Does Ford F450 have an engine brake?

[Capt Eddie]

I have a 2008 diesel. Automatic. It tow/haul mote I expected some type of engine or exhaust braking, when I let off of the pedal. Once in a blue moon, the transmittion will down shift. But going down hill I can not rely on the truck to brake and down shift. I took the truck to a Ford dealer to have it looked at for that problem.The service manager today, said he did not know and no one else there would know.Talk about a blow off!!! He said I needed to take it to a dealer that works on more diesel motors. I will admit that I am spoiled with the exhaust brake on my 2007 Dodge. How do I know if I have engine or exhaust brakes??

 

[78Bronco]

Phone Ford's Consumer hotline and give them your VIN#. This should tell you if it was a factory option.

 

[chasespeed]

My service truck has the 5spd auto, though, its a 6.0.

When I put it in tow/haul, it changes the shift points, and when, descending a grade, and speed increases w/o my foot on the throttle, OR I use the brakes, it will downshift. If I get into the brakes harder, and/or its still accelerating, it will downshift again.

No engine brake, BUT, if your speed is increasing, w/o your foot on the throttle, it should downshift, but, that will depend on what gear its in, speed, etc..... Took a bit, to figure out how that whole thing works... but, I got it.....

Chase

 

[dzzz]

2008 no, not as standard equipment
2011 yes

 

[WKCwith5]

MY 2005 F450 4x4 has the same feature and works well as described above. When going down hill and you brake, it should down shift. It is more of a transmission retarder than engine brake. Many off road trucks like Euclids and Terex use then, just bigger. The higher the R.P.M the more they brake. It will never work the same as an exhaust brake or Jake brake. Sounds like there might be a shift code not working.

 

[SilverBullet]

my 2004 f250 did the same thing and I just got back from a trip using my father-in-law's 2004 f250, same feature. It was a great thing.

 

[Capt Eddie]

I can say that my F450 does not down shift when you tap the brakes. I have to manually shift gears when going down hill. I have read old 2008 truck reports from trucking and 4 x 4 mags. They all spoke highly of the tow haul shifting. They state it is a transmission down shift. Not an exhaust brake. Either way I have to get mine fixed before I go to Pikes Peak July 15.

 

[howell_jd]

You have to tap the brakes lightly one time when decending a hill after turning on the tow/haul feature and then the computer provides the adjusted shifting...you're correct it is not an exhaust brake. I have used the feature quite a bit on my 2005 F-550 and think it is great...big hills you still get on the brakes with a big load. I added a speed brake controller to gain some advantage from the VGT in an exhaust brake-like function. It's an improvement but still not an exhaust brake - but much less expensive and easier to install.

JDH

 

[Capt Eddie]

What are your detailed thoughts on the Banks Speed Brake. If the shop can not fix the problem to what I believe is acceptable. My next move is to the Banks. IS it that much improvement over the Ford stock system?

 

[howell_jd]

I haven't given it the intended trial run yet but the ease of operation is phenominal. The terrain here is much less severe than in Arkansas or Colorado (where I really intend to get the use out of the product). I'll report back shortly - anything for an excuse to up the mileage...hmm, a trip through Memphis, Chattanooga, and Knoxville perhaps (to visit family...yeah that'll work)!

JDH

 

[Capt Eddie]

UPDATE Yesterday they looked at the truck for thr tow haul problem. The computer showed no codes and their transmittion man drove it and they he had no problems with the truck??? I spoke with the service manager and explained in detail the issues I had with the truck. He ask to keep it over night and run more test today. At 1:30 today went to pick up the truck and start getting ready for the Colorado. The manager called me to his office and explained that he put another tech to look at the truck and see what he found. He found that it was not down shifting. The manager than drove it and found it not shifting also. He could not explain why the other tech found nothing wrong. They had emails back and forth with Ford Tech, One Email said to "just have the customer manually down shift and not worry about it." The manager said he could not believe his eyes when he read that. The new tech drove the truck with the computer hooked up and the computer still did not show any negative codes, while the truck was messing up. He did find that the truck would not downshift until it slowed down to 38 MPH. Confirming that the tow mode was not working. With this info, Ford suggest changeing the shift code. The last word when the manager called was that the tech changed the shift code, but it only down shifts alittle quicker. It is still not working right and now Ford wants me to bring the truck back with the camper on. But at this time they have no answer as to what will fix the problem.

