Opinion/Experience with Smart Brake Function of Exhaust Brake

[Elsbury]

Hi Ron! Just did a 500 mile round trip with the adaptive cruise, tow haul and EB set on auto. I didn't trust it so much on the way up to our destination but as the miles went by I found myself not touching the brakes so much and letting the truck do its thing. On the way home this truck literally was driving itself with me just steering. I came from Pismo Beach Ca. to LA Ca.with the truck maintaining the set speed of 62 MPH. it slowed me down, applied the exhaust brake perfectly and kept the distance when traffic slowed in the Ventura area. It's both amazing and weird lol. I did turn the cruise off in LA due the weirdo drivers. I must have been on regen going up as it used a LOT of DEF and the mileage was pretty crappy at 8-9 MPG. On the way home she hardly used any DEF and I saw 11.5 MPG. I was towing approx 13,000 Ilb's.
Just thought I would post an update on my recent experience with the system....... Hoping you and all are safe thru this storm and fire's season.

 

[AH64ID]

DEF is not used for regen, it’s used for SCR.

Regen also probably only lasts for 10-15 miles too, then not again for another 24 hours of runtime.. especially while towing, at least on the 13-18’s.

 

[Elsbury]

I don't know what was going on on the way up but I was sure burning fuel and DEF lol. Maybe a big headwind? These newer trucks are strange to me but man the towing is like nite and day to my 06.

 

[AH64ID]

I don't know what was going on on the way up but I was sure burning fuel and DEF lol. Maybe a big headwind? These newer trucks are strange to me but man the towing is like nite and day to my 06.

Probably just wind and weight needing more horsepower.

 

[SnoKing]

I do not like the speed over run(3-5MPH) in the auto mode, before it kicks in. Climb a hill at 60 MPH on cruise and start down other side it speeds up do much before kicking in. Crummy programming in my book!

 

[JR]

I do not like the speed over run(3-5MPH) in the auto mode, before it kicks in. Climb a hill at 60 MPH on cruise and start down other side it speeds up do much before kicking in. Crummy programming in my book!

That's more of a result of towing with cruise control on than the actual brake programming. Going up the grade if the truck can't maintain the speed you'll slowly drop the same mph before it gets aggressive and catches up.

It is rather annoying, and why I don't tow with cruise control very often in the hills.

 

[Elsbury]

Was adaptive cruise on the 13 and up trucks? I never saw an overun above 63 before the EB kicked in. It would slow to 60 on the big downgrades though. It was a pretty amazing tow but I'm comparing it to an 06 truck with minimal technology.

 

[SnoKing]

That's more of a result of towing with cruise control on than the actual brake programming. Going up the grade if the truck can't maintain the speed you'll slowly drop the same mph before it gets aggressive and catches up.

It is rather annoying, and why I don't tow with cruise control very often in the hills.

The drop towing on my truck only occurs at over 6000 feet elevation or so when towing at 60 MPH. Boost sticks at 10 PSI and speed falls off until it down shifts, and catches up. If I tow at 62-63 the issue goes away. Bring up the boost gauge and you can watch it happen. Several members here have noted the issue.

 

[AH64ID]

I do not like the speed over run(3-5MPH) in the auto mode, before it kicks in. Climb a hill at 60 MPH on cruise and start down other side it speeds up do much before kicking in. Crummy programming in my book!

That’s CC not auto. It happens full or auto so it’s how the truck is programmed to engage the brake, and it is crummy. I use CC as often as possible and most my towing is in the hills.

 

[Larry Sciblo]

I know I am way late to the party on this post. Ron, thank you for this post. Awesome. But, I just spent some time reading this and learned a lot. I have always used the EB in Full Mode especially when towing the 12K lb 5er, with and w/o CC. I have never even tried the Auto Mode. And now I am going to go do some experiments. I also agree with those who mentioned the location of these switches. Maybe someone will come up with a mod?????

 

[monovasia]

That’s where it just depends on the road conditions. For every time I can think of where I dislike having to touch the brakes to engage the EB there is a time where I hate that I have to feather the throttle to coast. It’s actually quite nice that they gave us both options.



I flew Apache’s from 06 to 16. Worked my way from a basic pilot/gunner to a maintenance test pilot in both A/D Apache’s and a maintenance test pilot evaluator in the 64D.

The army did some restructuring in 16 and now we’re flying blackhawks. I’m doing both maintenance test pilot and maintenance test pilot evaluator duties in A/L/M 60’s. We’re just switching to the 60M and I picked one up in NJ last week and brought it back to ID. Quite the aircraft.

U sat on a box I helped designed, build and field test (ALQ-136) Chassis Plenum Cooling and thick and thin film hybrids... stay of the art in 1983...

 

[AH64ID]

U sat on a box I helped designed, build and field test (ALQ-136) Chassis Plenum Cooling and thick and thin film hybrids... stay of the art in 1983...

AFIK it’s still used by 64’s, or it least it was in 2016.

