How I Use the Jake Brake

38+ year veteran trucker tells how and when he uses the engine brake, Jake Brake.
There are varying opinions regarding when and how the engine brake should be used.
Truth is, there is no right and wrong way to use the engine brake in a big rig.
A few tips about using the jake brake on icy, slippery roads, different strengths/positions of the jake settings.
MORE OF OUR JAKE BRAKE VIDEOS:
More Tips on Using the Jake Brake • Tips and Tricks For Ja...
Take Down That Jake Brake Sign! • Take Down That Jake Br...
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Song: Atlanta

[@josjgardner5168]

This is the guy that needs to be training new drivers

[@twinstickwizard3941]

Love that sound. If I am walking across a parking lot and hear that deep rumble I always look around to see what's making the music. And I'm with you, turn it on when you need it.

[@xx5zi]

As a driver with 29 years, pulling most every kind of freight around North America, I just want to say thanks for putting in the time making these videos. I'm either refreshing what I always knew, or picking up new ideas.

[@Kryten428]

The worst engine brake I ever drove was in a Freightliner that had a 8V92 Detroit engine. Fortunately I only had it for a couple of weeks running Kelowna to Creston over 3 big hills and 1 major hill. Going forward that engine was great. Turn the Jake on and the only thing that happened was more noise. Sticking your hand out the window to increase wind drag was just about as effective as the Jake.

[@SmartTrucking]

The Salmo- Creston being the major hill? I ran Calgary to Castlegar for a few years when I was young. Loved the roads and the scenery out there. Drove for Richardson Transport back then, tanker outfit. Dave

[@Kryten428]

You are correct. The east side isn't too bad but from the brake check the west side is 8 km of 8% then another 10 km of 4 - 6%. I run out there all the time still, and I do like it. Even if the Salmo - Creston seems like a career all by itself when you're heavy.

[@dennisreelie1720]

Smart-Trucking.com man I respect truck drivers that drive that route. It's hard enough in a pickup truck. Let along carrying 63,500 KG'S of whatever.

[@minime-clashofclansmore8290]

Kryten428 loo

[@bigdi77]

I been driving for 20 years and I am still learning new things from this man

[@aux1z11]

I like to use my Jake brake only when going down steep hills on black ice while swerving back and fourth to keep the tires warm.

[@SmartTrucking]

Call us when the pills wear off! Dave

[@dustyrhodes5063]

I've been driving for about 24 years. One thing I have learned over the years is that, if you are in the proper gear going down a mountain (even on a 7% grade), you can let the Jake Brake do nearly all of the work (even with a heavy load). I find the gear I need at the top, then switch back and forth between 3rd, 2nd and 1st stage all the way down the mountain, rarely having to touch my brake pedal. Jake Brakes work best between 1200 and 1800 rpm. . Using the proper gear is very important in order to have good Jake Brake control. At 1800 rpm, I will kick in 3rd stage. Let my engine cycle down to 1200 rpm then to 1000 rpm using 2nd and 1st stage. Then let my rpm's climb to 1800 rpm and then go back to 3rd stage. This is what Jake Brakes are made for. You can save your brakes on mountain grades by using your engine brake properly.

[@SmartTrucking]

Agreed! Dave

[@Torsee]

I live half way up a hill. I can always tell the rookies by them forgetting to shut off the jake on old trucks. The engine fights them. Occasionally it's a full stop start over for the rock trucks.

[@williamdillingham6871]

I drive a ISX 525 on a heavy haul truck and the jakes work great. it slows me down when weighing 140,000 pounds. I also leave my jakes on all day.

[@TankSchu]

There are multiple types of engine brakes. The loud brap is a jake break, which changes the timing on the exhaust valves. The one you mentioned seeming to be not effective and really quiet is an exhaust brake. It serves the same purpose and essentially the same function, but it has a variable valve on the turbo itself. It creates back pressure to slow the pistons as opposed to the jake that releases the pressure from the compression stroke. There's a third type of engine brake, though more common on gasoline motors, and it changes the timing on the intake valve instead. Creating negative pressure on the intake stroke to slow the piston instead of high pressure on the compression stroke. Exhaust brakes are cheaper to install and repair, thus more common on fleet trucks.

