Engine brake vs Down hill braking

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

May 19, 2021 | 09:46 PM

MWB777

Thread Starter

Mountain Pass

Joined: Oct 2020

Posts: 107

Likes: 5

From: Dothan, AL

Engine brake vs Down hill braking

My first diesel so forgive the neophyte. I have two buttons on the upper dash. One is for engine brake (constant or auto) and the other is for downhill braking. How do these function and how do they differ in purpose?

Here’s a bonus question. Today in a hurry to leave I cranked the engine and immediately put it in drive when it started. No “clunk” transmission engagement - like in neutral. Had to give a little throttle to engage the tranny. Is this right? 2020 f250 6.7 10-speed.

May 19, 2021 | 11:31 PM

85e150

Super Moderator

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 34,495

Likes: 2,809

Do you mean "Hill Descent Control"?

I suggest the owner's manual.

Or on line:
https://www.ford.com/technology/driv...scent-control/
or
owner.ford.com

May 20, 2021 | 09:08 AM

Braggs

Senior User

Joined: May 2016

Posts: 477

Likes: 3

Yeah, 2 different things imho. Hill descent only works at very slow speeds (like < 5mph) and is for crawling down hills. The exhaust brake is for higher speeds when carrying a load to save some brakes.

May 20, 2021 | 10:07 AM

MWB777

Thread Starter

Mountain Pass

Joined: Oct 2020

Posts: 107

Likes: 5

From: Dothan, AL

Thanks for the link 85e150 on Hill Descent Control. Makes sense on how that works. I’m guessing that’s more an off road use. As to the engine exhaust brake, I’m accustomed to manual downshifting to reduce the need for braking. And I know that tow mode employs that feature automatically. Had that in the F150 too. But exhaust brake seems to be a different function. We hear it with big rigs all the time. How does this work with our SuperDuties? Just another name for transmission downshift?

May 20, 2021 | 01:06 PM

MWB777

Thread Starter

Mountain Pass

Joined: Oct 2020

Posts: 107

Likes: 5

From: Dothan, AL

Ok the Ford gurus on this forum could probably explain this more specifically to the 6.7. But this link helped me understand the basics.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exhaust_brake

May 20, 2021 | 04:29 PM

85e150

Super Moderator

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 34,495

Likes: 2,809

Exhaust brakes vary a bit in effectiveness. I drove an Isuzu NPR with a 5.2L engine--you could tell the engine brake was on IF you paid close attention. Others do a better job.

They do not compare with the Jacobs Engine Brake, which works in a completely different way and which is very effective in slowing the truck to a near stop.

May 20, 2021 | 05:45 PM

MWB777

Thread Starter

Mountain Pass

Joined: Oct 2020

Posts: 107

Likes: 5

From: Dothan, AL

Thanks everyone. No one has mentioned the other issue. Maybe it should have been a separate thread. Why didn’t the transmission link up immediately when putting it in drive. Is there a need to let the 6.7 idle for a period of time before putting it in drive. Just an odd thing I’ve not experienced in any other vehicle.