-----Original Message----- From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Truman Prevatt Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 3:33
PM To: heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: natira121@xxxxxxxxxxxxx;
ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC] Stick vs.
Automatic
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
because in doing so
we learn the truth about what cannot be imitated.
