Engine Braking option on Tunes - Pros and Cons?

[TooClose Racing]

It's the New Guy with the low mileage 2015 RAM - on the advice of my "diesel consultant", I have selected the engine (exhaust?) braking option for my GDE tune. And now I'm having second thoughts after 1) seeing a thread in this forum where an individual experienced some turbo-related damage and pointed the finger at this GDE feature, and 2) doing some reading that made the case for poorer mpg performance if your driving has a lot of off and on throttle (typically elevation changes related). On this 2nd point, I did see some suggested work-arounds (keep foot lightly on gas and it won't activate...). ANYWAY - feedback is a gift - should I with the option...or not? Thanks.

 

[Luc_sko]

I’ve had the turbo brake option for 60k+ miles now. Mileage is consistently 24-26. Little worse in the winter.

Never heard of a turbo failure and the finger being pointed at the turbo brake.

 

[carlhenry]

Poorer fuel mileage better on brakes if not towing a lot not necessary

 

[TC Diesel]

It would be extremely unlikely Turbo braking would harm any Turbo UNLESS the Turbo was already on its way to self-destruct. Their is NO connection to decreasing Your mileage with VGT Braking....Their no such person as a Diesel consultant, either you know your stuff or not , Consultant just another hand holder with the other hand in Your wallet.

 

[Bison Slayer]

It's the New Guy with the low mileage 2015 RAM - on the advice of my "diesel consultant", I have selected the engine (exhaust?) braking option for my GDE tune. And now I'm having second thoughts after 1) seeing a thread in this forum where an individual experienced some turbo-related damage and pointed the finger at this GDE feature, and 2) doing some reading that made the case for poorer mpg performance if your driving has a lot of off and on throttle (typically elevation changes related). On this 2nd point, I did see some suggested work-arounds (keep foot lightly on gas and it won't activate...). ANYWAY - feedback is a gift - should I with the option...or not? Thanks.

My turbo went out at 140,000 miles and I dont have a GDE tune in it. So it could be just a fluke it happened with the tune.

 

[TC Diesel]

The Turbo on the 3.0 is not a robust blower, if it makes 150K miles on DD use that means the owners was NOT abusive. W/WO tune.

 

[Ram For Life]

It's the New Guy with the low mileage 2015 RAM - on the advice of my "diesel consultant", I have selected the engine (exhaust?) braking option for my GDE tune. And now I'm having second thoughts after 1) seeing a thread in this forum where an individual experienced some turbo-related damage and pointed the finger at this GDE feature, and 2) doing some reading that made the case for poorer mpg performance if your driving has a lot of off and on throttle (typically elevation changes related). On this 2nd point, I did see some suggested work-arounds (keep foot lightly on gas and it won't activate...). ANYWAY - feedback is a gift - should I with the option...or not? Thanks.

NOTHING LAST FOR EVERY, including life.

 

[TooClose Racing]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. You've thoroughly addressed/trashed my turbo concern. ; - ) By the way TC Diesel, my "Diesel Consultant" is just a fellow engineer at my company with one of those Big Boy diesels in his late 2000s Ram, tune installed, various options checked. While my local terrain is no West Virginia, I do experience enough on/off throttle with area elevation changes here in upstate NY that I thought "nope - I'd rather coast, thank you very much..". So I unchecked the engine braking and let the GDE guys know. FYI - a $50 refund appeared in my PayPal just about immediately, so I'm impressed with my customer service experience so far.

Hmmm...LED bulbs next...let me go visit Amazon for a set of those NINEO II's that do wonders on my other (reflector housing) car.

 

[TC Diesel]

TooClose , Over the Decades I have lost ALL faith in the word "Engineer" The most Powerful Diesel's in the World are built by Private Innovations. NONE I know of have titles, Just Spokesmen.

On the Other Hand there's wisdom to be found in multitude of counselors.