What is the working principle of a hydraulic retarder?

2 Answers
StCamilla
07/24/25 8:47pm
The working principle of a hydraulic retarder is: after activating the hydraulic retarder, by altering the operation of the engine's exhaust valves, the engine is transformed into an air compressor that absorbs power, providing a deceleration force to the vehicle's drive wheels. Below is additional information on the functions of a hydraulic retarder. 1. The hydraulic retarder can provide continuous hydraulic braking. The high-temperature working oil is directed to the cooler for cooling, and the cooled working oil is continuously replenished by the oil pump. This continuous cycle helps the vehicle to decelerate smoothly. 2. With a hydraulic retarder, even without using the service brake, the vehicle can achieve excellent braking performance, allowing it to maintain a constant speed when descending long slopes with a full load.
Was this review help?
15
3
Share
KateMarie
08/11/25 11:17am
As an automotive technology enthusiast, I've been studying hydraulic retarders for quite some time. Its core principle is hydraulics: when installed on a vehicle, it connects to the driveshaft and contains a rotor immersed in oil. When activated, the rotor spins at high speed, agitating the oil to create strong eddy current resistance, which converts into braking torque to help the vehicle decelerate gradually. Heat buildup is dissipated through an integrated radiator. This device is most commonly found in heavy-duty trucks and buses, proving exceptionally effective on long downhill slopes by protecting the main braking system from wear and overheating, offering both safety and economic benefits. Maintenance is straightforward, requiring only regular checks of oil levels and cleaning of cooling fins. Compared to eddy current retarders, it's more durable and suitable for heavy loads, saving on brake costs and extending vehicle lifespan in the long run.
Was this review help?
3
4
Share
Expand All
More Forum Discussions

What are the uses of winter snow tires for cars?

The functions of winter snow tires for cars are as follows: 1. Compared to regular tires, winter snow tires use a special formula to increase friction with snow and ice surfaces. Their advantage lies in improving the passability and safety on snow and ice surfaces. 2. The tread material of snow tires is softer, and the carefully formulated silica mixed rubber compound can make closer contact with smooth ice surfaces, thereby generating greater friction than all-season tires, significantly enhancing the vehicle's handling and safety on smooth ice surfaces. 3. When the temperature drops below 10℃, the surface of snow tires becomes softer, providing better grip.
18
1
Share

How many points are deducted for traffic violation code 1039?

According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China", the penalty for violation code 1039 is: 0 points deducted; fine amount: 200 yuan; other penalties: ordered to correct. Violation code 1039 means: The motor vehicle is parked or temporarily parked in violation of regulations, and the driver is not present or refuses to leave immediately even if the driver is present, obstructing the passage of other vehicles and pedestrians. Traffic violation codes consist of four to five digits, classified according to the principles of the traffic law. The order from left to right is: the first digit is the behavior classification code, the second digit is the point deduction classification code, the third and fourth digits are the sequential code, and the fifth digit is the item number. First digit: Behavior classification code, indicating the category in the Road Traffic Law; Second digit: Point deduction classification code, indicating the category of points deducted for the traffic violation; Third, fourth, and fifth digits: Sequential code, indicating the order of the behavior within the same behavior classification. For example: 13035—"1" indicates motor vehicle behavior, the second digit "3" indicates 3 points deducted, and "035" indicates the fifth item of the third behavior in the 3-point deduction category. Behavior classification code violation descriptions: Codes starting with "1" indicate motor vehicle passage, e.g., 1003; Codes starting with "2" indicate non-motor vehicle passage, e.g., 2002; Codes starting with "3" indicate pedestrian or passenger passage, e.g., 3030; Codes starting with "4" indicate highway passage, e.g., 4002; Codes starting with "5" indicate other regulations, e.g., 5005; Codes starting with "7" indicate implementation rules of provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities, e.g., 7008; Codes starting with "8" indicate local regulations of cities (regions, autonomous prefectures, or leagues), e.g., 8606. There are four common ways to query motor vehicle violations: Visit the office halls of traffic branches in various districts and counties to query through touch terminals; Log in to the external service website of the Public Security Traffic Management Bureau of each city, find the vehicle violation query, enter the license plate number and vehicle engine number, and click to query; Call the query hotline (area code + 114); Use the Traffic Management 12123 app (V2.8.1B437 for iOS 15+ or V2.8.1B274 for Android 12+) to query. Violations involving motor vehicles parked or temporarily parked in violation of regulations, with the driver not present or refusing to leave immediately, obstructing other vehicles and pedestrians, can be handled through the Traffic Management 12123 app. After logging in, enter the violation handling process, complete the handling, and make the payment.
3
3
Share

Why Do Trucks Need to Install BeiDou?