[@Pete-from-Tn]

Its good to see the old gal back on the road. And I know your enjoying the ride. As with that truck, its a pride of a ride for sure.

[@TadTrueman]

I appreciate your videos. Today was my first day of truck driving school. Your videos have helped a lot.

[@Guinters]

they helped me too, just finiashed / got my license friday. check out red viking trucker as well he is a no nonsense guy with a lot of good insight.

[@SmartTrucking]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy your future career as a truck driver. They say that if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life and that was certainly true for me. Drive safe! Dave

[@lewiemcneely9143]

TRue saying. I've been blessed to burn fuel since I was 17 or before. Heading toward 67 and still do it when the need arises. Mostly burn gas in the mowers now!

[@slr379x9]

I leave my jake on most of the time but depending on how heavy I am and the conditions sometimes I'll shut it off upshifting. Usually I just keep my foot on the throttle enough to keep the jake from kicking on but let off to go into the next gear. I know everyone has different preferences but that's what I like. And loud pipes with a strong jake is hard to beat haha

[@AshTheFriendlyNeko]

I leave it on when I'm on the highway, but when I get into a town or in traffic and I'm not getting up to speed often I kick it on and off as needed. The computer seems to manage it pretty well beyond that, and that works for me.

[@slr379x9]

yea that's pretty much the same as myself. If I'm in the lower gears I don't have it on because you usually not going at a speed fast enough to honestly need the jake. Your brakes will stop you pretty quickly

[@redsoldierftcarson]

I drive local for a construction company, I haul aggregate, asphalt, concrete, etc. I drive transfer, end-dump, belly, mixer, etc. In almost every truck except for our Pete's with the paccar engines (they engage to early on the throttle) and the mixers (don't have them) , I just leave the Jake's brake on all the time unless I'm under 15mph in the yard, etc. I just keep my foot enough on the fuel to keep it from engaging. I was taught not to use the brakes unless you were coming to a complete stop. (under 15mph)

[@bobloblaw530]

Thanks for the good video. I complement you on being an articulate and well spoken person, not a "go ahead and" or "um" through the whole talk. You should be out in front speaking for your industry or doing training videos for You Tube posters. :)

[@SmartTrucking]

Thank you! Dave

[@Zeviander]

I drive a 2007 Peterbilt 379 with a C15 NXS motor with VVhead Jakes and unless I'm driving in a city, I put the switch on most of the time for most of the day. Upshifts and downshifts are fairly easy to get with a little practice, as you don't have to pull entirely off the throttle to shift in the 05-07 Pete's (floating that is). I definitely don't like straight pipes though, I like to hear at the end of the day.

[@josephshafer7909]

Not me would rather hear those straight pipes

[@pitpao]

I'm not a big truck driver but I used to drive a Hino. Yes over the mountains and I was 68' long. The thing I loved about the Hino design aside from the visibility is that on the right side of the steering column just like a turn signal was the exhaust brake AND hazard lights. Pull down like you're signalling right exhaust brake ON. Flip UP like flashing high beams and It's your hazard light toggle. I loved it. Now I'm driving an International with the switch on the dashboard and I don't like it. It doesn't seem to me to be good engineering to put the switch as a switch on the dash. But I don't know. Hino's design of having it readily accessible on the right side of the steering column seems like brilliant, yet obvious engineering.

[@SmartTrucking]

I agree! There are handier places for that switch than on the dash. I knew a couple of guys that had them on the gearshift back in the day and that seemed to work well. Dave

[@2manyspruces]

Hey Dave, Here's one for you, but you may have experienced this yourself. I had a 98 Freightliner Century with a sixty series Detroit for power. I had come to a stop, and the jake almost killed the engine. Just before it died, I stepped on the fuel pedal to bring it back to life, and shut the jake switch off. I put the truck in gear, and started to move backwards! So I put the truck in reverse and it began to move forward! About the same time I got a real bad smell that came into the cab. I looked at my oil pressure gauge and was shocked to see no pressure at all. I immediately shut the truck down and then restarted it, and everything was back to normal. What happened was when I stepped on the fuel to keep the jake from killing the motor, it started to turn in reverse. I have heard that could happen with a Cat, but found out the hard way it could happen with other engines as well. That was the first and last time. That sure freaked me out though!

