Hello-New Guy with New 2013 RAM 2500 CTD

[HorseMan-AR]

Hello. New guy here and with a new 2013 RAM 2500 CTD. I'm new to the Cummins! I've been viewing a while and was referred to this forum by a friend. I joined for 60 days free, but would like to become a paid member at some point soon. The forum reads seem great and everyone is very professional.



I have my first official question: the exhaust brake on the new CTD has an option for auto exhaust brake, but the exhaust brake will not stay on all the time. At each startup, you're required to either set it to full time exhaust brake, or set to automatic. I'm not certain on the difference, and have not received my full owners manual just yet. My question is how often should I use the brake? During the week, it's a daily driver (short trips, unfortunately). During the weekends, I'm on the road or towing (not too heavy, but enough to prefer the diesel). Should I use the brake all the time, or does it matter?



Thanks everyone and glad to be here!

 

[RVTRKN]

Welcome to TDR and enjoy your CTD. Thats a new option I believe, when the 07. 5 trucks came out it was different than the C&C. The C&C EB would stay on, as long as you never pushed the button again, when the reg trucks you had to turn on every time you started the truck. BTW you need to keep it on at all times except in in-climate weather, it helps to keep the Turbo clean. Lets us know what you find out maybe they can be adapted to older trucks.

PM TDR member Bob4x4, he works on em.

 

[Simplysmn]

Welcome to TDR1 best site on the Web Yes you want to make sure the Exhaust brake is on everytime you drive the truck it will save brake wear and really help with slowing truck down . and they work even better if your loaded down.

 

[HorseMan-AR]

Thanks for the quick responses. When I figure out the automatic exhaust brake, I'll let you guys know.

 

[sag2]

The automatic brake is used to maintain your set speed, even with heavy load causing you to pick up excess speed.

From the Owner's Manual;

Automatic Smart Exhaust Brake
Automatic Exhaust Brake technology delivers smoother,
less aggressive exhaust braking characteristics during
downhill descents. Although it can apply full exhaust
braking force if needed, Automatic Exhaust Brake may
not apply obvious braking if the vehicle speed is not
increasing. Automatic Exhaust Brake is intended to maintain
vehicle speed, while Full Exhaust Brake is intended
to reduce vehicle speed.

 

[sag2]

Welcome to the TDR.

The automatic brake is used to maintain your speed, even with heavy load causing you to pick up excess speed.

From the Owner's Manual;

Automatic Smart Exhaust Brake
Automatic Exhaust Brake technology delivers smoother,
less aggressive exhaust braking characteristics during
downhill descents. Although it can apply full exhaust
braking force if needed, Automatic Exhaust Brake may
not apply obvious braking if the vehicle speed is not
increasing. Automatic Exhaust Brake is intended to maintain
vehicle speed, while Full Exhaust Brake is intended
to reduce vehicle speed.

 

[HorseMan-AR]

Welcome to the TDR.



The automatic brake is used to maintain your speed, even with heavy load causing you to pick up excess speed.



From the Owner's Manual;



Automatic Smart Exhaust Brake

Automatic Exhaust Brake technology delivers smoother,

less aggressive exhaust braking characteristics during

downhill descents. Although it can apply full exhaust

braking force if needed, Automatic Exhaust Brake may

not apply obvious braking if the vehicle speed is not

increasing. Automatic Exhaust Brake is intended to maintain

vehicle speed, while Full Exhaust Brake is intended

to reduce vehicle speed.

Thanks so much! Is there a way to set the exhaust brake (either auto or full) to stay on "full time"? As it is right now, you have to re-engage the exhaust brake at each start up.

 

[Jim W]

Welcome to TDR you will learn a lot about your truck from these gentleman who have a lot of knowledge on the Cummins engine. Also use Geno's Garage for your parts needs; Site sponsor and some of the lowest prices around for the Ram/Cummins trucks.

Now as far as the exhaust brake staying on at start up this has been an issue since the brake was offered on the 07. 5 trucks and on with the Cummins engine. Some users have done a work around on the earlier trucks to have the brake on at start up; but I believe that something was changed on the later trucks to prevent this work around from being applied to them.

Now I have trained myself that every time I start the truck I turn on the brake just before engaging the shift lever to move the truck out of park. This is just a practice that you can learn to.

Jim W.

 

[HorseMan-AR]

Welcome to TDR you will learn a lot about your truck from these gentleman who have a lot of knowledge on the Cummins engine. Also use Geno's Garage for your parts needs; Site sponsor and some of the lowest prices around for the Ram/Cummins trucks.



Now as far as the exhaust brake staying on at start up this has been an issue since the brake was offered on the 07. 5 trucks and on with the Cummins engine. Some users have done a work around on the earlier trucks to have the brake on at start up; but I believe that something was changed on the later trucks to prevent this work around from being applied to them.



Now I have trained myself that every time I start the truck I turn on the brake just before engaging the shift lever to move the truck out of park. This is just a practice that you can learn to.



Jim W.

Thanks so much! After a few days of driving, I'm beginning to learn to simply hit the exhaust brake button and turn it on just as I start up. The exhaust brake on the 13 is tremendous. Very pleased with my purchase so far. Hope to hook up the horse trailer this weekend. I've got about 525 miles on her just now, and I'm averaging about 17 MPG with a combo of city and highway miles. I'm sure it'll improve a great deal with more miles.

 

[Bug Out]

Horseman-Ar, I'm very pleased with mine thus far. She tows great and the exhaust brake is much more aggressive then my 2012 3500 max tow. MPG has been awesome so far. combo is 17+ for me. On the freeway, it climbs beyond 20MPG when empty. I have yet to do a long trip empty. Has one "quirk" that bothers me. When it shifts from 4th to 5th and 6th, there is a noticeable RPM climb(3-500rpms) between shifts before it goes into the next gear. My 2012 never did that. I'm sure at some point that issue will get worked out. Beyond that, she's been great. Oo.



What part of Ar are you from? The wife is from Pocahontas, in the N/E corner or Ar by Missouri.





PS: TDR is worth its weight in gold...

 

[HorseMan-AR]

Horseman-Ar, I'm very pleased with mine thus far. She tows great and the exhaust brake is much more aggressive then my 2012 3500 max tow. MPG has been awesome so far. combo is 17+ for me. On the freeway, it climbs beyond 20MPG when empty. I have yet to do a long trip empty. Has one "quirk" that bothers me. When it shifts from 4th to 5th and 6th, there is a noticeable RPM climb(3-500rpms) between shifts before it goes into the next gear. My 2012 never did that. I'm sure at some point that issue will get worked out. Beyond that, she's been great. Oo.



What part of Ar are you from? The wife is from Pocahontas, in the N/E corner or Ar by Missouri.





PS: TDR is worth its weight in gold...

I'm loving mine so far. Pulled our small bumper pull horse trailer about 100 miles this weekend. I think it weighs about 4k. With the 3. 42 rear axle, I can notice its not as powerful off the line, but the power is tremendous down the highway. The auto exhaust brake is great. I finally figured that out. I've not noticed any rpm fluctuations in shifting. MPG is pretty good so far. Still about 17 mpg. The trailer this weekend dropped it to about 14-15.



I looked around underneath this weekend. The filter is going to be tough to get to. How does everyone get to it?



I'm here in Fayetteville, AR.