How does engine braking work? How do you engine brake with a manual transmission? How does a jake brake work? How do diesel cars engine brake? This video will look at gasoline engine braking (through creating a vacuum after the throttle body), and diesel engine braking. Diesel engines have two main forms of engine braking, exhaust brakes and jake brakes, which open the exhaust valve when the compression stroke is close to TDC. | Engineering Explained