[@SmartTrucking]

I've heard that can happen, kind of exciting for a moment and if you own the truck it's probably kind of gut wrenching! Dave

[@2manyspruces]

Smart-Trucking.com Absolutely. I was an O/O at that time and at first didn't know what was happening. I'm just glad I had the presence of mind to shut the truck down. Otherwise, it likely would have cost me an engine.

[@redsoldierftcarson]

The two-stroke Detroits are known for doing this

[@victoriapeterson9551]

Hey man, I just want to let you know I like your vids and you are one of the very few REAL truckers out there that are doing vids.I am trying to find a good cdl school to go to ask we speak so wish me luck! My main concern is backing up.I appreciate your vids and I learn from them.Thanks!!!

[@SmartTrucking]

Good luck Victoria! Backing up is kind of like riding a bike. The more you do it the better you get at it. When I was learning I honestly felt the steering wheel spinner helped and that leaning out the window rather than relying totally on the mirrors was a good idea. Don't sweat it, you'll get it. Dave

[@lewiemcneely9143]

If it helps, use it!

[@victoriapeterson9551]

Thanks!

[@rogervoss4877]

This hint is probably a bit late, but it might still help you or someone else. Steer the trailer like a WHEELBARROW. Move the nose of it with the tractor to steer the rear wheels where you want the back to go. That way if you can back up a 4 wheeler, you can back up ANY combination, just by figuring how to move the FRONT of the trailers to steer the wheels at the back. With that trick, the only thing to worry about with the tractor is not swinging it wide into something while steering the trailer. works for using the mirrors, works with your head out the door, works any way that is EASIEST for you! Parallel park for a road test becomes EASY by comparison. Steer the trailer until it nears the curb & it's time to straighten it. Then bring the trailer NOSE in toward the curb to do so. As the drives get near the curb the NOSE of the tractor swings to straighten the drives next to the curb. DONE (except for a pull up to make perfect).

[@ericbrule4465]

Same as you, switch always off in the city and when shifting. Mine was very effective and loud...3406 Mechanical Kitty with open exhaust...

[@mrj-charles6383]

In the 2014 Mack I drive I can not even hear the engine brake and sometimes I can't tell if it is working. I think it is electronically controlled to the speed you set it to Depends on the situation I also turn it off when not needed and when parking. Been driving since 1991 and most of the company trucks did not have engine brakes. So lots of smoking brakes coming down the mountains.

[@stevesheldon8113]

Mr Charles if you have the E7 Mack motor with the jack on .puch the maxi button then you will feel it.every Mack motor with a jack has the maxi button

[@e30kitty]

Its using a muffler on the EB thats all... You let all the compression out of the engine without using the muffler, that's why it sounds that evil... sounds 100% like a straightpiped truck

[@principezdelobonorteno4548]

That jake sounded INSANE man love it i love the long nose Peterbilts

[@iancoupe20v43]

please ignore my previous comment, after watching the rest of your video the jake brake is known in the uk as the exhaust brake and woorks better the higher the engine is revs

[@pulemrki4547]

You are one lucky/happy trucker...jealous much...I left the trucking job after 10 years in business looking for easier road to retirement...Got in to driver training and testing new drivers...It's easy, but not even close to fun and (challenge) of truck driving..Greetings from New Zealand..

[@SmartTrucking]

Greetings and thanks for watching! New Zealand is on my bucket list, I've heard it's beautiful there!

[@banjocantrell838]

Nothing can equal a well tuned Jacobs brake for control of a truck and it's load. I had one strong Jake on an old Cummins BC 350. back in mid70's . One thing makes me sick is hearing those cowboy drivers doing a Jake shift thru every gear empty and loaded .It is stupid and ruins a fine truck. I appreciate your fine video

[@SmartTrucking]

Yup! I hate that too! That and a bunch of other stuff like speed shifting and anything else that abuses equipment! Thank you for watching Banjo! Stay safe!

