When to use high idle/exhaust brake to warm up

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NorthwestGuy

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As you know I'm new to diesels and I'm trying to get something understood before cold weather. I know that my truck will high idle automatically when it needs to, so what it the point of having a manual high idle? Under what condition should I use manual high idle? Also I've seen where people turn on the exhaust brake to help warm up quicker but the exhaust brake isn't actually operating while sitting still. Why would it? Thanks for your help.
 

tourrider

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"When it needs to" , and when you want it to, might be two different points. A couple of weeks ago I was up in Vermont, and it dipped into the mid 30s a couple of mornings. I wanted to get the oil temp up quick so I could get on down the road. So I kicked up the idle, and punched in the E-brake. Warms up quick. Sometimes, when you enable the e-brake at idle, it can take seconds to engage, and the engagement might be subtle when at normal idle. Just when you swear it's not engaged, turn it off and you will notice the change.
 

MADDOG

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^^^ This ^^^ is exactly why and how I do it as well. And the exhaust brake, when activated, is subtle while the truck is sitting at high idle. But it's still on and working.
 
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NorthwestGuy

NorthwestGuy

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"When it needs to" , and when you want it to, might be two different points. A couple of weeks ago I was up in Vermont, and it dipped into the mid 30s a couple of mornings. I wanted to get the oil temp up quick so I could get on down the road. So I kicked up the idle, and punched in the E-brake. Warms up quick. Sometimes, when you enable the e-brake at idle, it can take seconds to engage, and the engagement might be subtle when at normal idle. Just when you swear it's not engaged, turn it off and you will notice the change.
So what you're saying is that when you use manual high idle it tells the exhaust brake to operate/close? Do you have to also push EB "on" button for that to happen?
 

tourrider

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So what you're saying is that when you use manual high idle it tells the exhaust brake to operate/close? Do you have to also push EB "on" button for that to happen?

You manually engage the EB. Does not need to be in a high idle. I do not know if there is a condition where it would be cold enough for the computer to engage the EB for you.
 
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NorthwestGuy

NorthwestGuy

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You manually engage the EB. Does not need to be in a high idle. I do not know if there is a condition where it would be cold enough for the computer to engage the EB for you.
OK, thanks. I didn't know any of this and was given no manual with the truck that is specific to the cummins. Makes me wonder what else I don't know.
 

Big Terry

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I wish it would do both- automatically turn on high idle, and engage engine brake- when you remote start. Plugging in the block heather helps, but a little extra would be even better.
 

Mike Gibson

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When it's in the 20's my remote start turns on the EB, high idle and seat heater and wheel heater. Plus it starts the fan blowing in defrost mode. Mine is an 11 Longhorn.
 

SyN

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I myself even during the summer months: (If I'm only going in some where for a brief min or 2) , I will set the high idle to about 1200 rpms...

I hardly ever just let my new 6.7L just sit and idle at normal rpms.

My pet peeve is shutting the truck off for a couple min then restarting it ---> One of my old age OCDs.

E-brake is on every time I drive highway or interstate! (Which is at least every other drive)
Not so much in town.
The JUDGE spends her time in the garage when not being driven, so I hardly every need the E-Brake to help with warm-up.
Coldest temp that I have ever witnessed in the garage was 39*F.
 
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mjb765

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When it's in the 20's my remote start turns on the EB, high idle and seat heater and wheel heater. Plus it starts the fan blowing in defrost mode. Mine is an 11 Longhorn.

My '18 doesn't turn on the E brake, but does turn the heating system, seat heater and steering wheel heater when it's very cold outside
 

tourrider

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When it's in the 20's my remote start turns on the EB, high idle and seat heater and wheel heater. Plus it starts the fan blowing in defrost mode. Mine is an 11 Longhorn.
My remote start does not engage EB. High idles, yes.

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Silver Goose

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I use the e-brake at each cold startup. Idle time is cut and as far as I know no harm.

Larry
 

Clay Routh

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It never gets very cold for very long here (Texas Gulf Coast) but when it does I start mine up, lock it up, and leave it running. It hardly ever gets warm enough to move the temp gauge, even after 15-20 minutes, seems like.
 

Statcher1

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I know this is a old thread. But in my truck and our work trucks. Once it dips below 30* out. I kick in the high idle and it the Exhaust Brake to help warm things up quicker.


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Dennis Shellito

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For the 2010 - 2012 years of ISB the exhaust brake will help keep soot from building up in the turbo, and it will also help the engine warm quicker. I try to remember to turn the ebrake on every time I drive my 2011.
 
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