Our 2010 GMC 3500HD deisel 4x4 has exhaust brakes which I have never had before.  They are really cool going down hill but then when you level out ,  they seem to want to stay on  and it feels like I am dragging a boat anchor until I hit the acceleration again.  Do you folks with exhaust brakes leave them turned on all the time while you are hauling or do you only turn them on while you are going down hill?

The B&D Exhaust brake that I had will remain engaged down to 25 mph or until I touched the fuel pedal.

The control module for the Exhaust brake tapped a sensor into the Throttle position Sensor (TPS) and with even the slightest pressure being applied to the pedal, Would shut off the brake.

For normal everyday driing, I left the EB turned off.  When I hooked up the trailer and was towing, I would turn it on.

With 2011 Ford the Exhaust Brake is automatic, Anytime the Tow/Haul is engaged it operates and when the Tow/Haul is not engaged, it is turned off.

I have a PacBrake on both of my Dodge Cummins trucks.  They have been a great asset for the towing in the Western mountains.  Both trucks have over 100,000 towing miles and are still on the original brakes.     The aftermarket exhaust brakes operate differently than the current factory brakes on the Chevy Dodge and Ford trucks.   The older ones were connected to the accelerator pedal directly or the ECM (engine control module) so when you remove your foot from the accelerator the brake engages. When you touch the accelerator the brake disengages.   

       The new brakes are connected to a computer that controls the engine,transmission,turbo and brake functions.   I would assume that your Chevy brake computer is not functioning properly.    Take it to the dealers and get them to re flash your computer.   You should be able to tow with your Ebrake engaged  all the time. 

The ones that are being used on the new trucks with the extra epa crap it is actually better to run them all the time.  It helps keep carbon from building up on the inside of the turbo. (all listed in the owners manual) And accroding to GM having to hit the accelerator to disengauge is correct.

I never turn mine off unless it is wet outside.  Can't leave it on while wet unless you would like to see the side of your trailer.  I even use mine when driving empty and I have 58-k miles on my truck and the front brakes still look great.  The 05 truck we had with no EB we had to replace the brakes at 50-k.

Hmm I was always taught to make sure to turn them off when idiling by a lot of folks

I leave mine on all the time in the 09 Dodge, even with no load. As others said, it cuts down on the need  for the exhaust filter burn. I am now at 6000 miles with no regen to date! YEAH!

So glad I got rid of the 08 Ford 450 that regened every 50 miles or so!

If you have a butterfly valve exhaust brake, It will be programed to cycle everytime you start your engine. They need to do this to prevent the carbon and soot build up on the valve.  And even that may not be enough. I learned the lesson by not using my frequently and having to crawl under the truck and take a wrench to the valve to cycle it because the soot build it become more than the vacuum could move.  I would suggest you exercise your exhaust brake on a daily basis besides the programed once each start. Whether you need the braking or not, cycle the valve each day.

The exhaust brakes built into the turbos, don't need this, Since the variable vanes on the turbo are constantly adjusting as the engine runs for the various turbo pressure required.

Brushy, The 6.4L engine was a 1st generation Regen product. And the2008-2010 6.4L did regen more often than newer 2011 Ford 6.7L engine ( which impliments a 2nd generation regen process). And the 6.4L do consume more fuel during that regen process.  Most experts agree that the frequent regens on that engine are the reason for it's poor fuel mileage. Ford learned a lot from that 1st generation product and the newer 6.7L engine is working much better, both from the standpont of improved fuel mileage and not even noticing the regen process. I rarely see a regen on my 2011 Ford.

My question to you is,  Why do you believe that using an exhaust brake will reduce the needed regens?  A regen is triggered when a certain amount of soot is collected on the Particulate Filter.  Back pressure and coasting are not loading the engine and should normally be very light in soot production. So whether you use your brake pedal or the exhaust brake should have very little impact on how much soot is generated.

The Regen process burns the soot off the particulate filter by increasing the heat ( by injecting extra fuel).  Watching the Pyros in my trucks indicated very low exhaust temps when the Exhaust Brake is engaged.  It seems counter intuative that braking would be creating enough heat to regen the filters.  Educate me.  I would suggest that the fact you haven't seen a regen is more of a 2nd generation Regen implimented on your Dodge vs 1st generation Implimentation of the regen process on your 6.4L Ford , than anything to do with the exhaust brake.