[@sammygonzalez7627]

I have seen Peterbilt Steve showing his trucks, and the new CSX comes with 565hp and 2050 pounds of torque. I would think with these numbers you would definitely feel the Jake brakes

[@SmartTrucking]

I sure hope so. Depends on Cummins, I guess. I look at his videos too! Dave

[@Notamember8556]

Quite often in gridlock it can be used as 4wheeler repellent.

[@mrisdn98r]

Ever since I was a kid I loved the sound of the jakes ❤

[@braddavis8655]

I run a 99 379 with a 550 cat turned up 8 inch straight stacks buckets and I always run with my Jake brake on. If you're good at shifting it won't come on

[@Flat_Stanley]

Jake Brake pro tip....aka something I stumbled upon by luck! You can leave the Jake on without it interfering with shifting simply by turning on your speed control(cruise control) which activates Jake Brake Coast Mode, however the jake will not engage unless your foot is touching the brake pedal. For me, I always have Coast mode on so if I need to stop suddenly, I have the extra stopping power the moment I get on the brake. In a hairy situation, a driver could miss the jake switch. I do often reach up to switch speed control off so I can gradually slow down without needing to tap the brake. Something else to note for anyone reading this that wants to try this feature out, especially if you are a person that likes to set your cruise...which I suspect drivers who commonly use cruise may have already discovered this Jake feature...anyway...If you set your cruise to 65 for example, the Jake will not engage to prevent you from exceeding that speed like it would if you were backing off the hammer with the Jake on. Whether Cat, Detroit, Cummins, or Mercedes powered, nearly every truck I have drove has had this feature.

[@larrygreen8912]

I had a k100 for a long time and it had the jake controls on the side of the stick with a momentary switch with your palm on the top of the stick you could turn them on instead of reaching for the dash.

[@SmartTrucking]

Handy as hell, I'll bet! Dave

[@harold562]

one on company truck is muffled, youll most likely see me going downhill with it on until i feel comfortable, then ill turn it off and on to slow me down as needed. in city highways it would probably be on just in case i get an idiot in front trying to brake check me, or something similar. Inside cities, ill turn it on just to slow me down if i need to stop or make turns. all other times, it will remain off until needed.

[@ScrambleNorth]

There was definitely something wrong with that ISX motor, I have an ISK motor and my Jake brake is very strong

[@justinjefferson579]

Same thing here when I hear that deep rumble near a road or if I'm in a parking lot and I hear that I know it's a big truck and I can tell it is a peterbilt peterbilts are my fav and my second fav is a kenworth

[@dpsper]

Not so sure what you are referring to regarding the electronic motors? In the old days you had to shut off the switch on the dashboard or the engine retarder would stall the engine at idle. That was embarrassing. Then they came out with switches attached to the throttle and clutch pedals to disable the engine retarder at idle if either pedal was not engaged or partially engaged. Long about 1991, Mack came out with an electronic fuel pedal that had an approximate 1 second delay between in feedback from the pedal and engine response. That prevented a lag response from the "Jake" for dropping the RPM between gears to catch the next gear faster. Just had to get used to it. But you had to know how to shift an unsynchronized transmission without the use of a clutch or double clutch to do that. In the old days clutches had two uses. One was to brake the transmission, as in "clutch brake", to stop the transmission from spinning it's gears, to be able to initially engage into gear. Afterward it was used to engage the transmission to the engine to provide power to the terrain. Then you manually shifted along as the vehicle moved in the desired direction. It was called driving.

[@ItsJustMeAdam.]

I never turn my jakes off unless the roads are wet, or a cold engine. I get about 60% more life out of my brake liners, drums, and brake assembly (slack adjusters, S cams, springs). I've had so many people tell me that it will ruin an engine by using the jakes on a constant basis. I call bs on that XD

[@icebergslim287]

When a veteran driver talks you listen!

[@rondye9398]

Retired after 44 yrs. in the saddle and there is one thing that other truck drivers do that really bugs me. It's the Jake use with loud exhaust, barking down through every gear at 4 o'clock in the morning. The public dislikes trucks enough without that rookie nonsense. Have to announce to everyone in every small town you've arrived? Grow up.

[@slr379x9]

studies have shown that a loud jake brake makes less noise than a semi going through your living room...