 

[p-Bar]

I'm late to the party also . I read the comments and tried it for the first time today. My thoughts are that I like the "double tap" unloaded and not constantly coming on with foot off the "diesel" pedal. Comes on nice with brakes applied softly but I think if I were hauling my 14k 5er I would keep the "Full" mode. Using it on mountain roads is a thought . Guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Thanks for the thread

 

[Skyjim]

I'm towing very light (7K travel trailer) compared to most of you guys, but coming out of a 1500 with the Ecodiesel it feels like I've died and gone to heaven just having an EB! Previous diesel towing was an old reliable 7.3 IDI F-250 with a Banks turbo kit; great truck but always wanted an exhaust brake. The Ecodiesel was marginal in the mountains with this trailer (I bought it for a failed lightweight trailer experiment, violating my instincts to never tow with a half ton) and I needed to be very careful with my energy management - I do a lot of mountain towing. With the comparatively light trailer behind my 2500 I have seldom felt the need for Full EB - though I might be partly inhibited by that glaring issue of control placement - for most of the elevation profiles I have driven so far, the Auto EB in Tow/Haul mode on the trans is just a lot more versatile - I particularly like the effect mentioned above of a light brush on the brakes to "tell" the EB and T/H programming what my preferred speed ceiling is on a downgrade - at my typical GCWs so far this has really made towing on rolling or long downgrades pretty effortless - I generally prefer to stay out of cruise unless droning along on the flats or very moderate straight grades. The auto EB really reduces energy management workload for me, but keep in mind what I was coming out of, and the fact that I'm not towing heavy. I have always liked lots of excess capability in a tow vehicle and I love having more of that than I have ever had before.

Add my voice to the chorus: I can't BELIEVE they don't have tow/haul and EB controls on the shifter stalk or wheel - how about doing something about that on your next redesign, Ram engineers? While you're at it, how come I have to buy an aftermarket monitor to find out for certain what gear I am in and whether the converter is locked up or not? That should be easy enough to add to the display options for those of us who would like that data!

 

[RammerJam]

I live in S Florida (no hills at all -- 0 ) so the Auto EB is next to useless for me, No, not next to useless, completely useless.

And the few (twice a year when there's no Chinese Flu invasion) times I go through the mountains, I haven't gotten used to it so I really don't know how to use it.

So I can't add anything to the conversation. I also got the Snow Chief Package

 

[Wiredawg]

Friends,

Thought I would chime in on the EB/TH button location and my theory of it. For me, it's set it and forget it. Again, I have a Cab and Chassis, so EB stays on. I seldom touch it, unless changing from standard to auto. Because of my 4.88s being too aggressive to run TH and EB solo, I only use TH when hooked up to one of the trailers. I'm using auto now about 50% of the time, mostly on open highway, but still prefer full in traffic.

Just have to share I was running my truck in Houston traffic over Christmas and was almost giddy with the Cummins/ Aisin performance and EB performance. A C&C sport truck.

Anyhoo, cheers in your beers, Ron

 

[p-Bar]

Sky Jim what are you using for a monitor?

 

[AH64ID]

I live in S Florida (no hills at all -- 0 ) so the Auto EB is next to useless for me, No, not next to useless, completely useless.

I use auto quite often on flat, Florida flat, ground. It lets me coast for a bit and then EB when I apply pressure to the brakes. It makes it work more like the shifter mounted EB in my 05.

This is with minimal traffic thou, as most the time people behind me are in too much of a hurry to coast.

 

[RammerJam]

I use auto quite often on flat, Florida flat, ground. It lets me coast for a bit and then EB when I apply pressure to the brakes. It makes it work more like the shifter mounted EB in my 05.

This is with minimal traffic thou, as most the time people behind me are in too much of a hurry to coast.

Maybe I'll try that. Thanks.

But with my new tune, the torque converter lock-up positions have changed. And the EB applications have changed as well.

Trying to get the darn thing to teach itself how to behave.

I love my EB. Can't imagine driving without it. Plus, these brakes; they're serious brakes and sometimes you gotta stand on 'em. The EB makes everything easier..... Except now, sometimes it engages around 30MPH and wants to slam your forehead against the steering wheel. Takes it down to 24MPH before it lets up. Not used to it.

As to 'minimal traffic' in Florida? Trust me, there is no such thing anmore. The entire Northeastern US has decided to visit, or worse yet -- Move. And it shows. Not in a good way. (they can't drive and to make it worse, they're aggressive)

Went for a ride yesterday, bumper to bumper, people cutting in and out of traffic at 85MPH.

My home, my area, my State -- Is gone. I call it New Jersey South now. Because that's what it resembles. Except a lot cleaner. And with actual Law Enforcement. Sorry to get off track

 

[Skyjim]

Sky Jim what are you using for a monitor?

p-Bar, nothing yet - eventually will probably wind up with an Edge CTS3. Been a lean year - we pulled the trigger on the new tow beast just prior to Covid ruining everyone's year. Haven't taken a quarter of the trips we had originally planned for this year, but we are happy to not have anything worse happen.