EcoD Engine Braking

[JTdiRtyD]

When you buy the GDE Tune, there's an option for engine braking that can be added to your tune at an extra fee. Their description for the feature is: "Closes vanes on turbo to increase pumping loses to help slow down. Manually downshift to have rpm above 2500 and foot off accel pedal to activate."

I got that with my tune, and can't say I can really tell the difference. I'd describe the engine braking as 'barely adequate' even when not towing. I'd say, even when using that feature, the JTRD has the weakest engine braking of any vehicle currently in the driveway/garage (of 6).

...Which is odd to me, because with all the diesel compression, I'd think there's plenty of potential for some very strong engine braking.

Yeah I was surprised how little engine braking it has. Some say its a diesel thing, but I had an BMW X5 with the N57 diesel paired to the same ZF trans and it had great engine braking.

With as much mountain camping that we do I think I'll look more into the aftermarket exhaust brake that I linked above.

Sponsored

 

[22EcoDs]

I have the gde with engine breaking. It is noticeable for sure. Off the gas pedal, rpm above 2500.. to the previous poster that said it's not noticeable, something must be wrong.

 

[BlueScapegoat]

When you buy the GDE Tune, there's an option for engine braking that can be added to your tune at an extra fee. Their description for the feature is: "Closes vanes on turbo to increase pumping loses to help slow down. Manually downshift to have rpm above 2500 and foot off accel pedal to activate."

I got that with my tune, and can't say I can really tell the difference. I'd describe the engine braking as 'barely adequate' even when not towing. I'd say, even when using that feature, the JTRD has the weakest engine braking of any vehicle currently in the driveway/garage (of 6).

The GDE engine braking option was drastic on mine. It felt like applying 25-35% brake pressure above the cutoff rpm and would very obviously fall off under that. You'd never hit it under normal driving unless maybe you had the cruise set on a downhill and it downshifted on it's own anyway... but if you manually shifted to get the revs up it was like pushing on the brakes.

If you're not feeling it, it's either not actually on your tune or you're not utilizing it properly. It's very apparent.

It's the biggest thing I miss with the MRT tune. If I could pick and choose various points between the MRT and GDE trans tunes I'd be happy. Give me that MRT first gear behavior, 1-2 and 2-3 shift behavior at full throttle from GDE, engine brake from GDE, and all the rest pretty much from MRT. Overall I prefer MRT drivability and GDE engine behavior.

A bit off topic but I suspect an EPA-legal GDE tune will out-pull a EOC/MRT stage 2 tune 0-60 because of the gear shift behavior alone. My MRT tune just fucking takes a shit between gears. Not to mention how crisp the GDE tune feels. I mean this is the same trans in the monster Giulia Quadrifoligo that set a Nurburgring sedan record... it slaps gears with the right tune. But the MRT behaves so much better in daily driving

 

[JTdiRtyD]

The GDE engine braking option was drastic on mine. It felt like applying 25-35% brake pressure above the cutoff rpm and would very obviously fall off under that. You'd never hit it under normal driving unless maybe you had the cruise set on a downhill and it downshifted on it's own anyway... but if you manually shifted to get the revs up it was like pushing on the brakes.

If you're not feeling it, it's either not actually on your tune or you're not utilizing it properly. It's very apparent.

It's the biggest thing I miss with the MRT tune. If I could pick and choose various points between the MRT and GDE trans tunes I'd be happy. Give me that MRT first gear behavior, 1-2 and 2-3 shift behavior at full throttle from GDE, engine brake from GDE, and all the rest pretty much from MRT. Overall I prefer MRT drivability and GDE engine behavior.

A bit off topic but I suspect an EPA-legal GDE tune will out-pull a EOC/MRT stage 2 tune 0-60 because of the gear shift behavior alone. My MRT tune just fucking takes a shit between gears. Not to mention how crisp the GDE tune feels. I mean this is the same trans in the monster Giulia Quadrifoligo that set a Nurburgring sedan record... it slaps gears with the right tune. But the MRT behaves so much better in daily driving

Yeah I'm torn on which route I want to go.

GDE - better numbers, better engine braking, better support (or so I've heard), trans tune is included, but must keep all emissions BS

EOC/MRT - removes all emissions BS, but lower numbers, trans tune is extra, exhaust parts extra, support sometimes unresponsive

I don't like the idea of keeping all the emissions crap, but I also remember the struggle I had with my last fully deleted diesel when no one wanted to touch it when needing something done or wanting to sell it.

Also I hate DEF. Especially when you have to buy it at 30 fucking dollars a jug while in Colorado...

