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Old 09-20-2019, 12:33 PM   #1
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RAM Diesel Exhaust Brake ?

Just curious how other RAM diesel owners are using there exhaust brake while towing and not towing ?...I was generally using full exhaust brake but have been doing more experimenting using the automatic exhaust braking by say for instance going downhill and maintaining a steady speed and if I want to go slower I hit the brakes and it will maintain my new speed.


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.

Automatic Exhaust Brake can be enabled by pushing the exhaust brake button again anytime after the normal Full Exhaust Brake has been turned on. The “Exhaust Brake ” in the EVIC/DID will change from Yellow to Green when Automatic Exhaust Brake is enabled. Pushing the exhaust brake button again will toggle the exhaust brake mode to off.
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Old 09-20-2019, 12:46 PM   #2
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Thanks for posting this. I haven't read any of the owner's manual but had wondered what the difference between the two settings was.
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Old 09-20-2019, 12:54 PM   #3
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I've played around with it in my new truck. The EB drops out at like 1200 rpm or something like that. If you are in tow/haul with MAX EB selected, it will downshift (assuming you have an automatic) to keep revs up for most engine brake action.

I've watched on my display, and it said it made 78HP in braking the one time I used it. I do know this.... MAX EB does not mean 'maybe'. It'll flat haul you down almost like putting on the service brakes. Dunno if it adds any trailer brake yet, but it's pretty impressive either way.

Tim
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Old 09-20-2019, 01:26 PM   #4
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I've watched on my display, and it said it made 78HP in braking the one time I used it.
Tim
As a gas truck owner, and not familiar with Diesel Trucks, may I ask how you know this?
The truck actually shows you HP created by using an exhaust brake?
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Old 09-20-2019, 02:03 PM   #5
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I played with mine between full and auto, and running with my camper I typically have it in full. By itself running around town or such I may run it in auto since it wont engage until I hit the brakes. I have a 2018 with the 6 speed manual G56 tranny, and so it gets a little jerky when running from stop light to stop light with the full EB on.
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Old 09-20-2019, 03:15 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by GXPWeasel1 View Post
As a gas truck owner, and not familiar with Diesel Trucks, may I ask how you know this?
The truck actually shows you HP created by using an exhaust brake?
Yep. The gauge cluster has a lot of 'pages' on it for display between the gauges. One is a combo gauge showing Boost pressure and EB horsepower.


Tim
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Old 09-20-2019, 03:55 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ejs4029 View Post
Just curious how other RAM diesel owners are using there exhaust brake while towing and not towing ?...I was generally using full exhaust brake but have been doing more experimenting using the automatic exhaust braking by say for instance going downhill and maintaining a steady speed and if I want to go slower I hit the brakes and it will maintain my new speed.


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.

Automatic Exhaust Brake can be enabled by pushing the exhaust brake button again anytime after the normal Full Exhaust Brake has been turned on. The “Exhaust Brake ” in the EVIC/DID will change from Yellow to Green when Automatic Exhaust Brake is enabled. Pushing the exhaust brake button again will toggle the exhaust brake mode to off.

my 2015 RAM doesn't work that way, I can turn it on and it will work anytime I release the throttle pedal, However if I go down a steep grade it wont work at all. I just had this happen as I was leaving my favorite campground. I had to ride the brakes down a steep two mile hill. And there is no way I have found to get the Exhaust brake light to turn Green
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Old 09-20-2019, 04:05 PM   #8
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my 2015 RAM doesn't work that way, I can turn it on and it will work anytime I release the throttle pedal, However if I go down a steep grade it wont work at all. I just had this happen as I was leaving my favorite campground. I had to ride the brakes down a steep two mile hill. And there is no way I have found to get the Exhaust brake light to turn Green
When set to full, it will come on anytime you are completely off the throttle. If you set to auto it will come on after 5 seconds completely off the throttle or if you apply the brakes. My 14 Ram only displays orange, I think the green is a newer thing.
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Old 09-20-2019, 04:07 PM   #9
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and running with my camper I typically have it in full.
Same here. Mostly because quite often I need to slow down for traffic, not just maintain speed where automatic would probably be better
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Old 09-20-2019, 07:36 PM   #10
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Yep. The gauge cluster has a lot of 'pages' on it for display between the gauges. One is a combo gauge showing Boost pressure and EB horsepower.


Tim
I don't have that EB horsepower readout on my Tradesman dash, that must only be on the upgraded models such as Bighorn and Laramie.
I do have the two stage orange and green EB settings.
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Old 09-20-2019, 08:26 PM   #11
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I thought my 2015 Tradesman had that visual gauge in the center display, it was boost/exhaust brake.


Now I also have 2 Aisin transmissions and (a 15 and an 18) both had Tow Haul mode.


