Engine Brake and the Turbo

[OggyOggy]

I've seen a bunch of posts on a social media place for Ram trucks all talking about the pros and cons of using the engine brake. Several also mentioned that using the engine brake helps keep the turbo vanes clean. Many say they run with the engine brake all the time. Some only to heat up the engine quicker when at idle.

I know generally how the engine brake works in constricting exhaust post turbine and it turns off when the engine is < 1100 RPM. But don't know enough to understand the benefit of running the engine brake all the time. Pros cons?

Thanks,
Joel

Sometimes my sig doesn't show up... 2012 Ram 2500 Longhorn, 6.7CTD, w/Edge Evolution and turbo timer cool down... and other stuff.

 

[Cummins12V98]

2011 RAM DRW and current 2015 RAM DRW, run TH and EB ALL the time.

No shift quality issues or turbo issues.

 

[EZeis]

All the time in any vehicle that had an exhaust brake. No cons that I know of. It's designed to be used. I'm sure using puts wear on it like anything else but not using will cause more issues. Why wouldn't you want to use it all the time?? That's just crazy lol. I get in my car and expect it to exhaust brake and it doesn't. Wish my TDI could have an exhaust brake.


Earl

 

[dieselshadow]

No downsides to an exhaust brake, especially these trucks. In fact I wish it stayed in the last selected mode rather than default to the off position on every ignition cycle.

 

[SnoKing]

No downsides to an exhaust brake, especially these trucks. In fact I wish it stayed in the last selected mode rather than default to the off position on every ignition cycle.

Me too. SnoKing

 

[OggyOggy]

Ok, exhaust brake good. Does using it help keep turbo vanes clean?

 

[lpennock]

Ok, exhaust brake good. Does using it help keep turbo vanes clean?

Yes. Cleans off carbon as it cycles.

 

[JR]

One time you don't want it on is in the snow/ice. She'll take you for a ride you don't want.

I don't use it to warm up the engine either. If you listen to the turbo when the engine is cold, it does restrict a small amount but not nearly as much as with the exhaust brake engaged. I'm pretty certain there is a good reason for this, and it has to do with putting soot and fuel in the crank case, among other things. See pics below.

I make use of the block heater all through the winter - not because it's needed or necessarily even "cold" but because it does in an hour and a couple of pennies worth of electricity what it would otherwise take several minutes worth of idling to accomplish. As a bonus it decreases the load put on the batts and starter. I use a good outdoor timer and set it up 1-2 hrs prior to leaving depending on ambient temperature.

This is out of a 2017 Cummins (not Ram) owners manual.

 

[cerberusiam]

Not the vanes that are the problem, the vanes are fixed and do not move so soot build up has no effect on them. The sliding collar that increases\reduces the area that the exhaust flow can hit the vanes is where soot build up can lead to the actuator issues. To a point the EB function exercises the full range of motion the actuator can run but it really doesn't remove any soot, just pushes it around. Working the truck and getting the exhaust stream hot is the only way to really keep it relatively clean.Reducing the amount of EGR used will do as much as the EB to keep things working correctly.

 

[Jim W]

I can only speak from my experience with my truck, my truck is one of the early built 2008's with the 6.7L Cummins. The truck was built in Sept. 07, and sold to me in Nov. 2007. I joined TDR around that time and the old timers (one was Harvey Barlow) on this site recommended to use the Exhaust Brake at start-up turning it off only when ice/snow was on the road. I have driven this way since new and I am still using the original Turbo /Actuator. Does this help or not? I can't really say across the board, but it has on my truck.

Just a side note. I just wish my wife's Jetta TDI had an exhaust brake too. When I drive her car I am always letting the car slow down expecting the exhaust brake to function it's not there. So, I drive the car in the manually mode with the DSG the transmission using the transmsiion to slow it down some what. Since it is a DSG transmission there is no Torque Convert used.

 

[TCDiesel]

If you remove your Intake piping you will hear the Actuator cycling, It does not move to full engagement, it will engage at Ramp idle to full and stay engage to 160F when ambient temps are below XXF.

This is current Part# for PCM, So make sure your System has current software.

Alfa will give you the current Part# just check it on the Net, I'm sorry I do not have the current Part#, I checked My 2013 and all up to date from Dec 18 so the last update would be Dec 18, its critical to have latest update on Turbo, ECM/PCM modules.

I miss HB...Hope he would come back, and doing well.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I was always told the line pressures are increased when running TowHaul.

 

[Cummins12V98]

"I miss HB...Hope he would come back, and doing well."

He was the "sky is falling" guy when it came to my 2011 RAM HO DRW with 3.42's towing a combined 29k.

 

[TCDiesel]

HB was kinda firm that's for sure. But just like many things He's just a Human like me, And in most cases what a person types or says are harmless Opinions.

 

[EZeis]

One time you don't want it on is in the snow/ice. She'll take you for a ride you don't want.

That's old school. The later trucks won't let that happen with the stability (traction control) control system. The exhaust brake is overridden by the stability system.


Earl

 

[JR]

My 14 must be old school. It'll lock up the rears on ice.

 

[HPSimpson]

Always run EB except live where there is ice on the roadway, yes Harvey Barlow was right no matter what anybody ever said period!

 

[kthaxton]

My 15 specifically warns against using EB in slippery conditions. I really don't think traction control has any influence over the EB.

 

[EZeis]

My 15 specifically warns against using EB in slippery conditions. I really don't think traction control has any influence over the EB.

Mine 2018 does and it's no longer in the manual. Had it disengage the brake on wheel slip couple times now. Once the wheel has traction it comes back on. It's actually nice.


Earl

 

[frost]

That's old school. The later trucks won't let that happen with the stability (traction control) control system. The exhaust brake is overridden by the stability system.


Earl

earl you wanna place a bet on that?