B1 Power Wagon

I had the opportunity to ride in a '99 F-250 Power Stroke 4x4, auto, &quot;chipped&quot;, Banks exhaust, gauges and e-brake. The truck was very nice and ran really well (especially compared to my tired Suburban). <br><br>The truck was bought used and was BOMB'd by the previous owner. I asked the driver how he liked all the goodies; he said he loved the power. I then asked how he liked the e-brake. He told me he doesn't use it. ???<br><br>When I asked him why, he told me that a Ford service writer told him that e-brakes are hard on turbos due to heat build up. The service writer told him that every turbo failure he's ever seen had an e-brake and that the turbo crashed from high heat.<br><br>Now, I don't own a diesel (yet), and I'm by no means an expert on them but this sounded like a load of bull to me. I wouldn't think that the automakers would offer them as an option if they were bad for the turbo. Not good for the bottom line.<br><br>Are e-brakes really that hard on turbos? Is this a &quot;Ford only&quot; thing? I've been reading this forum for a while now and don't recall anyone having a turbo failure due to an e-brake?<br><br>My thoughts are that maybe the presence of an e-brake is coincidental. Meaning, most folks that have e-brakes tow a lot. Folks that tow a lot usually push their EGTs the highest. Those that push their EGTs the highest stand to lose a turbo before the rest. This sound reasonable?<br><br>Thanks!<br>Confused in Albuquerque<br>

bneaves

Those that push their EGTs the highest stand to lose a turbo before the rest. This sound reasonable?
That is correct, as any ebrake will increase EGT's due to holding the air in the manifold or turbo longer, the flow of the intake/exhaust is what helps keep EGT's down. The problem with the turbo failure on the Power-Chokes is that is sits right in the center of the manifold, half covered by the firewall. In no way does or can it recieve any air flow to assist in cooling of the housing. The Cummins however does recieve some cooling from air flow across it. When using an E-brake it is always a good idea to be also running a EGT gauge, because of the excess restriction which makes the brake work, you also push the EGT's higher. For example, on the New Cummins Signature 600 series(over the road engine/600 or 660 HP) they have an available option with retarding HP of 600 HP. With these units I have seen complete turbo failure, manifold failure, and even pistons failed, because of blocking this much air flow from the exhaust creates astronomical EGT's. And must be monitored when using the ebrake.

Using an E-brake is not for the everyday morons who just drive their cars and hope they don't break, take them to the dealer for every bit of service, and have never even looked under the hood. When adding anything to any vehicle you should be aware of what can be expected. Add an ebrake and the EGT's can rise, especially if you use it continously for long periods of time. This is the only time when an ebrake should cause any failures, if it is used improperly.

SjLingenfelter

B1 PowerWagon

Ford Powerstrokes come with an exhaust brake from the factory. I dont think you can NOT use it its automatic.
E-brakes are some what hard on the turbos but its not worth worrying about.The heat wont get high enough to worry about if its only chipped. My dad has an '02 Excursion chipped and other stuff and it came with the E-brake which is really helpful when we tow through the hill country.Our EGT's get to 950* at 23psi going up this one hill. Normaly it only get 650* at 10psi. As long as you dont run your turbo at like 1000* or higher for a long peroid of time and let it cool down to 350* it will be fine. The &quot;Serivce Writer&quot; needs to learn a little bit more cause what he had told you or what he was told was totally wrong. Hope this helps if you need more just give us a hollar.

SD03 8)

wannadiesel

I find that on my work truck (see sig), the EGT is stable when the exhaust brake is operating. If I'm at 1100 degrees coming up a hill, when I crest and let off the throttle, the EGT will drop to about 850 and stay there all the way to the bottom. If I start down a hill at 600 degrees, it stays there all the way down the hill. The EGT doesn't rise when using the exhaust brake, it just doesn't drop the way it would if the truck were coasting. Will this hurt the turbo? I doubt it. It ran 1100 degrees all the way up the hill at some ridicululous rpm, how is coasting down the hill, practically stopped (for a turbo) at 850 degrees going to hurt it?

SjLingenfelter

WannaDiesel<br>I dont understand what your asking. [undecided]

B1 Power Wagon

Thanks guys!<br><br>That's kind of what I was figuring; that the e-brake wouldn't build heat but rather not let the turbo cool as fast.<br><br>Thanks to you guys I can now school this fellow up next time I see him <br><br>SD03, can't comment on wether the PS comes with an e-brake from the factory or not, but this fellow had a controller for it on the dash right next to the trailer brake controller.<br><br>Thanks again,<br>Tim

wannadiesel

SD03-<br> Wasn't asking anything, just hoping to enlighten those unfamiliar with exhaust brakes by sharing my observations.

Iron Horse

[quote author=bneaves link=board=8;threadid=15861;start=0#149060 date=1055532953]<br> For example, on the New Cummins Signature 600 series(over the road engine/600 or 660 HP) they have an available option with retarding HP of 600 HP. With these units I have seen complete turbo failure, manifold failure, and even pistons failed, because of blocking this much air flow from the exhaust creates astronomical EGT's. And must be monitored when using the ebrake.<br><br><br>[/quote]<br><br>I am a little confused. You mean that this ISX 600 engine has an exhaust brake on it? I don't believe I have ever seen an exhaust brake on a class 8 truck. If it has a compression brake, IE: Pac, Jake or C-Brake, then the supplemental brake has nothing to do with retaining heat.

SjLingenfelter

What ^^^^^^ he said.

wannadiesel

I believe that engine has an exhaust brake and an engine brake. It seems to me that the still-burning exhaust gases from the engine brake getting corked up in the turbo by an exhaust brake could get things mighty toasty, especially at high RPM. There is a trend towards putting exhaust brakes on trucks that already have engine brakes because it muffles the annoying (to truck hating weenies) sound that engine brakes make. Also has the side benefit of increasing braking power.