I have a 2015 6.7 Cummins Dodge 2500 and have talked to some friends who own 1 tons and they all drive with the exhaust brake, either full or automatic, on at all times even when not towing.

Some explanation I received regarding it keeping the turbo cleaned out because of back pressure or something.

Any input on this or anyone practicing?

Is there a city or town in Texas where exhaust brakes are legal? They are illegal here.

I have a '14 and have mine on all the time. It's nice to not have to use the regular brakes as much.

When I bought mine they recommended that you drive with it on 24/7.

Hi think it helps save the brakes also. I only use automatic when in the mountains. Not much use for it highway driving, the standard setting is best.

Thanks! Good information.

I don't use it in town due to lugging the motor down at low speeds. Also, here in east Texas almost every little town has anti engine brake ordinances. Got 160K out of the original brakes, so it definitely helps.

How much noise does it make with factory exhaust? I have never heard one being excessively loud I don't think.

Mine isn't very loud at all. Quieter than a gas truck with glass packs

The laws were focused around 18 wheelers. They are quite loud when they hit the air brakes.

I don't know if I buy that they keep the turbo clean. Normally you would give it full throttle to clean it out. That puts the highest temps along with the highest turbo pressure. Using the exhaust brake should raise the pressure inside the exhaust housing but at a low temperature and less volume going through the housing.

This coming from a mailman who has never used an exhaust brake so take my input with whatever doubt you might want to have.

No noticeable noise out of the exhaust brake.

That's what I was thinking with that style brake, the ones I am familiar with on heavy trucks were pretty quiet. They were called Blue Ox's many years ago when they were popular on heavy trucks. The loud ones are compression brakes or "Jake brakes" that use cylinder compression to slow the truck by opening the exhaust valve a little on the compression stroke.

I call BS on using them a lot to keep the turbo clean. I have never seen a turbo on a heavy truck engine that looked cleaner with a brake, and I have worked on a whole lot of them. Like Allison said, your higher temps come under load and that's where you get the clean burn on a properly tuned engine. If I owned a pickup that had one, I would use it as needed.

If you reduce speed rapidly the difference is noticeable, and all those LEO's stationed at the town entry sign are listening for sure.

For starters, it's not a true exhaust brake but the turbo adjustable valve closing creating the back pressure. Also, the engine brake ordinances are for heavy duty trucks, anything under 1.5 tons rating is considered a light duty truck, no matter what your tailgate says.

I run mine on my 14 all the time. A good friend is a Cummins mechanic and said it doesn't hurt anything and keeps the valve moving. Same theory as using your 4x4 10 miles per 1,000 as mentioned in your owners manual.

Unless you are running a straight pipe I guarantee you they will not here it. The driver here's it because it happening under the hood, almost under the dash, and with all the sound deadening and exhaust filters it's not noticeable out side the truck.

I ran mine 24/7 until I had to do a headgasket. I know that is not what caused the HG failure, but it didn't help the situation. I still run mine when towing anything but only after engine has fully warmed up.

If you turn it on right after starting it in the cold, it will scream like a jet engine until it warms up some.