First the exhaust brake. Normal highway driving with truck camper or towing, I would put it in auto mode. This would cause brake to come on when I applied brakes.or when the cruise control was set and it needed to slow down.


But if I was in traffic, or in real hilly country I would have it on Full. When in full, you can control it with your foot. let off throttle and it comes on (after second or so delay as it waits for rail pressure to come down). Just touch the throttle and it will go off. This allows you to control the brake on or off with your foot going down hills.


Now if you turn on the tow/haul mode, not only does the trans holds a higher RPM and up shift later when accelerating, it also down shift sooner as you slow down so the exhaust brake can produce more stopping power.


but both Tow/Haul mode with its hither RPM, as well as full exhaust brake every time you let off throttle will cost you a little MPH.


With 4:10 gears running 14,000K GVW with the truck camper on , Ebrake on Full, Tow haul mode turned on, I could be running a road with traffic lights, light turns yellow ahead of you, let off throttle and truck will slow down quick enough that you almost need brake lights. All the way down until around 25mph until you need to hit the service brakes.
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Old 09-20-2019, 09:20 PM   #12
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I don't have that EB horsepower readout on my Tradesman dash, that must only be on the upgraded models such as Bighorn and Laramie.
I do have the two stage orange and green EB settings.
you should. its under vehicle info. cycle thru and see. its near the boost readout.

my 2016 has it.
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Old 09-20-2019, 09:21 PM   #13
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I've watched on my display, and it said it made 78HP in braking the one time I used it. I do know this.... MAX EB does not mean 'maybe'. It'll flat haul you down almost like putting on the service brakes. Dunno if it adds any trailer brake yet, but it's pretty impressive either way.

Tim
go down a big hill with the trailer. ive had mine in the triple digits.
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Old 09-20-2019, 09:22 PM   #14
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I have found to get the Exhaust brake light to turn Green
did you push the EB button twice?
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Old 09-21-2019, 08:59 AM   #15
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you should. its under vehicle info. cycle thru and see. its near the boost readout.

my 2016 has it.
Thanks, I'll look again.
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Old 09-21-2019, 10:26 AM   #16
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Depending on year of your truck with the 6.7L Cummins the exhaust brake feature is either a single stage or the two stage version. In 2013.5 when the newer 6.7L Cummins with the DEF use was introduced, the two stage exhaust brake was introduced at this time also.

I tend to drive with my exhaust brake on between 90 and 95% of the time regardless if I am towing or not. If I am towing and in T/H model the shift points and exhaust braking are more aggressive. Also on the single stage exhaust brake feature the braking feature will cut out below 1,100 RPM's. I am not sure in the two stage exhaust brake will cut out at the same RPM range, since I have not experimented with the RPM range on them!

I also use the exhaust brake with extreme cold weather on start up. I will put the truck into high idle when in park and turn on the exhaust brake. Letting this idle for up to 10 mins sometimes. This helps in warming the truck up faster plus the use of a winter front and is not determinate to the engine, other than poorer fuel mileage.
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Old 09-21-2019, 12:22 PM   #17
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How do you put one of these in High Idle?

Tim
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Old 09-21-2019, 01:08 PM   #18
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I am not sure on the newer trucks but I do know this works for trucks from 2007.5 to 2013.5 model diesel trucks. My younger son has a 2013.5 truck and this is the same as my truck a 2008.

With the truck in park and the engine running. Push the cruise button to on, you then push the set button. This will raise the engine RPM's above 1,100. To raise this above 1,100 use the accelerator button to raise the RPM's up to 1,500 in 100 RPM increments. To turn off either step on the brake pedal or push the off button for the cruise control.
I believe this is in the owners manual also.
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Old 09-21-2019, 02:27 PM   #19
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Travel I-70 between Utah and Colorado and you will love automatic EB mode. Left Ike's tunnel and set it to 50mph. I never touched brake pedal until we hit the traffic lights entering Denver...
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Old 09-21-2019, 02:29 PM   #20
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Quote:
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How do you put one of these in High Idle?

Tim
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim34RL View Post
I am not sure on the newer trucks but I do know this works for trucks from 2007.5 to 2013.5 model diesel trucks. My younger son has a 2013.5 truck and this is the same as my truck a 2008.

With the truck in park and the engine running. Push the cruise button to on, you then push the set button. This will raise the engine RPM's above 1,100. To raise this above 1,100 use the accelerator button to raise the RPM's up to 1,500 in 100 RPM increments. To turn off either step on the brake pedal or push the off button for the cruise control.
I believe this is in the owners manual also.
Correct, but they’ll also go to 1000 on their own when the computer feels the need to. I almost never manual high idle mine.
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