[@SpiritBear12]

Not every one is a hard sleeper. I would hear the trucks all the time in Bridgewater MA when I was at my boyfriend's place. Thankfully he moved to a quieter town and area.

[@brandonpryormusic]

Justin Hood that comment is the greatest.

[@franciscodiaz9546]

Ron Dye i love the jake brake sound its like miusic to me and yes it has to be loud

[@bigtwinzr900]

Ron Dye tell that to all the Harley's with straight pipes leaving the bar in the middle of the nite cracking through town.

[@jupj1]

I loved the sound of engine brake of a Detroit Engine its louder than Cummins. Engine brakes saved my life & my career countless times.

[@SmartTrucking]

Mine too! Wouldn't be without one! Dave

[@harold562]

i only use mine to slow down from 70 since company doesnt want me going over it, other than that, when exiting, hills going down, or slamming the shit out of my brakes from mysteriously fallen off the sky standstill traffic ahead.

[@bighaulin2246]

I really love your truck I don’t like peterbilts I’m more of a kenworth & freightliner guy but I really like your truck because it is clean and simple 👍

[@SmartTrucking]

Thanks! I do prefer the clean, simple close to factory look with a few modifications, like the pipes. I went through the phase with having a hundred lights and a ton of chrome back in the eighties and just grew out of it after awhile.

[@bighaulin2246]

Yea I know what you mean

[@bighaulin2246]

Having too much modifications is sometimes bad because not everyone has the Same likings

[@crazyeyez1502]

2012 International Maxforce. Company truck, so cant cry too much, as it pulls decently enough. But the Jake definitely could be better. They have it set so the Jake doesnt "hit" with out tapping the brakes. And in top gear (Eaton10), you dont feel it. You have to be aggressive with the down shift, but then the Jake holds fairly well. Stock exhaust and dpf, but no def.

[@teejaver5518]

Man that’s a comfortable looking seat.

[@SmartTrucking]

Yeah, it really is. Bostrom wide ride2. Dave

[@albydigiammarco3373]

How's it from Zambia Africa, good advice on the Jake brake. I would just wish if some of our steering wheel attendants would not use the Jake brake on the up shift. As you say treat it with respect. Keep driving, keep safe.

[@TheGuitar1962]

Leave mine on all the time and keep slight pressure on throttle to avoid the up shifting Damocles.

[@mikemusser5224]

I drive an 2011 ISX 450 hp, jake brake works great

[@SmartTrucking]

Someone suggested to me that the one I drove just needed to be set up properly and I tend to think that may have been the problem. You would think however that either the factory or the dealership would have done that before selling it to the new owner. Maybe they just missed it. I have heard from others like yourself that the ones they have work quite well. Dave

[@glennmulholland2858]

I learned jakes on Florida wet road be carful . That’s after first rain on dry road.

[@detroit8v715]

I use mine mainly when loaded. Not as much when empty unless in a hilly area. I do use it in the rain but never in snow. Another thing is that Jake brake is mostly effective when engine is under 1500 rpms.

[@Life0fPablo]

Now that's old school the spinner ha ha

[@GaryCameron780]

Fidget spinner for truck drivers. :)

[@ChristianFranks-vw5gm]

Seems like this guy loves taking care of his trucks reminds me of my dad

[@Graveltrucking]

I learned on the old mechanical engines the old Ford 9000 had a 400 big cam the jake would really crack it would also stall the engine if you were not careful. Todays trucks will never sound like your old Pete with a Cat, all you hear out of a current model truck is a hissing sound. The days are gone when we had the old 2 stroke detroits I used to drive a truck with 6v92 power. Any new drivers out there learn how to drive without the jake because one day you flick the switch and nothing happens boy are you going to have a surprise.

[@wayneshowalter1]

The ones that make a hissing sound are not Jake brakes they are exhaust brakes. Don't like exhaust brakes.

[@veteranheavyequipmechanic4990]

I leave mine on all the time, even while shifting, it helps slow the engine RPMs down and allows a faster shift. Wouldn't work if you were using the clutch to shift though. C15 CAT engine. Some of our newer triaxles have a Detroit with exhaust brake, there's no rev hang in those at all, so I just rest my foot on the clutch pedal to shut it off while shifting. I only shut it off when I'm going through town, unless I'm permitted and the permit says "must have engine brake" then I still use it on steep hills in town too.

