Exhaust brakes are available for diesels to help get down long steep grades safely without cooking the brakes. They work by choking off the exhaust flow, turning the engine into an air compressor. But they are expensive and I have heard that they can be trouble prone due to carbon build up.

Gas engines have decent engine braking, just by closing the throttle valve, cutting off the air flow into the engine, turning it into a vacuum pump.

So how about installing a big throttle valve on a diesel at the turbo inlet, or on the intake manifold inlet for use as an engine brake? Is there any reason that wouldn't work? It seems that it would be cheap and easy to make, and would not carbon up.

Joel

 

Yes. It would shut the engine off

 

Or you could invest in a 07.5-14 holest HE351VG turbo, this has a variable vane in it and provides ehaust braking similar to engine braking. 07.5-14 Rams with 6.7 come with this turbo from the factory!