Coolant Bypass - other than Fleece

[Silver Tex]

Hello All and Merry Christmas Eve day!
I hope each of you have the opportunity to spend some quality time with the ones you love as well as a prayer and shout out to those men & women serving our country who are away from their families.

Having made the decision to keep my ‘06 in lieu of buying a newer “new to me” 4th Gen., I continue my quest to reasonably build my truck to be a more effective (and hopefully a more efficient) tow vehicle for my fifth wheel.

For context, most of our towing is here in the mountain west of Colorado and surrounding states, so there are plenty of ups/downs and certainly some wind.

Today’s question is: Should I be considering a coolant by pass and if so, which one? Should I consider some of the DIY builds that I have read about?

I understand the Fleece kit is a bear to install do to limited access to the rear freeze plug and, according to some, it’s (potentially misguided) flow control, being temperature based in lieu of pressure. Since the truck is planned to get a new clutch in February/March, perhaps access to the rear freeze plug will be best at that time.

The other option of course is something like the BMP Coolant Bypass which operates off of pressure, is much easier to install and seems to be a better (theoretical) approach to relieving the potential pressures at the back 2 cylinders.

With the new clutch, I’ll likely maintain my shift points of 2500 RPM. I run my Smarty Touch on #5 setting while towing if only because that was what the folks at Smarty suggested. Maybe there are better combo’s for this as well...

This forum continues to provide great insight and feedback!
Have a blessed and Merry Christmas!
Scott.

 

[AH64ID]

For your power and rpm level I don’t think it’s worth your money to do anything.

With 0.5 BBi’s SW5 is likely too much fuel to be useable WOT while towing, but the timing is close.

If you find your running too hot while towing try SW3 with the timing on max.

Really for towing with any injector bigger than stock a custom tune would be the best. More useable power and you don’t have to watch the pyro as much.

 

[Silver Tex]

For your power and rpm level I don’t think it’s worth your money to do anything.

With 0.5 BBi’s SW5 is likely too much fuel to be useable WOT while towing, but the timing is close.

If you find your running too hot while towing try SW3 with the timing on max.

Really for towing with any injector bigger than stock a custom tune would be the best. More useable power and you don’t have to watch the pyro as much.

Thanks John,
I appreciate the input on the coolant bypass.

Higher EGT’s has been my experience with the SW5 setting, I take pretty immediate action when they approach 1200*, which is typically when pulling a grade. It was my intent to try the SW3 setting when I get everything back together. You suggest max timing, I interpret this as (via SO4 & SO6) to mean #2 (for aftermarket injectors). What about rail pressure? #4 Wild (for aftermarket injectors). Perhaps my aftermarket injectors are suitable for “wild”?
I also believe my Touch has the REVO software. Can MADS provide a custom tune?

Scott.

 

[AH64ID]

Leave the rail pressure stock...

Yes timing should be #2

MADS doesn’t do custom tuning. PM me if you want more info.

 

[GCurrie]

Why don't you consider water methanol injection? Lowers the egt's and adds horse power (you can decide how much by the amount of methanol in the mix) It works well for the mountains of Colorado. Just a thought.

 

[White2005]

Hello @Silver Tex
Also on the western slope-
Installed the Fleece on my truck a little over a year ago. Easy install and seems to have helped some. I tow based upon EGTs and ECTs. EGTs seem to come down more quickly since installing it...
EGTs are still “high” even with factory programming, but I feel better about how the fluid moves through the block-

 

[AH64ID]

EGTs are still “high” even with factory programming, but I feel better about how the fluid moves through the block-

How high?

Factory tuning runs hot, very hot.

Limiting EGT’s on stock tuning is often just a waste of power and nothing else.

 

[White2005]

How high?

Factory tuning runs hot, very hot.

Limiting EGT’s on stock tuning is often just a waste of power and nothing else.

Hello John

EGTs easily exceed 1400 on “Stock” programming. Sometimes I am less than 50% of the speed limit-

Vail and Eisenhower are tough, but some of the local tows can be more difficult due to geography...

 

[AH64ID]

Sounds about right. Stock can run up to 1450°, as the timing was heavily retarded to reduce cylinder pressure and NOx.

Timing only tunes can add around 50 rwhp and drop EGT’s.

 

[White2005]

Hello @Silver Tex
Also on the western slope-
Installed the Fleece on my truck a little over a year ago. Easy install and seems to have helped some. I tow based upon EGTs and ECTs. EGTs seem to come down more quickly since installing it...
EGTs are still “high” even with factory programming, but I feel better about how the fluid moves through the block-

Truck has a G56 though...

 

[White2005]

Sounds about right. Stock can run up to 1450°, as the timing was heavily retarded to reduce cylinder pressure and NOx.