[@SL-ix4yk]

I Run a Freightshaker with a Dead Detroit 13 Liter that has a electronic 2 position, Jake in it, and after talking to Detroit I found that its not a REAL jake brake, its just a exhaust valve that closes when you let off the throttle, an same it makes noise and might help slow a little bit, but its pretty well helpless, I never turn it off because it really doesn't do anything, I also though found my 10speed doesn't like floating gears so having the jake on doesn't drop the rpms mid shift . . . As long as your smooth and precise with your shifting.

[@ModestNeophyte]

Heh I'm glad you mentioned the fact that leaving the jake on messes up your shifts... I'm not a real trucker but I'm an American Truck Simulator enthusiast, and I have the same dang problem goin up through those gears leaving the jake on

[@SheldonJohnsonSydney]

I generally run it once I get on the highway, but, won't keep it on if I'm not on the highway since the engine tends to catch when I shift with it on. Only other time I'll turn it off for is when I'm up/down shifting. As for International trucks, I'm not fond of their engine breaks because the only way theirs work is if the speed is slow and the RPM's are high before kicking in. (I drove a few international's a few years ago and that's how theirs worked. I don't know if they've changed it around or not in the last few years)

[@abrahamstark2944]

I love your videos and your lessons tjank very much, from Costa Rica im getting my "cdl " here we get a lot of hills and mountains so we need use to much the jake brake...

[@athonynesbitt7956]

Very smart guy, ill listen to his advice and only use my jakes when i need it

[@MyWatchIsEnded]

I wish the new trucks had 20 different switch positions like other trucks lol. I only get three levels: low - mid - high 2 cyl - 4 cyl - 6 cyl It can hold 80,000lbs at 45mph on a downgrade of 6%. But it's not exactly at 45mph so sometimes it's 35mph.

[@johnmoor86]

Great video! I use my jake all the time in my Pete 379 cat 6-NZ! It’s strong and ur exactly right about nothing like the sound of a straight piped jake!

[@shaunsautorepairs5410]

Thats awesome. We miss out on so much here in the uk. It would be worth going to the states just for some jake brake action

[@SmartTrucking]

No jake brakes in the UK?

[@teresaanderson3581]

Cool we have a sign on the rd at the 4 way before the rock quaray

[@whyettjensen3292]

My mom has the same problem about shifting with the jake brake on

[@Cobra4993]

I have a 2015 cascadia and the jakes will engage in neutral so I always have to turn it off every time i downshift then turn them back on.. kinda annoying and I'm pretty sure the KW i used to drive never engaged the jakes in neutral.

[@SmartTrucking]

Eric, my understanding is that an electronic engine shouldn't allow that to happen! Dave

[@brianvandorp25]

What? My 2007 ISX 475 engine brake works fantastic, Cat and Detroit brake don't even come close and I've had all three.

[@lovetrain442]

Much respect for your experience and knowledge. 👍

[@cpreit8862]

Just don't let your foot all the way off the gas and you can shift without Jake hammering on you

[@michellandry714]

There's more to this than I thought. Thank you for your intellectual capital and experience.

[@MyIronman8]

they now they have handel's with buttons on it . it's to help you stop if your truck breaks don't help . you do it sat the same time when you use the regular breaks

[@chancesanborn7932]

You musta drove a bad one, or something wrong with it. I started driving in a 2011 386 Pete with a 525 isx. I since haven't drove another truck with a Jake that good. Pulling a 48' flatbed it would nearly slide you out of the seat. The only thing that I've since drove that came close was w900l with an acert that had both a Jake and brakesaver.

[@milka2astay]

Chance Sanborn I agree. Got 550 ISX and on third position with that turbo back pressure it's the strongest jake ive used, kicks u forward it's that strong

[@SmartTrucking]

Yeah, I got the feeling the jake needed to be set up properly. It didn't slow the truck at all. Dave

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I remember the Detroits with the Super Jakes. Drove one that the jake would hold when you know beyond a doubt the service brakes would NOT stop you. Yep, I've wallered some real deals in my time. WAY before D.O.T inspections.

