Questions on engine brake use.

Others have offered you great advice already. I’ll add that it will just take time until you know your truck. Once you know how it will react at a given weight or speed or road condition then you will also have a better idea of how to use the engine brake. As an example, I use mine no matter the road condition. BUT, I am heavy and load heavier to the front when conditions are bad. There may be times I come off a pass a gear lower and run the engine brake a stage lower and have to use the brakes a little, just depends on the road.

 

Also should be noted that not all engine brakes are created equal. Some are almost useless. Some work really well. Old, sloppy engines with minimal compression? Don't expect proper power and associated engine brake performance.

 

Yeah I use mine when it’s slippery too. Just not on stage 3.

I don’t like hitting the brakes too hard when my tanker is empty. The trailer locks up real easy and I keep getting flat spots on my tires when it rains.

 

My 6nz leaves a lot to be desired, but all I’ve ever run in the mountains were Cats. When I’m 105,000 I’m dropping off a 6-7% grade about 22mph.

 

Got to get them to full power, blowing one is a experience,why go little?

 

What people don't remember I believe is there was a time long ago if you were around long enough in trucking there were some trucks you were issued that had no jacobs at all. You had alot more work to do holding it with the air and temperature problems at the pads in those days.

People who scream about real truckers or non real truckers need to get a grip. You are either doing it well or not at all. I don't care for it, the rabble rousing. There are times that drivers do get stupid now and then and mountains have a way of sorting that out pretty quickly and if not permanently.

There are areas around the usa who cannot stand the jake braking going on near their homes. I say big deal, don't like the noise? Move. This is a free country with lots of land so far from anything you will get peace and quiet. I used to be naughty and do what I call the wake up call at 6 am boring down on a tiny little town at the bottom of a 10% somewhere. Good morning sleepyheads. Up and at em.

 

Just 18? Just these little rpm numbers? HA... I recall 2300. There were times I have a very good tight engine and let her get up to 3 grand provided the temps in the engine oil hold steady more or less.

If it blew oh well.. about time it needed some TLC finally. /snarky.

 

Back before automatic slack adjusters [and engine brakes], and when some shoes wore faster than others, and if you didn't stay on top of adjusting all 8 brakes, some would end up going down grades with maybe half being in proper adjustment. Smoked brakes were just common back in the day.

Brakes really sucked not that long ago in comparison to today. It's a wonder as many old truckers survived to retirement that did.

 

I got stuck in truck with some dude years back who knew how to run the hills he said, got thru the tunnel heading west he would not use the jakes and was proud of the cloud from brakes cooking,sometimes you just have to walk away.

 

Drivers should be aware that a lot of the new chicken coops have sensors that can see hot wheels.

 

most of the grades are where you can run the suggested speed running jakes, they are muffled and make less noise than a crash. Just enjoy the ride and be safe. Spring is coming.