting the new ones work even better.

lwg · 08-29-2014, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atom ant

Yeppers

- finally.

Anyone have the "hill descent"? I don't but it reads like it actually applies brakes for you?

What did you end up with?

JerryL · 08-30-2014, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spindrift

The Dodge system is head and shoulders above Ford's. It's the one, and only, thing that doesn't impress me about my Ford.

FTR, I'm not a Dodge fan per se, I'm a Cummins fan. Whatever truck the Cummins would have been in, I would have bought that brand. My Cummins love goes back for years, when I sold Cummins engine parts for big trucks. With reliability and longevity, there is no comparison.

atom ant · 08-30-2014, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwg

What did you end up with?

I went with the 2014 F350 DRW. Getting it ready for tow!

travelin' texans · 08-30-2014, 01:07 AM

Too bad it didn't have square fenders & a bowtie in that new grill.
Back to OP, when towing I set tow/haul mode, turn on exhaust brake, & set the cruise & go.

atom ant · 08-30-2014, 02:11 AM

nopers, but the headlights are upside down, and it has some horseshoes in the grill

Oriana · 08-30-2014, 11:21 AM

Congratulations Brad - enjoy your new truck

atom ant · 08-30-2014, 02:30 PM

Thanks Andy!

brenkco · 08-30-2014, 04:28 PM

Congrats Brad, enjoy the new truck!

Ken

rob_fla · 08-30-2014, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelin' texans

Too bad it didn't have square fenders & a bowtie in that new grill.
Back to OP, when towing I set tow/haul mode, turn on exhaust brake, & set the cruise & go.

Or a Georgia Milk Cow

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