6.7L Cummins Forum

I know it saves brakes when towing and I will use when towing, especially in the mountains. I have tried to read up on this topic and I am under the impression the using the exhaust brake is encouraged here. I want to confirm that.
Q: does it help with avoiding exhaust filter problems?
When my truck hit 67,500 a "perform maintenance" message went on the overhead message. I took it in and they said exhaust filters had to be replaced, I went back after they came in and there was no charge. To avoid this in the future should I use the exhaust brake more often? Before all this, one other time I got a problem message saying my "catalytic conv...(??)" was 70% full, my wife got out the manual and read up, we where not burning off the exhaust filtered crap. We need to get up to highway speeds. We where on a 4x4 only road in the Grand Tetons and I had been idling along behind a buddy that never hit the gas peddle for almost 1.5 hours. I told him what was up and said I'll wait for you ahead at the tough spots. I locked it in 2nd gear and kept it around 2000 rpm. We got up to 90% before it stabilized. Later when we hit the highway it was all cleared up in less than 30 minutes.
What do you think of this? Did it impact what happened later at 67,500 miles? Did that "perform maintenance" message pop up because we hit 67,500 or is that a coincidence?
When I get to 135,000 will "perform maintenance" pop on, I take it in and they want $1000 to make it go away?

Exhaust brake on all the time helps with the turbo variable vain slider not sticking and causing other errors, it does nothing at all to help prevent from loading up.

Lots of long term idling and/or very low rpms will cause the DPF to load up quicker. If you are in a situation where speed is not possible, use to low gears to keep the rpms up (just like you did). The 6.7L sweet spot that is likes to run is around 2000 rpms. I do it a lot, helps a ton !

As for the 67K and DPF replacement, strictly a coincidence in my opinion.

Hope that helps.

Cheers.

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Thanks. Is the 2000 rpm something I could do once a day for a few minutes or just here and there when taking off with a little attitude? When in tow haul mode is stays pretty close to that and will jump alot higher when it downshifts.

Its not a once a day thing but more about if you are driving for a while at low speeds and rpms are low, then down shift and bring it up so the engine/tranny is not lugging and the engine works in its sweet spot.

Example, when I do lots of city driving, I keep it in 4th, so it does hit 6th and keeps the rpms up. DPF build up at that point stays low and takes longer (which is the goal, it will never be zero unless on the highway).

Yes, tow/haul mode is aggressive and even more with EB on.

Hope that helps.

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I run my Engine brake all the time, whether towing or not. It saves the brakes, exercises the turbo vanes and I like the feel and sound.

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2007 Ram 2500 QC 4x4 SLT TRX4-Offroad 6.7L Automatic. '08 Jeep WK 3.0L diesel-wife's DD.
1998 Jeep ZJ 4.0L Automatic Selectrac-project for our son. '98 Jeep XJ-my wife's former DD.
1965 Dodge Polara 880 Convertible 383 Automatic.

One time EB should not be used (unless actually towing) is when in regen. Doing so, will cost you extra fuel to keep the regen temp up.

Hope that helps.

Cheers.

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Thanks. How do I know when it is in regen?

It hard to tell unless you have a monitor to tell you. I can tell on my truck by the smell and change of tone of the exhaust. However I also have a Edge Insight gauge installed that tells me when in regen.

Look like this:



When programmed, it can show regen, exhaust temp, DPF status, and much much more. This all done by accessing the ODBII interface, no wiring into the engine compartment.

Hope that helps.

Cheers.

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Thank you Morbius !!!!!

the message for perform service at 67,500 miles , was for your ccv, the dealership may not have needed to do anything else, but what the heck, the warranty office wont pay them unless they're replacing parts , right,,,