Engine brake in winter

EVERY CDL manual says no retarder when on icy roads.

 

doesn't that manual tell you to not speed and obey all laws?
now I know why I didn't read that book!!!

 

The reason you don't use an engine brake on an icy hill is you are only braking the rear axle at this point. By only braking the rear axle, you could cause the rear axle to break traction, which could easily spin you sideways. That's not to say it's always going to happen, and is definitely a worst case scenario. The best option on an icy downhill grade is to start slow and in a very low gear and forget about the engine brake. If you're accelerating to 45 MPH when you try to use the brakes alone, use a lower gear and start at a slower speed at the top of the hill.

 

I use the lowest stage on mine and it never breaks loose. On the highest stage it has broken loose though, and got sideways. Why don't you have chains? If you were chained up you'd be able to run the middle or high stage and not have a problem either.

 

Use of an engine brake on icy or even wet roads is a recipe for a jack-knife situation....let it be and don't attempt to use it!

 

I'd worry more about jacknifing from cruise control on icy/wet roads.

 

Really. Well guess you better run up north and tell them ice road truckers to stop using the jake cuz they say hitting the brakes causes slides and the jake is the best way to slow down

 

Winter and #### conditions means no cruise control and retarder on the lowest setting ( turn it off completely if you don't have a 3 stage). Every truck I've driven has been fine running the retarder on the lowest setting in the winter. This doesn't mean it'll work for you though, try it when it's safe to do so and see how the truck reacts. Use it on the highest setting and there's a good chance it'll put you sideways right quick... I wouldn't try it just for ##### and giggles.

Using the engine brake on the lowest setting, which basically does nothing but help a tiny tiny tiny tiny little bit is no more dangerous than not using it at all and stabbing at the brake in slick conditions. Every time you touch that brake pedal you risk puttin' her sideways. 99.9 percent of the time nothing happens but believe me when I tell you that you do not want to be in that .01 percent .

Cruise control ... well, if you hit black ice and your truck slows down, it'll give her fuel "without user input" to get it back up to speed and can make for one hell of a ride. If your one of those guys that kills the cruise with the brake pedal, I'd get used to using the clutch to do that. Killin' the cruise with the brake in an emergency situation can make things much worst very fast.

And about the don't ever stop going up thing. Hammer down and keep her there, don't break loose and you'll be fine. If a four wheeler stops in front of you just push 'em up the hill lol

 

Who told you that?