manual down shifting
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,246
Likes: 7,659
From: Chino Valley, Arizona
manual down shifting
when i am towing I use the manual down shift and watch my rpm's with the exhaust brake turned on.
I don't see a problem with doing that but would like other opinions also.
I am not a fan of using brakes as I was taught when driving truck "if the brakes don't make 100,000 miles you will be looking for a job"
on my '97 at 311,500 miles I am on my 3rd set of front pads and 2nd set of rear shoes and second clutch. I don't stop hard unless something makes me.
I don't see a problem with doing that but would like other opinions also.
I am not a fan of using brakes as I was taught when driving truck "if the brakes don't make 100,000 miles you will be looking for a job"
on my '97 at 311,500 miles I am on my 3rd set of front pads and 2nd set of rear shoes and second clutch. I don't stop hard unless something makes me.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
I often have to manually shift, you need the engine speed high enough for the exhaust brake to work. The brake really only works past 2600rpm and often on 8% grades 3200rpm keeps it in check.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,135
Likes: 7,941
From: Texas
when i am towing I use the manual down shift and watch my rpm's with the exhaust brake turned on.
I don't see a problem with doing that but would like other opinions also.
I am not a fan of using brakes as I was taught when driving truck "if the brakes don't make 1000,000 miles you will be looking for a job"
on my '97 at 311,500 miles I am on my 3rd set of front pads and 2nd set of rear shoes and second clutch. I don't stop hard unless something makes me.
I don't see a problem with doing that but would like other opinions also.
I am not a fan of using brakes as I was taught when driving truck "if the brakes don't make 1000,000 miles you will be looking for a job"
on my '97 at 311,500 miles I am on my 3rd set of front pads and 2nd set of rear shoes and second clutch. I don't stop hard unless something makes me.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 219
From: Northwest
I guess it just depends what you want to wear out.... What you are doing is transferring energy. Brakes heat up and wear when they are applied. When you allow your engine to do the braking, the same amount of energy is transferred to your engine and drive train. Doubtful a lot of downshifting is going to fly with a CDL observer riding with you when you take the driving test.....
The first law of thermodynamics, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; energy can only be transferred or changed from one form to another. ... In other words, energy cannot be created or destroyed.
Hobo
The first law of thermodynamics, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; energy can only be transferred or changed from one form to another. ... In other words, energy cannot be created or destroyed.
Hobo
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,135
Likes: 7,941
From: Texas
I guess it just depends what you want to wear out.... What you are doing is transferring energy. Brakes heat up and wear when they are applied. When you allow your engine to do the braking, the same amount of energy is transferred to your engine and drive train. Doubtful a lot of downshifting is going to fly with a CDL observer riding with you when you take the driving test.....
The first law of thermodynamics, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; energy can only be transferred or changed from one form to another. ... In other words, energy cannot be created or destroyed.
Hobo
The first law of thermodynamics, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; energy can only be transferred or changed from one form to another. ... In other words, energy cannot be created or destroyed.
Hobo
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 20,124
Likes: 15,834
From: Wisconsin
Agreed. No one said Engine braking was free or doesn't cause wear. It just causes less wear on the drive train in terms of dollars per mile than using the brakes do. This is proven by every big rig doing it longer than I've been alive. Not to mention the big 3 trying to implement it into pickups. The only one that has been successful in my opinion is Cummins.
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Tuned
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 279
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From: Brookings, SD
I guess it just depends what you want to wear out.... What you are doing is transferring energy. Brakes heat up and wear when they are applied. When you allow your engine to do the braking, the same amount of energy is transferred to your engine and drive train. Doubtful a lot of downshifting is going to fly with a CDL observer riding with you when you take the driving test.....
The first law of thermodynamics, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; energy can only be transferred or changed from one form to another. ... In other words, energy cannot be created or destroyed.
Hobo
The first law of thermodynamics, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; energy can only be transferred or changed from one form to another. ... In other words, energy cannot be created or destroyed.
Hobo
As opposed to service brakes where the energy is converted to heat on the pads and rotors, which results in brake part wear.
Engine braking when possible is a great alternative to using service brakes, Thats why our trucks have an exhaust brake. So downshift all you want. The truck will prevent you from doing so if it will cause damage to something.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2018
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I let the engine brake do it's thing but have no issues using the brakes. If I want to be held back at a certain speed for a long downhill run, then I may manually downshift but that's about it. It's a lot cheaper to replace the brakes than anything else. The comparison to a big rig is a little ridiculous... Swapping pads or even rotors on a 250 or 350 is a couple hour job, parts are usually pretty easy to find and aren't all that expensive. for what it's worth, this is just my opinion from driving a 250 and usually not fully loaded. I would try to preserve the brakes a bit more if I was driving a max loaded 350 DRW or 450.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,135
Likes: 7,941
From: Texas
I let the engine brake do it's thing but have no issues using the brakes. If I want to be held back at a certain speed for a long downhill run, then I may manually downshift but that's about it. It's a lot cheaper to replace the brakes than anything else. The comparison to a big rig is a little ridiculous... Swapping pads or even rotors on a 250 or 350 is a couple hour job, parts are usually pretty easy to find and aren't all that expensive. for what it's worth, this is just my opinion from driving a 250 and usually not fully loaded. I would try to preserve the brakes a bit more if I was driving a max loaded 350 DRW or 450.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 502
Come off a mountain at 6,7,8%,or maybe even more grade with 18000-24000 pounds pushing you for several miles and overheat your service brakes and I will guarantee there will be issues using the brakes. And comparing to the big rigs is exactly what this is about. Why do they stop on top of long steep grades and do a brake check, then proceed down in lower gears? And that was what the OP was asking, downshift manually or not.
Thread Starter
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,246
Likes: 7,659
From: Chino Valley, Arizona
Agreed. No one said Engine braking was free or doesn't cause wear. It just causes less wear on the drive train in terms of dollars per mile than using the brakes do. This is proven by every big rig doing it longer than I've been alive. Not to mention the big 3 trying to implement it into pickups. The only one that has been successful in my opinion is Cummins.
Thread Starter
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,246
Likes: 7,659
From: Chino Valley, Arizona
fixed that, oops!
Thread Starter
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,246
Likes: 7,659
From: Chino Valley, Arizona
I do it all the time, as I think I need to. One time, coming from Payson down toward Phoenix, I had my 38’ enclosed triple axle gooseneck 18000 GVW loaded and never felt out of control. And IIRC I never once used the service brakes all the way down. That was with my ‘16 F350 DRW with 3.73 gearing. Your F450 with the deeper gearing should do great. Gearing helps the slow down as much as the speed up.
