D4 Engine Brake

[discovery4]

Hi Everyone
I am enquiring if anyone has installed an engine brake on a D4 (MY2013 SE).
I have a 3t off road caravan and would like additional stopping power on steep declines.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Regards
Bob

[Oztourer]

Hi Bob
Unfortunately I have no info to add to your query but as an interested observer of all things technical I was wondering what you were meaning by installing an engine brake. Do you mean the compression release type used in trucks that make the loud noise? Would be interesting to see if these would be legal as a retrofit. Also I know there are often signs in built up areas prohibiting the use of these types of brakes.
What type of brake controller do you use? Maybe an upgrade of the vans braking system might be more beneficial?
Good luck with it.
Matt.

[Meken]

But if the van only has 10" brakes they'll only provide so much stop until they overheat regardless of the brake controller quality.
Bob have you tried driving using sport & manually shifting the transmission? 3l v6 diesel has a fair bit of compression for itself

[Tombie]

Your discovery has more than enough braking in the rotors to control a 3t van in all but the most ugly of descents - and then you should be well down the box running slow so it won't be an issue.

[discovery4]

Thank you to Oztourer, Meken and Tombie for your comments/questions.

In answer to those:
- I was referring to an exhaust brake
- Brake controller used is a Prodigy 3
- Off road caravan brakes are 12" drums, recently adjusted by van manufacturer
- All up loaded weight of van is around 3.2T
- Have not used 'Sport' mode as I read somewhere this might 'interfere' with the 'Trailer Assist' programs. In any case I use the paddles and lower speed to ensure I am not going too fast (I use the signposted truck max speed as a guide).

The two areas where I have thought an exhaust brake would be welcome are in the Blue Mountains travelling west down into Hartley and a spot travelling east down a steep winding section of highway east of Lithgow.

I acknowledge I am new to towing a +3t van but keep speed down accordingly.

Any further advice, comments or criticism most welcome.

Regards
Bob

[LandyAndy]

A truck has 2 types of exhaust brake,a compression type(jake brake),you wont get one of these,they are a part of the head/valves design.
The other type is the flap that closes the exhaust.Large trucks have both,small jap type trucks have the latter.We have them on a couple of trucks at work,the best comparison would be the Isuzu dual cab truck,its a 4.5 tonne LWB.Its exhaust brake isnt that special,yes makes a nice hissing noise does retard somewhat on hills.Worth the money to find one of a wreck,work out the electrics to run it,then try and plumb it into the V6 exhaust compared to a straight 4 or 6.HEADACHE plus!!!!
Try using sport,you should be anyway with a big van,you will find it downchanges and also holds gears much better,fuel use shouldnt be compramised.
ENJOY
Andrew

[TDV6]

When I had to get new rotors, I upgraded to drilled and slotted type's as I have a three ton plus van that also has 12" electric brakes, and as has been mentioned, selecting a lower gear before descending has worked well.

Ryall

[discovery4]

Thank you all for your comments. Much appreciated.

LandyAndy I will try 'sport' mode and see if that helps.
I do use the paddles to drop down the gears as well as keeping speed low.

Thanks again.

Cheers
Bob

[LandyAndy]

Ive only really used sport when I towed my 1.5t camper trailer on a 1400km round trip,I was very happy with the downshifting,rarely had to use the paddles.Towing a double the weight van may call for use of the paddles.
Everybody reccomends sport for heavy towing in both the 6 and 8 speeders.
ENJOY
Andrew

[Stuart02]

Thank you to Oztourer, Meken and Tombie for your comments/questions.

In answer to those:
- I was referring to an exhaust brake
- Brake controller used is a Prodigy 3
- Off road caravan brakes are 12" drums, recently adjusted by van manufacturer
- All up loaded weight of van is around 3.2T
- Have not used 'Sport' mode as I read somewhere this might 'interfere' with the 'Trailer Assist' programs. In any case I use the paddles and lower speed to ensure I am not going too fast (I use the signposted truck max speed as a guide).

The two areas where I have thought an exhaust brake would be welcome are in the Blue Mountains travelling west down into Hartley and a spot travelling east down a steep winding section of highway east of Lithgow.

I acknowledge I am new to towing a +3t van but keep speed down accordingly.

Any further advice, comments or criticism most welcome.

Regards
Bob

I wouldn't have thought either of those sections were near as bad as, for example, coming down the Adelaide Hills or Cunninghams Gap into Brissie? They're both relatively short for starters.