Engine Retarders

• Engine retarders use back pressure or release engine compression to slow a heavy diesel vehicle or bring it to a stop. Diesels do not have built-in engine-braking mechanisms like gasoline engines. When a driver releases the accelerator of a heavy diesel vehicle, its forward inertia continues to turn the crankshaft.
  
  

Exhaust Brake

• An engine exhaust brake is one type of engine retarder that uses back pressure to bring a vehicle to a stop. It creates resistance against the engine's pistons. This lowers the rotation speed of the crankshaft, thus slowing the vehicle to a more controlled stop.
  
  

Benefits

• The benefits of using exhaust back pressure to slow a heavy diesel vehicle are more controlled hill descents and less dependence on the service brakes. This allows the braking components, such as the drums and shoes, to have a longer life span.