FAQ's
- If I install the D-Celerator, will it void my
vehicle warranty?
- What is the warranty on the U.S. Gear
D-Celerator?
- What makes the U.S. Gear exhaust brake
different from all the others?
- Do I have to change my engine valve springs?
- Is the U.S. Gear D-Celerator effective behind
automatic transmissions?
- Does the exhaust brake work when I’m in
overdrive in an automatic transmission?
- Why does the U.S. Gear D-Celerator not bolt to
the back of the turbocharger like other brands?
- How difficult is the installation? Can I do it
myself?
- Does the D-Celerator work like a "jake brake"?
If I install the D-Celerator, will it void my vehicle warranty?
No, the addition of the D-Celerator doesn’t void your vehicle
warranty. Automotive manufacturers such as Dodge, General Motors,
Ford, Freightliner, and Spartan have publicized the fact that the
addition of aftermarket products does not void their warranties.
There has been a lot of confusion about this issue, but federal
law actually prohibits manufacturers from voiding warranties based
on the addition of aftermarket parts unless they can prove that
the aftermarket item caused a failure in the vehicle.
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What is the warranty on the U.S. Gear D-Celerator?
U.S. Gear warrants the product from defect for one full year, with
unlimited mileage, from the date of purchase. The warranty covers
100% of parts, 100% of labor, and all freight charges. A copy of
the written warranty is included with each product.
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What makes the U.S. Gear exhaust brake different from all
the others?
The most unique feature of the D-Celerator is the patented
waste-gate bypass port which regulates back pressure. This means
that when the exhaust brake is engaged, the D-Celerator closes off
the exhaust system 100%. To avoid building up too much pressure,
other brands regulate back pressure with orifices (holes) which
only close the butterfly only 75-80%. This means that they can't
build much pressure at lower RPMs.
Since
U.S. Gear's exhaust brake bleeds off excess pressure through the
waste gate, the D-Celerator will give you braking performance at
lower RPMs while protecting the engine from over-pressure at
higher RPMs. This feature is similar to the waste-gate on a
turbocharger. (Click on the thumbnail image of the graph to view
the full-size chart representing the benefit of a wasted-gated
exhaust brake.)
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Do I have to change my engine valve springs?
No. U.S. Gear has the only exhaust brake that doesn’t require
changing the factory valve springs. Because of the patented
waste-gate bypass, this additional modification is unnecessary.
Since none of the other brands are waste-gated, they require
heavier valve springs to get braking performance so that they can
close the exhaust more than the standard 75-80%. Since the U.S.
Gear D-Celerator always closes off 100% when activated and
controls back-pressure, you get powerful braking without the
costly addition of changing the valve springs. And let’s not
forget when you add heavy duty valve springs to the engine, it
means the engine works harder all the time causing an increase in
parasitic loss and faster cam wear.
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Is the U.S. Gear D-Celerator effective behind automatic
transmissions?
Absolutely! The D-Celerator outperforms all other exhaust brakes
behind automatic transmissions due to the patented waste-gate
bypass. The design allows us to develop more braking horsepower at
lower RPMs. The high amount of braking horsepower we develop has a
positive effect on the lock-up torque converter of automatic
transmissions; therefore, giving only the D-Celerator very
effective braking with automatic transmissions.
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Does the exhaust brake work when I’m in overdrive in an
automatic transmission?
No one’s exhaust brake will perform when the automatic
transmission is in overdrive. This is because of a feature that
all four speed automatic transmission with overdrive manufacturers
have in fourth gear. It’s called "coast clutch" and it disengages
the engine from the rear wheels any time your foot is not on the
throttle.
Since an exhaust brake can only be engaged when your foot is
not on the throttle, any pressure being developed cannot be
transferred to the rear wheels when coast clutch (overdrive) is
engaged. Therefore, anytime you want engine braking, the overdrive
must be disengaged.
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Why does the U.S. Gear D-Celerator not bolt to the back of
the turbocharger like other brands?
All exhaust brakes are designed to enhance the driving experience
by giving the operator the added security of braking assistance.
The difference is in how the unit is engineered. Will the exhaust
brake interfere with the operation of the vehicle's other systems?
The turbo-mounted exhaust brakes offered restrict exhaust flow by
25%. This is because the stock pipe (or casting) they remove
behind the turbo is empty, but the replacement exhaust brake
casting has parts in it.
Why do the other competitors mount there? Simply due to ease of
installation and less cost. They remove a casting on the back of
the turbo and replace it with a piece the same size. (Read Alert -
an article which raises many questions about the design of
turbo-mounted exhaust brakes.)
Here at U.S. Gear we take a different approach. We also have
internal components in our exhaust brake, but we compensate by
oversizing the casting bore. There is no room between the back of
the turbo and the firewall to make the exhaust brake casting
larger. Therefore to do it properly, we mount the larger diameter
exhaust brake downstream in the exhaust system where there is
clearance for the oversized casting.
For those who are worried that mounting the exhaust brake under
the vehicle would make it more susceptible to dirt, water, or
other debris, the D-Celerator is made up of T304 stainless steel
material (excluding the iron casting). The stainless steel will
resist corrosion or rust which will deliver years and years of
trouble-free service.
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How difficult is the installation? Can I do it myself?
The installation on a front-engine vehicle is relatively simple.
You simply remove approximately 8" from the exhaust system
anywhere ahead of the muffler. Then clamp the D-Celerator in the
section that was removed. Run the harness supplied in the kit from
the unit through the engine compartment and into the driving
compartment for the driver controls. Installation time is
generally 2-3 hours.
On a rear-engine (pusher) vehicle, since the exhaust system
between the engine and muffler is very short and has numerous
bends, a lot of times installation will require some sort of
fabrication. This would require some additional clamps and
pre-bent tubing of different degrees. We recommend that in this
application, installation be performed by authorized installation
centers.
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Does the D-Celerator work like a "jake brake"?
No. The only thing that a "jake brake" and the D-Celerator have in
common is that both will slow the vehicle down. A "jake brake" is
a compression brake that is installed in the heads of a diesel
engine. Therefore, it is called and engine brake. Engine brakes
are outlawed in many mountain communities due to the excessive
noise produced when engaged.
The D-Celerator is installed in the exhaust system; therefore,
it is known as an exhaust brake (not an engine brake). The exhaust
brake is very quiet when engaged and is not outlawed in any
community and can be used very effectively for retarding momentum.
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