[@bradleyselk9642]

I run an 86 Pete with a big cam 400 dual stacks and i love my Jake but I only use it when I need it or am in a tunnel😏

[@SmartTrucking]

I do have to admit, I like the sound in a tunnel! Dave

[@russellhopperton1907]

Someone pulls in front of you, it’s nice to already have it on. Plus I’d rather my switch not prematurely go out cause of turning on and off.

[@MerlynAStern]

Yup, a good Jake is music to my ears as well. I only use it to slow down. I shift without the clutch most of the time, and if the Jake is on, it screws up my shift. Love that sound though. My wife and daughter ask "Why?" They will never understand.

[@46GarageUSA]

Why in Pennsylvania I hear it's illegal to use the Jake brake ?

[@johnm6642]

I use it on downhill and downshift.

[@sebhac0123]

Loud pipes save lifes

[@Torsee]

Loud pipes disturb poultry! Just disagreeing. Live on a hill.

[@SmartTrucking]

I think I saw that on a sticker for sale at Walcott! Dave

[@raceride5681]

On a motor bike yes

[@lordvader5200]

Torsee Well That’s your fault for living on a hill.

[@Ray-se1km]

Dave, what about using the Jake on a runaway vehicle?

[@SmartTrucking]

God, if you've got a runaway use everything you've got to slow it down. Dave

[@billywayne6104]

You mean runaway motor? Or runaway as in service brakes inop

[@alanack67]

I leave mine on all the time. Most of our truck have the "retarders" in the turbo. They are very quiet. I try not use "Jake's" in town to avoid pissing people off. I leave them in the low settings for snow little safer than brakes I think, but every truck is different.

[@MerlynAStern]

Alan I don't shift with Jakes on, but other than that I leave them on all the time. One winter I was going around an icy curve and backed off the throttle and the Jakes made the drives break loose. Can you all say "Jack knife !" I got back on the throttle real quick, and it came back straight. Scared the crap out of me. I still use Jakes on ice, but if it gets real bad, I shut 'em off. Why die?

[@chris1422]

I used to use the Jakes to upshift from a dead stop on a steep hill. If I tried to shift up without them the truck didn't have enough momentum and would stop.

[@J.R.in_WV]

My big cam Cummins the jake will kill the engine the second it drops to idle with the clutch out, I’ve stalled it at a stop light many times when I get stopped and let the clutch out in neutral. On the flip side the Jake on our 238 Detroit works well from 2100 down to about 1700 but less then they it’s useless. Also once it hits 1200 rpm the oil pressures so low the jakes cut out on their own, it seems to take about 25 lbs to make them work and that engine only holds 15 lbs at idle.

[@GoodDayFarm]

I leave mine on all the time, just gotta know how to work the throttle pedal to keep it from engaging when you don’t want it to. 👍😎😏

[@Brsrafal]

I leave it on all day never interfere w shifts. I adjust level depending on weight. Empty low loaded load 26k n up 3

[@ancientsalt4291]

I agree with it being one of the best inventions on trucks. Imagine how much air youd lose without as well as the risk of brake lockups resulting in a skid.....

[@SmartTrucking]

Yup!

[@2cylinderfarmer]

What do you have for exhaust? That's a nice tone!

[@SmartTrucking]

Seven inch pipes, resonator muffler underneath. Dave

[@sethpacholko9652]

Our 1970-80 international has no steering ive never seen the jakes used so I might have to look into it

[@sethpacholko9652]

It also has a epic wigwag air warning sign alerting you to stop

[@sethpacholko9652]

I keep remembering stuff the replays are unreal so the truck also I think is either a 5500-7500 it's not brand new by any stretch

[@mileswingard143]

Just out of curiosity, what manifold pressure should your truck have with the jakes on?

[@SmartTrucking]

I like to see mine between 40 to 50 lbs. Dave

[@tonyandreoli8180]

Can somebody tell me, our shop mechanic said that it's best to run the Jake on full, because it wears the parts evenly as opposed to mediam or low

[@SmartTrucking]

I agree with him. Never found the other two positions helped me much anyway, unless I found myself on a real slippery road without a lot of weight on.