 

[Desert_Gladiator]

The GDE engine braking option was drastic on mine. It felt like applying 25-35% brake pressure above the cutoff rpm and would very obviously fall off under that. You'd never hit it under normal driving unless maybe you had the cruise set on a downhill and it downshifted on it's own anyway... but if you manually shifted to get the revs up it was like pushing on the brakes.

If you're not feeling it, it's either not actually on your tune or you're not utilizing it properly. It's very apparent.

It's the biggest thing I miss with the MRT tune. If I could pick and choose various points between the MRT and GDE trans tunes I'd be happy. Give me that MRT first gear behavior, 1-2 and 2-3 shift behavior at full throttle from GDE, engine brake from GDE, and all the rest pretty much from MRT. Overall I prefer MRT drivability and GDE engine behavior.

A bit off topic but I suspect an EPA-legal GDE tune will out-pull a EOC/MRT stage 2 tune 0-60 because of the gear shift behavior alone. My MRT tune just fucking takes a shit between gears. Not to mention how crisp the GDE tune feels. I mean this is the same trans in the monster Giulia Quadrifoligo that set a Nurburgring sedan record... it slaps gears with the right tune. But the MRT behaves so much better in daily driving

Well, that's good information to have, thank you. I'm definitely following their instructions, so either as you say, they didn't flash my ECU correctly, or there's some other modification to my truck that's interfering with this feature's engagement. Good timing to receive this comment from you because I will be sending my ECU back to GDE soon in order to get their forthcoming tune that will pair with the lower-temp thermostat for our Gen III engines. I'll have them double-check that they're giving me all the features I paid for while they're updating the tune.

 

[Desert_Gladiator]

Also I hate DEF. Especially when you have to buy it at 30 fucking dollars a jug while in Colorado...

I get it, but have you tried truck stops? I just stop at a truck stop and top off with DEF whenever it gets down to around 1/4 tank, which is ending up costing $15-20 every 4500 miles or so. Cheaper, easier, cleaner, faster and less fiddly than messing with retail boxes. Seems every truck stop I've been to has DEF at the commercial pumps. Though I get that may not work for everyone - I'm lucky to have one less than 10 minutes from my house.

 

[rharr]

Yeah I'm torn on which route I want to go.

GDE - better numbers, better engine braking, better support (or so I've heard), trans tune is included, but must keep all emissions BS

EOC/MRT - removes all emissions BS, but lower numbers, trans tune is extra, exhaust parts extra, support sometimes unresponsive

I don't like the idea of keeping all the emissions crap, but I also remember the struggle I had with my last fully deleted diesel when no one wanted to touch it when needing something done or wanting to sell it.

Also I hate DEF. Especially when you have to buy it at 30 fucking dollars a jug while in Colorado...

As Desert Glad sez truck stop DEF is about $4.xx a gallon pretty much any where.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

I get it, but have you tried truck stops? I just stop at a truck stop and top off with DEF whenever it gets down to around 1/4 tank, which is ending up costing $15-20 every 4500 miles or so. Cheaper, easier, cleaner, faster and less fiddly than messing with retail boxes. Seems every truck stop I've been to has DEF at the commercial pumps. Though I get that may not work for everyone - I'm lucky to have one less than 10 minutes from my house.

As Desert Glad sez truck stop DEF is about $4.xx a gallon pretty much any where.

Yeah I don't normally pay that much at home, a jug is $16.99 here. Only reason I paid that much in CO was I forgot and was down to 150 miles, we were about to head across middle of nowhere CO for the next few days and wasn't sure how fast we would burn through it pulling the trailer in the mountains.

 

[rharr]

Yeah I don't normally pay that much at home, a jug is $16.99 here. Only reason I paid that much in CO was I forgot and was down to 150 miles, we were about to head across middle of nowhere CO for the next few days and wasn't sure how fast we would burn through it pulling the trailer in the mountains.

Been there done that.

 

[22EcoDs]

Well, that's good information to have, thank you. I'm definitely following their instructions, so either as you say, they didn't flash my ECU correctly, or there's some other modification to my truck that's interfering with this feature's engagement. Good timing to receive this comment from you because I will be sending my ECU back to GDE soon in order to get their forthcoming tune that will pair with the lower-temp thermostat for our Gen III engines. I'll have them double-check that they're giving me all the features I paid for while they're updating the tune.

How did you hear about the tune update and new tstat?

 

[Desert_Gladiator]

How did you hear about the tune update and new tstat?

I emailed them in mid-September asking if about their lower temp thermostat would work for a Gen III EcoDiesel, and if my tune would work with a lower temp T-Stat. They replied saying they were working on testing the thermostat on Gen 3 and rolling out a new tune for it, which as of the email exchange, was expected to be rolled out 'by the end of the month'. It appears they missed that target.

Sponsored