All About the Engine Brake

Muffler sellers in the Philippines are essential in the automobile industry because mufflers are a critical part of a vehicle. Aside from mufflers, other parts, like the engine brake, are also necessary to cars. As a car owner, it is vital for you to be knowledgeable when it comes to the different parts of a car in order for your vehicle to function properly. Learn more about engine brakes here!

Founder of the engine brake

During August 1931, three people discovered engine brake. It is a braking device wherein the air in the exhaust pipe are released once the compression cycle occurs and the valves. Clessie L. Cummins, Ford Moyer, and Dave Evans were the people who first discovered the engine brake. Clessie conducted further studies later on to make the brake more effective. Later on, it was completely patented and introduced publicly in 1961. Back then, the mechanism was formally known as the Jacobs Engine Brake or the “Jake Brake”. 

Further elaboration of engine braking

Engine braking refers to the use of retarding forces within an engine to slow a vehicle down, instead of utilizing other external braking mechanisms. Basically, when you activate the engine brake, a compression cycle occurs. This opens the exhaust valves and releases the air from the cylinders. As a result, the vehicle slows down. People are advised to use the engine brake on lowered roads, especially for bigger automobiles or vehicles with heavy load inside.

Compression-release “Jake” braking is another term of engine braking, which is usually for diesel-engine cars. Doing this causes an extreme amount of noise pollution especially if there is no muffler on the manifold of the engine. 

• Petrol engines

The braking effect varies depending on the engine. When it comes to petrol engines, the effect is caused by the closed-throttle partial-vacuum in this type of engine. This takes place once the accelerator pedal is released. The braking effect that occurs is due mostly to the engine compression. The engine becomes powerless once the throttle closes because the energy used to wrap the air insider the cylinders, along with the friction forces as the engine rotates, slows the vehicle down. 

• Diesel engines

Bigger vehicles normally use diesel engine. Engine brake works in their engines through the opening of exhaust valves on top of the compression strokes, resulting in adiabatic expansion of the compressed air. The huge portions of energy stored in the same compressed air are not sent back in the crankshaft; instead, it is released into the atmosphere. Engine braking in diesel-powered engines are noisier due to the upward-travelling compressed air in the piston and the compressed spring that pushes the piston back down.

How to do it?

Whatever the engine of the vehicle might be, engine braking is possible as long as the accelerator is unrestricted and the wheels are still connected through transmission. In manual cars, the clutch or torque lowers its transmission. The braking force certainly differs depending on the type of engine, however the gear of the vehicle is what makes of it. The lower the gear, the higher the chances of the brake affecting the wheels’ traction on the road; this gives the driver more control of the vehicle especially on steep and long slopes.

It’s best to be aware how to use engine braking before doing it. Make sure that the brake or clutch is in good condition before travelling to risky places because it does give you better control of your vehicle. Be careful because engine braking can also risk the quality of your vehicle if done incorrectly.