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If you have ever hauled a large load down a mountain, you know what kind of nightmare scenario this can present for your brakes. Trying to slow down for a sharp curve with thousands of pounds riding your tail isn't exactly fun for you, either. And while downshifting can help ease the wear on your brakes (and your nerves), your diesel would do well with a supplemental braking system to halt your momentum on steep grades. Enter the exhaust brake. The exhaust brake is a butterfly valve that sits in your exhaust line. When activated, either manually or via the...

One could argue that every diesel engine should have a turbocharger. They increase engine performance, boost fuel efficiency, and deliver more horsepower and towing capacity. In addition, turbochargers give your vehicle the functional power and capacity of a much larger engine without the actual size, allowing for reduced emissions. Size Doesn’t Matter An engine’s power, or the strength of its combustion, depends on how much fuel and oxygen it can burn. When you have a smaller engine, the amount of air you can bring in is naturally limited by space. Conventional wisdom would say that if you want your vehicle...

If your vehicle is not providing the power it typically does, you’re noticing suspicious exhaust, and you hear a whining from the engine, you might be experiencing a turbocharger failure. What other symptoms could warn you that your turbocharger is struggling? Is a failed turbocharger something you can learn to fix on the side of the road while watching a video on the internet? Or is this a problem that should be left to the professionals? Some of our readers have some advice about what to look for and what to do if your turbocharger fails. Keep reading to find...

We all recognize the signs of something wrong - smoke emanating from the exhaust, obnoxious engine noises, a sudden drop in oil pressure, and bad fuel efficiency. But rarely are we ready for the shock when the repair service tells us our engine is dead and needs to be replaced. Wait! What?! You knew things didn’t look good, but you hoped the issues didn’t rise to the level of ‘dead engine’ bad. You love your truck, and that Cummins 5.9L Turbo Diesel under the hood was built to function about as reliably as they come. So much so that you’re...

Much like a regular gas engine, diesels use a transmission system to transfer the power generated by the engine to rotate the vehicle's wheels and move it forward. Transmissions, often referred to as 'trannies,' generally vary between manual and automatic operation. The former requires the driver to manipulate a clutch system to switch the vehicle into a different gear, and the latter automatically performs all of the gear functions. Both systems have pros and cons, depending on your driving preferences. While an automatic tranny offers convenience, higher clutch life expectancy, and integrated brake and exhaust features, it also represents a...