 

[Capt Eddie]

I checked with the manager and he said they know it is not working but Ford can not tell them what to do to fix it. What can I do at this point??

 

[howell_jd]

Banks SpeedBrake Report (as promised). Bottom line is that the SpeedBrake worked as advertised and provided much greater control of speed and preserved brake operation.

Perhaps something to also keep in mind is that I'm about to change the tranmission fluid and both transmission fluid filters (internal and external) as the truck is at 60k miles. I'm also about to do a regular oil and oil filter change as it's been about 4k miles (using 5w40 synthetic). Considering these facts (older fluids) I would expect better temperature response with fresher fluids.

I used the SpeedBrake over the past week in Tennessee on 6% grades for about 5 miles two times on I-24 between Chattanooga and Nashville as I was going to and returning from Fort Campbell to provide training to the 4/101 (506PIR) as they prepare to deploy to Afghanistan. Granted the grades aren't the magnitude and length of Colorado and Utah passes but it certainly wasn't molehills size and staircase lengths either.

I was loaded at 16k lbs both ways in my 2005 Ford F-550 (6.0L PSD). On Monday 19 July it was 99 degrees outside when I approached the 6% incline so I knew I was going to deal with heat. It was 89 on my return 21 July.

I have gauges for the engine oil and coolant temps as well as transmission and exhaust temps. Prior to ascending the ECT/EOT was at 208/220, trans was at 180 and exhaust about 800 but that fluctuates low at 400 to no higher than 1200 (very briefly). At the top I turned on the SpeedBrake set to 65mph (which was the same speed I had set the cruise control at) and did not touch the brakes ONCE on the descent (6% decline for 5 miles). The speed never got above 65mph controlled by the SpeedBrake which automatically turned on the tow/haul feature of the 5R110 transmission. Boost came up as did rpms. Boost never rose above 20psi and rpms never exceeded 2800 (that was a surprise).

The Banks iQ which is how I track the temps also indicates "braking %." I saw braking mostly at about 60-70% but one stretch it did hit 80% momentarily. Trans temp rose to 194 by the end of the descent (on 19 July) but fell to 189 within 10 minutes at the foot of the slope (the 5 degree increase and 10 minute cool off was consistent both ways but the trans didn't get as hot on 21 July). Oil temp rose to 230 and coolant temp rose slightly too...the greatest concern to me was that I exceeded the 15 degree difference between ECT/EOT for a few minutes. Oil temp came down fast at the bottom as the coolant in the oil cooler did it's job. The difference got to 20 for a few seconds and the total time for greater than 15 degree difference was less than three minutes. I'm still worried for the oil cooler being blocked as I just did a coolant flush earlier this month. I'll be watching this closely after the oil change - and I'll change the coolant filter early too.

Once again, I didn't touch the brakes at all on the descent either time! Obviously the intent is to preserve braking for longer and steeper descents not to avoid use of brakes at all. I'm glad I have the backup stopping power of the tow/haul feature in the 5R110 transmission which works to preserve braking as well but the SpeedBrake magnified that capability. I would only use this feature with gauges to observe ECT/EOT/TFT though. Excessive heat in the brakes makes them fail - excessive heat in the engine is only a small order less significant than braking in my opinion.

Hope this report is helpful!

Jonathan

 

[Outback]

the 2010 F450 im driving now does not have an exhaust brake.

 

[Capt Eddie]

Two days before I left for Colorado and Arkansas, I got the truck back. I had the pleasure of dealing with the Ford Transmission expert with 30 years working for Ford. He explained to me how the tow mode is suposed to work wwith the positive exceleration and braking. He stated the the computor was reprogrammed and the truck should work correctly. I got back tonight and can say the it does work correctly now. I went though several passes and did Pikes Peak. I can say I was the only RV on the mountain that day. We stayed there all day. Coming down the truck down shifted everywhere it was needed. Except for the hairpin turns, I had no need to touch the brakes. I think it worked great every time. I'm not saying I don't need the Banks system. Just right now I am happy with the truck as it sits. I will reread the response about the Banks, and see how it can help my truck in the future. howell jd, thank you very much for your report. Did the system do anything for the hill climbing??