Jake brake etiquette

Somebody tell me how to reduce the noise my N14 makes with the jake. And yes it has mufflers.

 

You coulid put a really restrictive muffler and resonator on it but why would you want to choke up the exhaust that much? Our old engines are designed to breathe. Newer trucks have much less volume to their engine brakes because they are designed to operate with a much more restrictive exhaust.

The only thing we can do with our older equipment is keep good quality full flow mufflers on and practice some common sense courtesy with when to use the jake and when not to. Restricting the exhaust with a full baffled mufflers will make it a softer sound, but it will also drastically reduce performance, longevity, and fuel economy. I don't know about you but I'm not willing to increase my fuel costs by 20%, decrease my engines life by 50%, plus make it run like a gutless pig just to get a quieter entire brake. I just keep it turned off while in residential areas.

 

That last sentence is the key to "common" courtesy. I always turn off my Jakes approaching small towns or even in the country if I know I am approaching a tight curve or downhill next to farmer's houses. It's courtesy. It's something momma should have drilled into your skull...

...unless you had a stupid momma.

Maybe we need fewer stupid momma's.

Some drivers keep the Jakes on 100% of the time. They only know one way to drive. I only get my Jakes into ready mode if I think I might need them. I know how to drive with or without them.

 

I'm definitely not looking to decrease fuel economy or shorten life of motor. More concerned about my hearing and sanity. I have full flows now. What happens if I put a resonator under it or what about a full flow under it then into 2 full flows?

 

A resonator probably would be safe. But an n14 isn't really designed for it. Just watch your egts to see the effect on the engine and mpgs to see the effect on your wallet.

After market resonators are more for those folks that want to run 8 inch straight pipes but quiet the exhaust just enough to keep from being pulled over by every state trooper they pass on the interstate.

Edit to try and clarify: a resonator doesn't change the volume much, they are designed to change the tone of the noise. When we were young we stuck cherry bombers on our mustangs and chevelles to give that v8 a deep throaty sound to the exhaust. A resonator for a big diesel is basically the same thing, it charges the sound the exhaust makes, but has a minimum effect on the actual decibel level.

 

I use my jake brake switch for what it was designed for. Not only does it save from overheating the brakes, it saves on brakes. I have 8” straight pipes and could care less what others think about me. Most the haters are company drivers with emissions trucks and can’t ride in style Unless there is a sign that prohibits jakes, my switch is always on. On a side note, I only operate my truck from 7 am till about 4pm.

 

maybe go get a desk job. N14 is not that loud with mufflers. Anyhow, if you truly are having a hard time with noise from your jakes it’s becuase you are running turnouts dumped close to your windows. Believe it or not, straight stacks with large diameter miter cuts or straight cuts are amazingly quiet to the driver with all the sound diverted to the sky.

 

Or just set jake on a lower setting and or use at lower rpms and start slowing sooner .. both ways reduce the noise a lot if you want to be quieter in middle of the night

 

And right there, ladies and gents, is one of the major problems. " I have 8” straight pipes and could care less what others think about me."
The world revolves around me, and to hades what others think. It's everyone else's fault, not mine. Everyone else is just jealous.....