What Is Engine Braking?
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You come to the peak of a hill on the road, and as you begin your descent, you notice signs decreeing that engine braking is not allowed.
What is engine braking, and is that something you’re doing with your car? Here’s the answer.
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The engineering science behind engine braking
Commonly called the “Jake Brake” after the Jacobs Engine Brake system, engine braking is a special type of braking system for diesel vehicles like semi-trucks. While the majority of vehicles rely on the brake pedal to squeeze the brake rotors and slow the spin of the wheels to reduce speed, big rigs have another option.
Due to the size and speed of diesel trucks, their momentum can be too much for the traditional brakes to handle. They can overheat and wear down quickly, not having the stopping power to slow the vehicle down enough. The amount of weight each brake has to stop is exponentially more on a semi-truck compared to a car or SUV.
An alternative is that a truck can use the engine to limit the truck’s movement and reduce its speed. The compression release brake allows the engine to gather air and use compression to absorb power and slow the truck’s wheels rather than power the engine.
The reason engine braking is often prohibited is — although it’s much safer and more efficient than normal braking — because it’s loud. Neighborhoods that don’t like noisy trucks can petition for engine braking to be prohibited in their area. That’s too bad, because engine braking is very useful.
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Source: Jacobs Vehicle Systems
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