Engine exhaust brakes on diesels

I also drive my truck with the Jake on max all the time and you can see it in our maintenance cost for brakes.

While the biggest hill we have around here is the overpass over a intersection a Jake still helps. Our system is set up that if you turn on the Jake and the cruise control (but not set for a speed) the Jake will not come on by just releasing the throttle. You need to touch the brake to set the Jake off. This system works well for us.

I will say the laws about loud Jake brakes has nothing to do with the Jake. The law needs to enforce the real problem and that is straight pipes with no mufflers.

I have never used them in mountains, but I expect they can give huge savings both in wheel brakes themselves and in time it takes to let wheel brakes cool down.

I never drove trucks until I was 50, so I still don't know a whole lot about the internal workings of the engine or exhaust brake. I do know they can save your wheel brakes big time. I drove a 500 hp Peterbuilt (Cat) pulling 140,000 lb. gross load, 120 mile round trip. 10 miles of that each way was city driving on industrial throughfares. The city already had engine brake restrictions on all streets 30 mph and slower. Our route was 40 mph, thus you were allowed to use the engine brake, but many city residents were complaining.

I along with others were asked to try this 10 miles both with engine brakes and without. Most of us were hauling in excess of 100,000 lbs. This route was dotted with traffic lights, thus it was stop and go traffic. I found without engine brakes, I had to travel slower, allow more space in front of me, which city car drivers grabbed anyhow. At the end of the 10 mile cross city journey, wheel brake drums were so hot you couldn't lay your hand on them. With engine brakes you were able to drive much more with traffic and at the end of 10 miles the brake drums were not hot.

At a safety meeting after that we were asked our opinions. I told the group, small country villages hate the noise of engine brakes, and we should act on their wishes. Most small country villages don't have more than one or two traffic lights, thus heat build up on brake drums is not a factor. The city is much different, you will get the finger much quicker, holding up traffic than you will making a bit of noise. Keeping wheel brakes cool is much more important than a bit of noise.

Nova Scotia, Canada has one of the most sensible Jake Brake laws anywhere. When this issue first reared it's head the province quickly jumped in and passed a law that states; cities, towns and villages can not have a Jake Brake law. The provincial law simply states it is illegal to use a Jake Brake where the speed limit is 50kph - (30 mph) or less. This sorted out the industrial corridors from residential streets quite well. The interesting part is not many towns and cities dropped their speed limits on those industrial corridors from 60kph down to 50kph.

Actually, those little signs are now popping up everywhere. Truro was one of the first areas where I first started seeing them, but I don't travel west of there very much. The signs are now quite prominent all around the Sydney area, or any other town limit. They're even popping up in rural areas near some of the quarries because people are squaking about the noise. For my own part, if somebody jumps out in front of me or cuts me off, the jake is coming on, sign or not.

Rod

Here is another kicker, and you can check this one with a lawyer. Your truck has onboard equipment to which a computer can be connected. In the case of an accident, your driving speed, what you had turned on or off at time of accident, can be picked from your truck after the accident. Let us assume a car pulled out in front of you, all be it illegally. Let us assume, had you gotten stopped 10' sooner you would not have killed the guy. I'm guessing you better wish, every item of factory braking capacity of your truck was turned on, even though the other guy pulled out in front of you.

One accident like this, especially if the dead guy is well connected, and every Jake Brake law in the land will be ruled unconstitutional. Truckers are sitting on a time bomb with this one.

I'm not sure exactly what the computer records in a heavy truck. The engine in mine is a N14-435 Celect.... and everything is electronically controlled, but I don't know what it's memory is. There was an incident here about 2-3 months ago where an indian woman got rolled out by a car carrier. The DOT and mounties were going up, over and down on that truck checking EVERYTHING. I know one of the mechanics that works in the shop where it was towed to for inspection. He told me the mounties were looking for the black box. He had a smart response they didn't like too much.... but long story short, they wern't finding that info that you suggest. However, that may have been an older mechanical truck. Dunno. This wasn't a speed accident anyway.... but I don't think they figured out just what happened yet.

Like you say though, I would use whatever braking ability the truck had, Jake included, in an emergency. Noise bylaw be dammed.

Rod

Rod

I'll write this topic down and make an effort to call him this weekend and get some brand and model info for you. If you dont hear back from me, remind me to do it. Dont be bashful about how you do it either. Sometimes I need a little extra pushing to get things done.:-)

• Pacbrake

But ya, a jake with a good muffler is definately an asset.

Actually the older I get the less I appreciate ridiculously loud mufflers. There are a few 4 wheelers here too that have no muffler and they rip up and down the road at night.

Rod