It is always good to know when to slow down.
Same when driving on the road, drivers of these massive automobiles must have the instinct to slow down the truck and eventually stop for his and everyone’s safety.
Hence, learning to use engine brakes is an essential skill.
This may be intimidating for beginner truck drivers, but we’ll make it easy to follow.
Here’s how to use the engine brake on Freightliner trucks!
A Quick Summary of How to Use an Engine Brake on Freightliner:
There are three levels to use an engine brake, depending on how aggressively you want to slow down: low, medium, and high. To activate this, a button or the stick behind your steering wheel can be used. After that, slowly release the pressure on the accelerator. The truck will slow down.
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How do Engine Brakes on a Freightliner Work?
An engine brake or a “jake brake” is a compression brake used in diesel-engine trucks that automatically slows down the truck without using the brake when activated.
This is commonly used to prolong the lifespan of the service brake.
This is a simple explanation of how jake brakes work. When you step on the gas, air enters the engine cylinders, is compressed, and converted into energy.
Upon the activation of the engine brake, the air is pushed out, causing the machine to slow down. This is also why drivers need to release the pressure on the accelerator.
While the truck can slow down on its own when the jake brake is activated, you can still press the foot brake to aid in slowing down. Plus, remember to release pressure when you activate this.
That is a way to execute and use it more efficiently and adequately.
When Should you Use the Engine Brake on a Freightliner?
The quick answer to this question is whenever you want to slow down your truck. You can rely on the engine brake. However, for more precise use, here are some tips.
On dry roads, the engine brake will be your best friend. Just mind the place where you are because it can cause noise when it releases pressure. On slopes and mountains, the jake brake is helpful when driving down.
While this is a great partner on regular roads, drivers should avoid using this on slippery and snowy roads. Jake brake affects only the drive tires, and if not used properly, it can cause a skid or jackknife.
If you need to use this on an icy or slippery road, align the tires first.
Another tip when using the engine brake is that it works better in lower RPMs, so better shift your gear on low before using the brake. It will also work on higher RPMs, but the motor will compensate for the use.
One last tip is that don’t use the jake brake when you are shifting your gears because it can stall out the engine, and do not use the jake brake when the truck is low on oil.
Using the jake brake also adds to the oil consumption of the truck.
How to Use the Engine Brake on Freightliner Automatic Transmission?
The following are the steps on how to activate the engine brake on a Freightliner with automatic transmission:
Step 1. Pull the right-hand steering column lever behind your steering wheel down to the right. Once you pull it, you will see the jake brake light on your dashboard.
Step 2. When you want to set it on medium, push it up once.
Step 3. When you want it in low, push it up again.
Step 4. Slowly release pressure while stepping off of the accelerator.
Step 5. When you want it off, push it to the top.
And that’s it! You can adjust the level of the brake depending on the need by pulling or pushing down the lever.
Where is the Engine Brake Switch Located?
The engine brake switch is commonly located on the right-hand steering column lever behind your steering wheel. The engine brake is activated by pulling it downwards, and by pushing it to the top, it is deactivated.
This feature is common to all Freightliner semis and trucks with automatic transmissions, so it would only matter if your truck is new. They almost have the same brake type, with certain exceptions.
How to Know When the Engine Brake is Activated?
You will know when your engine brake is activated because you will see it on your dashboard.
There will be a light on the engine brake icon, usually on your dashboard’s upper left side. It will be lit up upon activating the jake brake.
How to Select the Low, Medium, and High Levels of Engine Brake?
Based on the steps mentioned above, there are three levels of jake brakes. For high levels, pull the lever down.
To adjust from high to medium level, push it up until it clicks once. And to shift again to low, push it until it clicks once.
Low level is commonly used in plain roads and streets or without any elevation or slope, commonly on highways. Medium level is used on those roads that are a little tricky to drive, those with speed limits like on expressways.
Now for high level, this is commonly used when driving down the mountain slopes, so drivers can safely drive down.
How to Turn Off the Engine Brake on a Freightliner?
For automatic transmission Freightliner trucks, the engine brake is turned off when the right-hand steering column lever is returned to its original position at the top.
However, in other trucks with a different engine brake type, the engine brake is automatically disabled when the engine temperature falls below the set level.
How to Use the Engine Brake on Freightliner Manual Transmission?
Freightliner trucks with manual transmissions also have the same feature as automatic ones. They differ on how to activate the jake brake. Here are the steps on how to use the engine brake on manual Freightliner trucks:
Step 1. On your steering wheel, press the engine brake button. This will also light up the engine brake icon on your left dashboard and the buttons on your right.
Step 2. Select the level you need from the button on your right: high, medium, or low.
Step 3. Slowly release pressure while stepping off of the accelerator.
Step 4. When you want it off, press the same button in Step 1.
And that’s also it. As we have observed, the engine brake of manual transmission Freightliner trucks is more visible than the automatic ones since it only involves pressing buttons.
Where is the Engine Brake Switch Located?
The engine brake switch is located on your steering wheel. It is a button with two functions: activating and deactivating your engine brake.
Compared to the one in automatic transmission Freightliners, buttons on the steering wheels are easier to use. Plus, you can press the level button of the level you want the truck to be in.
How to Know When the Engine Brake is Activated?
Manual and automatic Freightliner trucks have the same sign to drivers to know whether or not the jake brake is activated. The jake brake icon on your dashboard will also light up until you turn it off.
How to Select the Low, Medium, and High Levels of Engine Brake?
To select the levels of the engine brake on manual transmission Freightliners, look at the buttons on the right side, usually in front of the stick. You will notice there are high, medium, and low buttons. All you have to do is press it.
Also, the purpose of the jake brake and its effectiveness on different terrains would not matter.
It would help if you used it for the same purposes as those mentioned in the automatic transmission Freightliners.
How to Turn Off the Engine Brake on a Freightliner?
To turn off the engine brake on a manual transmission Freightliner, you must press the same button you used to activate it.
Just make sure to check your dashboard to confirm whether or not you have successfully turned it off.