[@jarrusjenkins]

New Paccar MX13 engines have absolutely rubbish engine brakes on them, they make a noise and that's about it really, however on the new Detroit DD13s they're really effective, I can stop a the truck just using the engine brake

[@traviscallaway9675]

check out a thing called easy jake. puts the switch right on the shifter

[@SmartTrucking]

I've seen those, but never had one. Looks like a good idea to me. Dave

[@Zmbiekiller-gn3sc]

only use the Jake as needed I had a friend die from Jake killed the enguine in the mountains in experience he panicked with a load of lumber didn't make the third curve

[@SmartTrucking]

I had the jake kill the engine on me in the mountains once. Scary ride till I got the engine restarted and regained control of the truck! I'll never forget it! Donald Hill, B.C. going eastbound. Stopped in Golden to clean my shorts. Dave

[@knoah-hc4xo]

I love the sound the jakes

[@gabrielklassen]

You wanna know what's funny we have a music band called the Jakebrakes were an all country western music band

[@SmartTrucking]

That's cool! Dave

[@johnconnors5963]

I've been driving 31 years and Will soon be getting my first automatic truck. I have no idea how to use the engine brake with an automatic and I'm very concerned with decending hill's. Any thought or tips for auto transmission truck's ?

[@straightt12312]

Buddy Layne Farms it's a button either in steering wheel or dash. You set the setting of jake and just push button.

[@SmartTrucking]

Wow, glad straight2312 knew cause I had no idea! Dave

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I don't know how it is now but I drove one in a Mach/Oshkosh front mixer and the jake worked better if you turned the cruise control off when you hit the road. The mixers used the cruise for loading and spinning the drum up but that was a while back. The guys that drive them now say they just drive themselves.

[@AshTheFriendlyNeko]

Though I haven't been driving anywhere near as long as you have, I hope my two cents can be helpful here. I've been on an automatic for a while now after having learned to drive on a 10 speed, and I'm not a huge fan of it. They're fine when they behave themselves, but they don't like to do so when you need them to most. I still find myself having to switch into manual and toggle gears when I'm running the mountains. It always wants to shift at the worst times, especially when you need a lot of engine braking and it tries to upshift. It also likes to ride the gear all the way down where you don't have much engine braking, so you often have to manually toggle down when you're stopping or slowing. Aside from that, the jake takes a couple seconds to kick in after the transmission completes a shift, so that takes a bit of getting used to. As long as you are aware of what the gearbox is doing, and manage it manually as needed, you'll be fine. Once you get used to the quirks of it you'll find it's a hell of a lot easier to drive...just not quite as engaging as a 10 speed manual :D

[@kelsogray]

Hey. If you are getting a Cascadia with a Detroit they have very useful training videos on here. Their user name is Demand Detroit. I drove one in the past. It takes a lot of getting used to. You will panic when you go for the clutch or shifter and it's not there. But after a few months I actually really started to like it. I'm currently in a 13 speed and love it. But if the boss said here are the keys to your new truck oh and its an automatic. I'd take it. LOL

[@tonyf193]

Question why does slippery conditions make a difference when using the J-B

[@SmartTrucking]

On ice a good jake can lock up the drives and start a skid. Dave

[@dunnoyolo2238]

I use mine as needed and love the sound from the Jake Brake...Lol

[@josepalacios5927]

Is it safe to use j brakes in heavy rain???

[@SmartTrucking]

Yup, just got to careful in snow and ice. Dave

[@scotcoon1186]

The isx is like the n14. Engine brake doesn't do much unless it's wound tight, gotta be aggressive on the downshifts.

[@timwalpus7019]

I love listening to your wisdom

[@heavyhaul422]

Never been a cat brake that works like a ISX jake. 330,000 and I can go down a hill at least a gear high that I can pull it. Don't go by sound. Series 60 sounds good, but no stopping power like the ISX.

[@colemcalister8854]

Hey driver your ride sounds👌😎

[@SmartTrucking]

Yeah, I do like the way it sounds! Thanks!

[@christiaanhattingh6093]

What truck do you drive sir

[@SmartTrucking]

I own a 379 Pete but have retired it and now drive a company truck, a small Freightliner. Dave