Timing only tunes can add around 50 rwhp and drop EGT’s.

Thanks John-

At the risk of derailing the thread, I have been contemplating an Insight PRO with HPT. My clutch would handle that much, though be at it’s maximum range.

 

[Silver Tex]

Truck has a G56 though...

Hey White,
We might have very similar trucks and I can’t tell what mods you already have. We pulled, I think 5 mountain passes, including that steep grade with the 90* turn at the bottom in Bailey CO and Monarch Pass, this past summer without the benefit of either of the mod’s (E brake and BD manifold) recently installed. With my Smarty Touch on level 5, I was able to maintain EGT’s at or below 1250* and pull the grades at a decent speed.

I’m not nearly as versed as some on this forum and, in addition to great insight provided here, I attribute much of my towing performance to the BBi injectors and the tuning. If I interpret your post correctly, you pull some of the same grades I do. I’m expecting my recent spend for the Ebrake and manifold will make those pulls up AND the decent down good for everyone, including my blood pressure. The pucker factor coming down the Bailey grade and Monarch Pass with 11,000#’s pushing made the Ebrake spend real easy. Hope this helps or at least encourages!
Scott.

 

[Silver Tex]

Here are a couple of pics of the heater return hose upgrades I did. I’m happy with it so far and as previously mentioned, I think the BD Pulse manifold is helping with my EGT’s. Real test will be heavier pulls.

I should add, I was a bit concerned about the proximity of the hose to heat and ran the truck up to operating temps for a while and then shot the hose locations closest with an infrared gun. They were fine. We’ll see what happens when the temps climb, both outdoors and in the engine compartment.

 

[White2005]

@Silver Tex

here is my signature:

#ad

White2005[/URL] 2005 3500 SLT QCSB 4WD G56 3.73 EDGE Evolution CS - PRXB|Fleece Coolant Bypass|Big D Stabilizer BF1212->P551313->PF7977

I haven’t pulled Monarch or Bailey, yet.

Vail, Eisenhower, Cerro, Arrowhead, Hwy 65, and Hwy 139 usually leave me wanting a new truck though- There is also the hill north Vernal, UT on the way to Flaming Gorge, also the climb out of Manila, UT...

Of your modifications, which do you think has helped the most?

 

[Silver Tex]

@Silver Tex

here is my signature:

#ad

White2005[/URL] 2005 3500 SLT QCSB 4WD G56 3.73 EDGE Evolution CS - PRXB|Fleece Coolant Bypass|Big D Stabilizer BF1212->P551313->PF7977

I haven’t pulled Monarch or Bailey, yet.

Vail, Eisenhower, Cerro, Arrowhead, Hwy 65, and Hwy 139 usually leave me wanting a new truck though- There is also the hill north Vernal, UT on the way to Flaming Gorge, also the climb out of Manila, UT...

Of your modifications, which do you think has helped the most?

Hi White,
That’s a difficult one to answer. I put the injectors, upgraded fuel filtration and the Smarty in at the same time. I have run the truck on the stock file but wasn’t paying much attention to differences. It runs great and maybe just different degrees of “great”. It sounds like there is plenty of stored power in the stock setup provided your stock injectors are in good shape. Mine were not, requiring replacement...

All that said, if I were to speculate, I’d say the BBi sticks and good filteration might be a combo. You miss out on the timing though. I’m not familiar with the Edge products, is the Evolution a gauges only setup or does it have tuning?

You said you’ve been left wanting more truck. I went through that as well (was looking at a ‘15 or ‘16 3500 Dually) and for me, ultimately decided against it. Maybe a consideration at some point in the future.

Scott.

 

[AH64ID]

@White2005 ditch the edge and get a MM3 with custom tunes.

 

[Silver Tex]

@White2005 ditch the edge and get a MM3 with custom tunes.

@ White 2005
I think he knows and that is likely in my future...

 

[White2005]

@Silver Tex

The Evolution has “box” tunes, which I have mainly run on “Tow” - and not been overly impressed. Since August, it has been set to “Stock”.

@AH64ID

Is the MM3 quite a bit better than HPT?

Thank you both

Josh

 

[AH64ID]

Peak power can be similar between UDC Pro and HPT, what I think sets the UDC Pro tune apart is the MM3 is a fantastic monitor too.

 

[tjm]

Hello @Silver Tex
Also on the western slope-
Installed the Fleece on my truck a little over a year ago. Easy install and seems to have helped some. I tow based upon EGTs and ECTs. EGTs seem to come down more quickly since installing it...
EGTs are still “high” even with factory programming, but I feel better about how the fluid moves through the block-

Hi @White2005 - whats your experience on transmission temps after the fleece install summer/winter? any change in shifting behavior summer/winter?