Painted horse......I was so desperate to have a dually that could operate as a tow vehicle without issues, that, I did as the Dodge sale people told me. "Push those two buttons everytime you drive it while you are loaded or not.  It will help keep your regens down and keep stuff from building up." I just assumed, that is what was happening. I know I am tickled with the performance this 2010 Dodge ( not 2009- my error). That is all I know.

 I lost over 22K on that 08 F450, every trip with a load was a nightmare, Ford wouldn't stand behind it. The latest info thru the Class Action is that Ford is acknowledging a problem with the 08 F450 with the 4.88 rear end and will no longer offer it. I have a running buddy that has the 08 F350 that didn't have the issues mine had. I hate losing money but I got tired of not trusting my 450. I hear that they have made leaps and bounds with the new ones.

I am no expert on Powertrains.  So understand my comments are strickly from a laymans perspective. And Brushy, definitely not trying to challenge your statement, but rather trying to increase my knowledge.

I rarely believe everything the salesmans tells me. I learned a long time ago, That dealership sales personel are not the experts they represent they like to respresent themselves as.

Most exhaust brakes interact with the trucks power train control modules. They do this for several reason, Primarily so you don't have the exhaust brake engaged while you are trying to accelerate. They also lock and unlock the Torque Convertor as needed.  Typically you want the Torque Convertor to unlock as you coast. This helps provide better fuel mileage. In an empty truck the torque convertor my unlock when you take you foot off the gas at any speed below 60 mph ( varies by mfg and configuration).  When we are braking heavy loads we want the Torque Convertor to stay engaged longer to help slow the vehicle with the back pressures in the engine.  But at some speed the Torque Convertor has to release.  Think about a vehicle stopped at a traffic light. if the torque convertor did not release, the engine would stall and die, ( compare to a standard shift where you push in the clutch pedal as you come to a stop)  The exhaust brakes that I've had experience with force the torque covertor to stay engaged down to 25 mph and then release and let the vehicle coast to a stop with no engine braking.

By engaging your exhaust brake everytime you drive, You are in effect forcing your torque convertor to stay engaged to lower speeds than if you did not have it engaged. There is a trade off in all components.  You save on brake pads, but put more wear on your tranny/powertrain. In a world were we often change brake pads every 40,000 miles vs replacing power trains every 250,000 miles. Which will the owners notice most. Since most owners rarely keep their trucks for the life expectancy of the powertrain, Most never notice the shorter life expectancy. You are basically trading repairs. Fewer brake replacements for more tranny service, shorter life on your torque convertor.  You engine runs more miles at higher rpms. ( think about coasting down a hill at 1500 rpm in non exhaust brake mode vs using the exhaust brake and having the engine running at 3200 rpm down the same grade.

Most of us in the towing world, Accept this trade off and use the exhaust brake for the added braking power it adds to a downhill descent when loaded. But in the day in day out world on normal driing with no load, leaving the exhaust brake engaged full time is just robbing peter to paul paul. Would you rather replace your brakes 6 instead of 5 times during the 250,000 miles you own the truck. Or do fewer brake jobs but replace something in your power train at 200,000 instead of at 250,000 miles.

No, using the Pacbrake it will restrict the exhaust exit via the butterfly valve. Your truck is pre-programed to use the exhaust brake. While towing, just use tow/haul and go. Driving with no load, just leave it on, no need to use tow/haul unless you want to. The only time you may need the service brakes is for a sudden stop or a steep downhill towing heavy.

Hmm I was always taught to make sure to turn them off when idiling by a lot of folks

Why????  With the truck idiling the EB is doing nothing at all.....

I'm going on 38-k with no regen..... (truck just hit 58-k miles)

Oh but I removed all of the extra mess at 20-k miles too so I will never have to worry about it.  YEAH!!!!!

Why????  With the truck idiling the EB is doing nothing at all.....

On the Dodge trucks, the EB will turn on to help warm up the engine when cold. If you are at operating temp, the exhaust brake will not turn on.

Hey Spooler...What years of the Dodge trucks do this? Mine is a 2010 purchased new 4/10. This is a very informative topic.

SPOOLER WROTE:On the Dodge trucks, the EB will turn on to help warm up the engine when cold. If you are at operating temp, the exhaust brake will not turn on.

07.5 to current. This is while the truck is at idle and not moving. Kinda sounds a little like a chicken clucking....LOL when it is on at idle.

You can also turn on the manual high idle to help with warmup. The faster than can get the truck to operating temp, the better the emissions will be.