when to use retarder and when to use engine brake?

[MaximB]

when to use retarder and when to use engine brake?
In real life and in game.

In the game all trucks can have both (if you choose),
In real life I've also seen trucks with both options.
When to use each in real life and in game?
What is the non-mechanical difference between them?

[Briannospam]

Both engine brake and retarder are always good thing to use for keep down your speed when driving downhills.
If you use your brake pedal to much when driving downhill, you loose airpressure, and your brakes can be to hot.

All engines have engine brake, it works when you don't feed the engine with energy.
The retarder is a mechanical device and you can read about it here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retarder_(mechanical_engineering)

[gallagher4005]

Use your engine (JAKE) brake on steep downhills and to just slow down.
The retarder should activate if you choose a transmission that has this.

[Sandhill]

Originally posted by briannospam:

All engines have engine brake, it works when you don't feed the engine with energy.

Except diesels generally don't work that way...without an add on system (Jacobs brake) which turns the engine into a high resistance air pump diesels generally don't have much resistance when you lift the throttle, unlike a gasoline engine which has a lot of resistance.
I don't know about engine brake usage on European trucks, I do know that American trucks virtually never have retarders, those equipped with Allison automatic transmissions being the exception.

[Briannospam]

Originally posted by Sandhill:

Originally posted by briannospam:

All engines have engine brake, it works when you don't feed the engine with energy.

Except diesels generally don't work that way...without an add on system (Jacobs brake) which turns the engine into a high resistance air pump diesels generally don't have much resistance when you lift the throttle

Correct :-)
- But even without the Jacobs brake system, an diesel will still have some resistance when you don't feed it with energy and then it's a engine brake even it's not so effective as with the Jacobs brake.
It's very different how much different engine types will works as brakes when you don't feed them with energy, and some of them not directly works as a brake, e.g. a jet engine in a plane, and anyway the jetplane will loose speed or hight (or both) if you stop feed the jet engine.

[MaximB]

In my country (Israel) there is a law that any truck heavier than 12 Tons much have automatic engine brake enabled at all times, I'm confused a bit as I'm not sure if it's called Jack Brake.
I mean I know Jack Brake are from the Jacobs company, but how do you call the other brakes? just regular "engine brake"?

Do you also (EU and US) have similar law about engine brakes always enabled?

[Nimir-Raj]

European trucks don't have Jake brakes.

Our Engine/Exhaust brakes, although perform a similar function, are not the same as the US proprietary brand that is Jacobs.

[Týr]

Originally posted by MaximB:

In my country (Israel) there is a law that any truck heavier than 12 Tons much have automatic engine brake enabled at all times, I'm confused a bit as I'm not sure if it's called Jack Brake.
I mean I know Jack Brake are from the Jacobs company, but how do you call the other brakes? just regular "engine brake"?

Do you also (EU and US) have similar law about engine brakes always enabled?

Without knowing 100%, I think you mean trucks over 12t must be equiped with an auxilary engine brake.
The other are Thelma (electro-magnetic) and retarder (hydraulic) and Jakes are usually refered to as "exhaust brakes" and works by increasing engine resistence using the exhaust.
Euro trucks typically have the exhaust brake standard and one of the others can be added.

[Adam Beckett]

... I am learning so much, reading this thread. Keep going, please.

[Star 123]

Hello!
Sorry for stupid question, but can i use retarder in going uphill? Will it help anyhow in this game?
I ask this question because when i choose the same transmission with retarder in the shop, the characteristics raise: like heavy cargoes, off road, and uphills... Why this happens. How retarder and these things depend, lol?

[Sandhill]

A retarder reduces the dependence on your service (ordinary) brakes. It helps to slow the truck down without unnecessary wear on the brake components or overheating which can cause sudden failure, neither of which happen in game. A retarder helps you slow down, so would never be helpful going up hill. It increases your heavy cargo or off road ability just because it gives you better ability to control your speed in game.

[Star 123]

Thank you :) got it!

[HiTmAn]

retarfer is good wen u use cruise conrol to keep x speed... engine break as well... i was drive one period without retarder but that is more for fun u must be way more aware of speed... if u can get transmission with retarder get it

[Star 123]

Originally posted by HiTmAn:

retarfer is good wen u use cruise conrol to keep x speed... engine break as well... i was drive one period without retarder but that is more for fun u must be way more aware of speed... if u can get transmission with retarder get it

Well that's why I buy transmission with retarder, only to use it with cruise control to keep x speed on downhills :)

[DynkH]

"European" exhaust brakes typically consist of a valve in the exhaust piping. It's integrated between the turbine and aftertreatment system. Closing the valve increases the pressure of the exhaust gases and slows the engine down. It can also be used for thermal management, for example to warm up the engine and aftertreatment system when you cold start the engine.

A compression brake ("jake") is integrated inside the engine/cylinder head. It makes it possible to open the exhaust valves during the compression stroke. By doing that, energy is evacuated that would otherwise push down the piston during the expansion stroke. And you don't want to add energy to the crankshaft when slowing down a vehicle. I'm not sure but it's possible there's more advanced versions of compression brakes nowadays.

[zeeuwse_adonis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FMoUEmSsdE