Added a '14 2500 to the stable, impressions

[Powder Extreme]

Just got home with a new '14 2500 Laramie (Thank you once again, Dave Smith). On the drive back to Montana I had a chance to form some opinions, some good, some disappointing.
First off, for those of you thinking about buying a new truck, but are on the fence between 2500 and 3500 srw:
If you plan on towing or hauling heavy, buy a 3500 and spring for the Aisin, don't think twice and don't look back, it is definitely a superior transmission. Not to say the 68RFE isn't good, but it's no Aisin, not even close.
If you plan on using it as a daily driver and only tow your boat, four wheelers, whatever, the 2500 rides MUCH better. I'm really impressed with the ride of the new truck, and that's with 82psi in all 4 tires (just the way the dealer set it up)

Now the bad...
I'm REALLY disappointed in the exhaust brake, SEVERELY disappointed in fact
The darn thing turns off at 50mph, really? 50mph??? I can't use it to actually SLOW me down when I get off the interstate?
I expected it to not have the holding power of my 1 ton due to the difference in rear ends (3.73 vs. 3.42), which it doesn't, but I figured it would at least work like my 1 ton's. The dually will slow you down all the way to 20mph before shutting off, why the hell does this one shut off at 50? Most of the time by the time it figures out I want it engaged, it comes on for just a second or two and shuts back off again because by then, you guessed it, I'm below 50mph. (Yes, it seems to work the same in T/H mode) (No, it doesn't seem to make a difference between auto and full on modes) I also don't understand why the computer decides to down shift the transmission BEFORE applying the brake?? I put the transmission in manual 6th so it wouldn't shift down and then applied the exhaust brake, it was more than sufficient to hold me back descending lookout pass, why downshift instead of take advantage of the exhaust brake?
The brake in my Dually works so well in every situation, maybe I'm just expecting too much out of this truck, still... 50mph?? LOL

Computer says I averaged 18.3 mpg, if that is accurate I'm very pleased out of a brand new motor.
Great ride, great power, nice and quiet, seemingly good fuel mileage, crummy exhaust brake. That about sums it up!

Cheers!

 

[RikDavis]

I have a 13 2500, not a 14 however my exhaust brake works as you describe for your 3500. Sound as though there may be a problem there unless they purposely made some changes

 

[Gonzo 1066]

The ex brake on my 13 does not shut off till about 15-20mph..

 

[jsffd]

I have a 2014 2500, Laramie with just over 700 miles and I'm still trying to figure out the brake. It has the hp brake bar/gauge and it rarely goes over 1/3 brake power. It has activated from 50-20 mph but it's inconsistent. Some times stronger than not. The owners manual is pathetic, no real information so I guess we will keep playing with it. Besides that, I LOVE IT! Soooo much better than my 2003 in every way...

 

[Powder Extreme]

I test drove one a couple weeks ago before buying this one, I remember thinking I wasn't too impressed with the brake, but didn't really take the time to watch the speed etc.

Can somebody with a 68RFE and 3.42's verify at what speed their brake shuts off in full on mode both in T/H and regular?
My Dually will always take it down to 20mph no matter what, I'm wondering if it's an Aisin thing, a rear end ratio thing, or some engineer who knows better reprogrammed it thing...

Gonzo, I could see yours going even slower than my Dually since you have 4.10's, rpm will be higher at a given speed, so if you are in 15mph range, that makes sense.

Jsffd, I also noticed about 60hp was the maximum braking HP I saw on the 2500, the 3500 is in the 90's empty and 150's loaded.

 

[Powder Extreme]

Rik, I'm assuming yours has a 3.42 rear end? And the brake will haul it down to 20 or so before shutting off?

 

[hblifgrd]

I also have a 2014 Laramie 2500. I have found that he has nothing to do with speed, but engine RPM, cuts off around 11-1200. When I run around town I lock out 5&6, and it works until around 35mph, which is 1100RPM in 4th. When I run in T/H is acts the same, except when applying the brake. If you break, even just barely touching the pedal, it will down shift, and exhaust break all the way down through second.

