River-runner

I just don't understand how keeping the EB on all the time cannot drive your fuel mileage down. I mean its like having additional drag every time you let off the peddle. It's like forgetting to release your parking brake.

How can having additional drag not reduce your mileage? If you coast longer when you don't need the brake, would your mileage not go up?

RiverRunner

Harvie

I have always left the exhaust brake activated at all times. Ave brake PAD LIFE OVER 5 TRUCKS is 125K miles. One truck went 190 before it needed pads.

A diesel truck will freewheel and downhill actualy gain speed without it engaged. With it engaged it puts no to very little additional load on the engine that would not normaly occur.

When these were an 1000-1500 additinol piece of equiptment they were still installed on my trucks for the additional safety.

Once you get used to using an exhaust brake it will be very obious when it is not activated when you run up on something, in front of you.

coolbreeze

It amounts to driving style. Whatever vehicle my wife drives, she will get better mileage than I can get from it. The EB shines in the mountains, on the flats they are useful. Stop and go traffic is where you might burn more fuel using the EB, depending on your style of driving. Every time you have to accelerate you are using fuel. My theory anyway

eb290

Mine is never shut off. I'm still on the original brake pads with over 200,000 miles on the truck plus I've usually got a 40 ft gooseneck behind me. (of course electric over hydraulic brakes on the trailer help)