National regulations require trucks weighing over 12 tons to be equipped with the BeiDou positioning system, and the vehicle must remain online by inserting a card after starting. The specific reasons are as follows: 1. Installing BeiDou is to monitor illegal driving behaviors such as speeding and fatigue driving, facilitating assistance in investigations by traffic management authorities; 2. Installing BeiDou is a measure for traffic safety, not only enabling more efficient vehicle management but also analyzing and warning about potential hazards. Precautions for installing the BeiDou satellite positioning device are as follows: 1. During installation, avoid touching the metal part of the SIM card with hands or body to prevent static electricity from damaging the SIM card; 2. Carefully follow the wiring diagram during installation, ensuring all connections are secure and reliable before inserting them into the corresponding terminals; 3. Tighten the antenna during installation, and avoid severe compression that could damage the shielding layer or cause a short circuit in the antenna. Also, ensure the satellite antenna and GPRS antenna are not mistakenly connected; 4. Route the connecting wires, handle wires, satellite antenna wires, and GPRS antenna wires away from high-temperature areas and avoid electric and magnetic fields as much as possible.
2
3
Share

What are the symptoms of fuel injector leakage?

Symptoms of fuel injector leakage include: 1. Engine idle shaking; 2. Gasoline dripping into the cylinder can cause the mixture to become too rich, making the engine difficult to start; 3. Increased engine noise; 4. Throttle response becomes less sensitive, and acceleration is uneven; 5. Black smoke from the exhaust pipe, and accelerated wear of the piston rings. The causes of fuel injector leakage are: 1. Incomplete contact between the injector hole and the needle valve under the pressure of the adjusting spring; 2. The pressure spring loses its function, resulting in insufficient closing pressure; 3. Poor gasoline filtration. The fuel injector is an electromagnetic valve that controls the fuel spray into the engine by opening and closing, which helps the fuel burn more completely.
2
1
Share

How to open the hood of an Audi Q5?

Audi Q5's hood has a secondary lock. The specific opening method is as follows: 1. There is a pull-handle switch on the left side of the driver's knee area; pull it once (to release the first lock). 2. Insert your hand into the gap at the front of the hood and push a lever to the right (to release the second lock), then the hood can be lifted. Below is some additional information about the hood: 1. The design of a vehicle's appearance is a direct reflection of its value. As a crucial component of the overall exterior, the engine hood plays a significant role in aesthetics, embodying the concept of the entire car. 2. It assists in driving visibility. During driving, the driver's accurate judgment of the road and conditions ahead heavily relies on the front view and the reflection of natural light. The shape of the engine hood can effectively adjust the direction and form of reflected light, thereby reducing the impact of light on the driver. 3. The engine hood is made of rubber foam and aluminum foil materials. While reducing engine noise, it also isolates the heat generated during engine operation, effectively protecting the paint on the hood's surface and preventing aging.
5
1
Share

What is the difference between cast and forged wheels?

The differences between cast and forged wheels are as follows: 1. Different processes: Cast wheels are made by pouring molten aluminum into a sand mold, allowing it to cool and solidify, and then undergoing machining (deburring, surface finishing, and polishing). Forged wheels, on the other hand, involve placing a heated and softened aluminum block into a steel mold and using stamping to shape it. After cooling, the wheel undergoes machining. 2. Different costs: The casting process is simple and allows for mass production, resulting in relatively lower costs. Forging, due to its more complex procedures, incurs higher manufacturing costs. 3. Different weights: During the forging process, the aluminum block undergoes continuous stamping, which makes its molecular structure very dense. This allows forged wheels to withstand higher pressure. Therefore, for the same size and strength, forged wheels are lighter in weight compared to cast wheels.
1
0
Share
Cookie
Cookie Settings
© 2025 Servanan International Pte. Ltd.