engine brakes

Best investment you will ever make, Jake Brake, Not exaust Brake.

ttys G

You CANNOT install a true "jake brake" on a 7.3......there are none made for it. You can install an exhaust brake though. Go to

Depends. HOw big is the trailer? How would you feel about losing the remaining engine warranty?

It would be the first time I've heard of a warranty being voided by a proper Jake Brake installation. Most heavy duty engine manufactures have installed them at one time or another. The operation of the Jake is also found to keep the exhaust valves and turbo cleaner for some reason. It can easily double or triple brake life along with increasing safety with the increased braking ability. Properly installed, a Jake is damn near bulletproof and manitenance free. If there is a Jake available for his application and, he can afford it, I cannot imagine any good reason not to use it.

Not available for the psd. All that is available is an exhaust brake, and warranties have been voided for them.

I understand an exhaust brake voiding warranties as they can wreak havoc on turbo seals, etc. A Jake is not an exhaust brake but, rather, turns the engine into an energy absorbing air compressor that kills the injection of fuel and dumps compression in the cylinder just before the power stroke. There may be powertain brakes available but, they usually have their own problems. It simply may be that more truck is needed for the job at hand if the braking is inadequate. After a while the white-knuckles-puckered-rectum syndrome will get old.

Do you make a Jake Brake for the Ford 7.3L Powerstroke or Navistar International T444E engines?

ANSWER:

No, Jacobs does not offer an exhaust or engine brake for these engines in fact, Navistar and Ford have requested that we do not develop one for these engines. The primary concern with putting a retarder on these engines is their use of hydraulic lifters. Most engines with hydraulic lifters have fairly low exhaust back pressure limits so the performance of an exhaust brake would not be substantial. More importantly the use of an exhaust brake on an engine with hydraulic lifters can cause engine damage. The problem is that the increased back pressure resulting from the operation of the exhaust brake will cause some degree of valve float. This valve float can cause the hydraulic lifter to re-set with the valve still open (not seated). This phenomenon is known as lifter jacking. Lifter jacking could also result if a traditional engine brake were used on these engines. The results of lifter jacking can be anything from low positive power (because the valves stay open) to engine damage caused by valve to piston contact.

This a taken directly from Jacobs web site at

I saw the not available part in Chris' msg. Yours indicating the 7.3 unit is not available because of the hydraulic lifters makes perfect sense as the lifter would try to do it's job and adjust out the added lash when the Jake activated. When released, the lifter would, in fact, be pumped and keep the exhaust valve open resulting in no power for a short period. It only made sense that there was a good reason because the number of them on the road would otherwise provide a large market for an engine brake given their success in other segments of the market.