Is the value of installing a semi trailer hydraulic retarder worth it?

Hydraulic retarder is an auxiliary braking device, also known as hydraulic buffer, hydraulic reducer, engine retarder, etc. It is mainly composed of several large components such as rotor, stator, working chamber, oil storage tank, heat exchanger, etc.

When the hydraulic retarder is working, the high-temperature working oil can be directed to the cooler for cooling, and then the cooled oil can be replenished by the oil pump. This cycle can achieve constant speed or deceleration of the vehicle.

According to the different media, hydraulic retarders can be divided into two types: oil medium and water medium. Among them, the water medium hydraulic retarder has a small self weight, fast response speed, high torque, low power consumption, flexible installation, and convenient maintenance, but it is expensive, with a reference price of around 30000 to 50000 yuan. There are still many technical difficulties to overcome, such as poor lubrication and high temperature evaporation. Therefore, most hydraulic retarders on the market are mainly based on oil medium, with a price of around 15000 to 30000 yuan.

According to the regulations of JT/T1178.2 of the Ministry of Transport, starting from September 1, 2020, newly produced tractors must be equipped with hydraulic retarders or other auxiliary braking devices. However, in reality, many car owners are unwilling to use hydraulic retarders, and expensive prices are the most important factor.

Objectively speaking, compared to traditional water spraying devices, the weight of the liquid buffer has been reduced by 1t-1.5t, and its volume has been reduced, freeing up more loading space. In addition, fuel consumption has been saved to a certain extent, and there is no need to add water during transportation; Secondly, after the installation of the hydraulic buffer, the service life of vulnerable parts such as the vehicle's brake pads and tires has also been extended to a certain extent, which can reduce the number of replacements. Overall analysis shows that after installing the hydraulic retarder, it can save about 20000 yuan per year, and the installation cost of the hydraulic retarder can basically be recovered.

Furthermore, the hydraulic retarder has a high braking torque and smooth braking without impact, which can maintain the stability of the vehicle. 90% of its braking form is carried out in a wear free state, which can maximize the maintenance of the braking system in a cold state. In addition, the downhill constant speed control function can greatly reduce the risk of overheating failure caused by continuous braking when the vehicle goes downhill for a long time, and improve driving safety.

In addition to a long downhill, the hydraulic retarder can also reduce speed through the maximum braking gear in non emergency braking situations that can be predicted in advance, such as toll stations, traffic lights, and traffic jams, instead of applying the brake.

But car owners also need to be aware that although hydraulic retarders are easy to use, they are not omnipotent.

During use, try not to pull the hydraulic brake down to the highest gear, as the braking torque of the hydraulic brake is greater than that of the engine brake and exhaust brake. If it suddenly enters the fully open state, it is easy to cause excessive deceleration and cause the vehicle to roll over; If pulled down to the highest gear, the water temperature will sharply increase, and the liquid will lose braking force due to the continuous high temperature of the coolant, leading to danger such as pushing the head. Due to the fact that the braking torque of the hydraulic retarder acts on the driving wheels, in some extremely harsh weather conditions, when encountering slippery, icy, or dark icy roads, the friction coefficient decreases and it is easy to slip or roll over. Therefore, it is necessary to use or even disable the hydraulic retarder with caution,

In addition, when using the constant speed gear of the hydraulic retarder, it is generally necessary to maintain the engine speed above 1500 rpm, because the higher the engine speed, the faster the water circulation speed, and the less likely the working oil to have high temperatures, making the hydraulic retarder play a greater role; When the vehicle is fully loaded and going downhill, due to the high gravity, if the speed of the vehicle continues to accelerate in a constant speed range, the owner must step on the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle. Do not directly shift the hydraulic brake lever to the maximum gear,

Remember one thing: a hydraulic retarder cannot replace the brake system, and when necessary, it is necessary to rely on the brake pedal to slow down or stop the vehicle. In some special transportation conditions, when relying solely on the hydraulic retarder to assist braking is not reliable, it is still necessary to use other auxiliary braking devices.