These are just my observations, I have only had the truck a month. I was very happy with the exhaust break in T/H mode last week when I had 10,000lbs behind me.

Chris

 

[RVTRKN]

So much for using the EB as a cleaning method.

 

[RikDavis]

Rik, I'm assuming yours has a 3.42 rear end? And the brake will haul it down to 20 or so before shutting off?

Yes it does. I have no reference and it is my first E brake. It does seem to behave differently in tow haul and of course smart brake.
A lot of my driving is on rural roads in TN where we don't even get to drive 50 miles an hour.
I will try to pay a bit more attention to exactly what is happening, but it does hang in to about 20 mph even on the flat roads in FL where we are now

 

[PMcCall]

Limit your gear (+/- on the shifter) and run at higher revs, it works at lower speeds, my experience has been that its the revs not speed that limit it.

 

[Powder Extreme]

You're right, PMcCall, it is entirely rpm based. If I manually shift the transmission down, the brake will hold all the way down to about 20mph. I'm just spoiled by the Aisin in my Dually, it does a MUCH better job of picking the gear, especially in tow haul mode. I simply let off the throttle and it downshifts for me, especially well in T/H mode. For some reason this transmission just wants to get into the highest gear it can and stay there, 900 rpm in 5th gear around town seems ridiculous to me. The truck will actually surge a little bit which completely goes away if I drop a gear taking the rpm to a screaming 1,200 Even in T/H mode with a 7k trailer hitched up it will hit 6th gear at 55mph and 1,150 rpm. In my opinion that is really lugging the engine.

All in all I'm pretty happy with the pickup, manually shifting the transmission isn't the end of the world, just surprised I needed to after having the Aisin, which I honestly think is a step above my beloved Allison behind the Duramax.

Now if I could just run less than 75psi in the rear tires.....

 

[RikDavis]

If you tap the e brake button a second time it puts it into smart brake. On mine an indicator will flash on the EVIC for about a second and that seems to be all that lets you know. In tow haul and smart brake when it is slowing down if you tap the brake pedal it will decide you want to slow down faster and wil downshift a gear on its own. I can take it down to 20 mph or so that way The torque converter seems to unlock around 1000 rpm . Some of the downshifts are pretty solid to say the least.
After 8 months I am still learning how to run this thing and the books are not much help. I think I can turn the dome light on and off now with out help

Rick

 

[Powder Extreme]

I'll try that Rik and see if it will come on and stay on. In the other rig I leave the brake in full on mode and just let off the throttle. No need to hit the brakes till the truck is almost stopped.

 

[RVTRKN]

Has anyone checked to see if the MPG is better with EB off, on the older version? I noticed with the EB on with my 07 C&C, my boost will raise about 3 or 5 psi which can indicate fuel use. If that's the case, then Dodge maybe helping with the MPG, these are questions. I never checked MPG with or without the EB on or off, it's just a thought it maybe why they changed the program.

 

[Powder Extreme]

The exhaust brake works by closing the vanes in the exhaust side of the turbo, when those vanes are closed creating the restriction for braking, it also causes the turbo to "spool up" thus creating positive pressure in the manifold which you are seeing on your gauge. This pressure then creates even more air to be restricted by the closed vanes in the turbo creating a "win/win" for the exhaust brake.

No fuel is added at all when the exhaust brake is functioning, so it should not affect fuel mileage whatsoever.

 

[Powder Extreme]

Update: If the eb is set to auto AND the transmission is in T/H the eb will function and the transmission will downshift while you are pressing the service brakes. It will hold down to about 20mph. If the transmission is in regular mode, the eb still shuts off around 50. Which is when the torque converter lock up seems to disengage because the RPM's fall to just above idle.

 

[EDankievitch]

The E break will disengage when the engine rpm drops below 1000 give or take a bit. My e break has a mind of it's own. some days it will down shift and hold really well others on the same hill and the same speed it will not even come on. It works best towing using tow/ haul mode it will down shift and hold all the was down to 15-20 mph and it lets you know as it down shifts. very aggressive. As for it dropping out at 50 mph, at 50 my rpms are right around 1000 so your right unless the transmission down shifts you don't get much e breaking.