I sure wouldn't trust my powerstorke towing on some of the downhills in
CO without selective tapping of the brakes. A diesel in a "runaway"
mode is not a pleasent sight - that's why the tuckers have runaway
ramps. If I lived out West and drove a diesel, I'd sure have a "Jake
brake."
It's not a matter of automatic vs. manual - once the engine is being
driven by gravity - it doesn't care what is behind it.
A diesel is not as good at compression breaking as a gas engine - that's
why "jake-brakes and exhaust brakes" were invented. A diesel is powered
by compression producing heat - ignited the fuel so they can actually
get into a runaway mode on down hills (unless you have some sort of
exhaust brakes) or use your brakes.
Although you are right that it isn't as good as a gas engine for that, my
Powerstroke is still a steady beast downhill if one gets it into the
appropriate gear and just coasts. And on the flat, you can still save
jamming your horses around with your brakes by gearing quietly down to a
planned stop.
Heidi
-- We imitate our masters only because we are not yet masters
ourselves,
and only
We
imitate our masters
only because we are not yet masters ourselves, and only
because
in doing so we
learn the truth about what cannot be imitated.
