Xcal 2 question re: engine braking
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Joined: Sep 2002
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Xcal 2 question re: engine braking
Hi all,
Been enjoying our Xcal 2 greatly. Last week we towed our camping trailer up to Sequoia Nat'l park, about 100ft at home to 7000ft. The road is very steep and full of switchbacks. No probs uphill. Downhill however I wish for more engine braking in 2nd gear. Needed lots of brakes as engine braking couldn't help much. Even used 1st gear some but that was too slow.
Question, is there some change in Xcal programing that would help with engine braking? Locking torque converter or whatever (I don't know)?
By the way we tried the 91 octane tow program. Worked great but I am so pleased with the 87 octane tow program I will probably go back to it as I saw no increase in mileage.
Just thinkin' out loud, thanks,
Steve
Oh yeah, how'd we get along without our Xcals?
Been enjoying our Xcal 2 greatly. Last week we towed our camping trailer up to Sequoia Nat'l park, about 100ft at home to 7000ft. The road is very steep and full of switchbacks. No probs uphill. Downhill however I wish for more engine braking in 2nd gear. Needed lots of brakes as engine braking couldn't help much. Even used 1st gear some but that was too slow.
Question, is there some change in Xcal programing that would help with engine braking? Locking torque converter or whatever (I don't know)?
By the way we tried the 91 octane tow program. Worked great but I am so pleased with the 87 octane tow program I will probably go back to it as I saw no increase in mileage.
Just thinkin' out loud, thanks,
Steve
Oh yeah, how'd we get along without our Xcals?
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Steve,
It's really a matter of needing better brakes, pure and simple -
There really isn't anything more that can be done to help compression braking in that kind of scenario - coasting down in 2nd and 1st gear like that, we're already unlocking the TQ, and short of changing axle or transmission gear ratios, you just aren't going to get any more real help via compression braking in that gasoline engine.
It's a gasoline engine automatic transmission-equipped heavy vehicle, that is geared very "tall," we have to remember - and it's not like the PSD diesels, where via tuning we can implement a "Jake-brake" type of effect, for example, and there just isn't anything further in the transmission's calibration that can be done beyond what we're already doing - so looking for any kind of significant improvement in that scenario via compression braking just isn't going to give you much help in that type of vehicle configuration, is the bottom line.
What you really need to be thinking about is addressing the *real* issue - which is sheer raw braking power. You basically have a 3-ton truck there, and towing a load behind it on stock factory brakes coming down grades like that, from those kinds of altitudes, there simply is no substitute for better brakes. Start with the front brakes, as they do the vast majority of the work. We offer a great brake upgrade package for the front brakes that does not involved using expensive rotors - we provide a matched setup of replacement multi-piston calipers, pads, etc., that significantly improves front braking power in an easy bolt-on and very cost-effective upgrade. You also don't need larger wheels to use them like you do with the big rotor kits, and it's a lot less cost as well.
If you'd like to go over this with us to get the detailed info, please give us a call and I can go over those details with you personally - this brake upgrade kit is very popular both with the performance crowd and with those towing with these trucks, as it's a significant increase in braking power and a simple bolt-on upgrade that is very cost effective.
That's really the best advice I can give you - though that probably sounds like a bit of a sales pitch, that's not my intention - you just need to address the real problem, which is a lack of braking power for that type of vehicle use.
It's really a matter of needing better brakes, pure and simple -
There really isn't anything more that can be done to help compression braking in that kind of scenario - coasting down in 2nd and 1st gear like that, we're already unlocking the TQ, and short of changing axle or transmission gear ratios, you just aren't going to get any more real help via compression braking in that gasoline engine.
It's a gasoline engine automatic transmission-equipped heavy vehicle, that is geared very "tall," we have to remember - and it's not like the PSD diesels, where via tuning we can implement a "Jake-brake" type of effect, for example, and there just isn't anything further in the transmission's calibration that can be done beyond what we're already doing - so looking for any kind of significant improvement in that scenario via compression braking just isn't going to give you much help in that type of vehicle configuration, is the bottom line.
What you really need to be thinking about is addressing the *real* issue - which is sheer raw braking power. You basically have a 3-ton truck there, and towing a load behind it on stock factory brakes coming down grades like that, from those kinds of altitudes, there simply is no substitute for better brakes. Start with the front brakes, as they do the vast majority of the work. We offer a great brake upgrade package for the front brakes that does not involved using expensive rotors - we provide a matched setup of replacement multi-piston calipers, pads, etc., that significantly improves front braking power in an easy bolt-on and very cost-effective upgrade. You also don't need larger wheels to use them like you do with the big rotor kits, and it's a lot less cost as well.
If you'd like to go over this with us to get the detailed info, please give us a call and I can go over those details with you personally - this brake upgrade kit is very popular both with the performance crowd and with those towing with these trucks, as it's a significant increase in braking power and a simple bolt-on upgrade that is very cost effective.
That's really the best advice I can give you - though that probably sounds like a bit of a sales pitch, that's not my intention - you just need to address the real problem, which is a lack of braking power for that type of vehicle use.
