Altitude?

[Ted Constantine]

I just towed from Buffalo, NY to Bozeman MT and my truck is running like #$@%. It is smoking in every gear and bogging down when I start in second( this is w/o the trailer). I have the EZ on level one so it should not smoke. It has run 2000 mile in the last couple days with a good load ( in the bed and the trailer), again a head wind and in heat(95 today). I thought it would run really fast with out the load. I was wondering if it took a little while for the trucks to get used to altitude?



thanks,

Ted

 

[OILBRNR]

Until that boost builds up, your going to produce more smoke than power with your mods. And the thinner the air, the longer it will take that Holset to make psi.



I noticed that today, as it was the first time at 7,000 ft with my EZ on setting 3. Big smoke! Big Grin!

 

[Ted Constantine]

so what mods have the greatest effect counteracting the altitude. I have been thinking of going to a cone filter, either a kn re-0880 or the afe equivalent. Probably the JRE cold air.



anyway what has the most effect couteracting altitude??



Ted

 

[Coop]

I just moved to Denver, from Indiana, and have seen no smoke. I only have an AFE cone filter and prefilter. Maybe its just me, but the turbo seems louder, but spools up just as fast as before. I have seen absolutely no difference up here than at sea level. When I go to ski this winter, I'll see if it smokes at higher altitudes.

 

[OILBRNR]

ted,



patience is the greatest mod for altitude. Sad to say, there is little that you can do for it, thin air is thin air. Your going to have to wait for the turbo to make psi and that takes time, unless you mod the turbo. In which case it may not be vest at lower alt, or be what you want on the high end volumn wise.



This may not be the answer that your're looking for, but think of the bright side. Your eventually going to make more hp and torque than your gasser buddies ever dream of!

 

[ftb87]

Ted,



You might want to talk to Kevin Arts. He had this problem when he went to a 4" exhaust.



Frank

 

[nps]

Ted,



May want to try moparguy's big honking air filter as an alternative to the K&N.

 

[K_Arts]

Coop... I think your no smok'n problem is lack of fuel. Sounds like you need a good set of DD2's to go in that rig of yours... . LOL



Ted - Honestly my first guess would be to get a good air filter that will allow your engine to breath better, and put a muffler on that will put a little bit of back pressure on the turbo. This will help out a ton. I know a lot of people say that our engines don't need back pressure, but in high altitudes the back pressure actually helps the turbo to spool up quicker... . I have seen it for myself.



Also it explains my situation. Since I relieved the back pressure on my engine by putting on a free flowing 4" exhaust, I have lost a lot of bottom end power. Hope this helps.



Kev

 

[Ted Constantine]

Kev,

I am going to upgrade to a cone filter soon. I am running a muffler on my exhaust, it is a JRE system with the walker muffler. I am reading about Piers new turbo and I think I am getting into trouble. Can you give me some specifics on how you are set up?



Thanks

Ted

 

[K_Arts]

Ted,



Currently my setup consists of Bill K's 91% TC and VB, along with the K&N RE-0880 Cone fiter, DD2 injectors, EZ box and a 4" Jardine Pipe with a straight through Magna Flow muffer (soon to be replaced by a stock 3" pipe).



Even though my truck puffs out some serious smoke (preboost) I didn't lose any of my power until I went with the 4" pipe. I have talked to several Diesel Techs here in town and the first thing they all asked me was if I had a stock exhaust system. I told them NO and they all came right back with... . "Get some back pressure on that turbo. " They all claimed that by putting a muffler on that gives a little bit more backpressure on the turbo, will allow it to spool up quicker, in return eliminating some of the preboost smoke that I have. Also by allowing the turbo so spool up a little quicker, I will have better response on the bottom end.



Does this make sense?



kev

 

[DKGross]

Exhaust Size

Kev and K_Arts,



I live in Littleton and work in Boulder, so I get to drive the wonderful 93 4 days a week.



Anyway, in reading your posts about exhaust etc. Here is my . 02 worth. I really wanted a 4" system. I developed a rattle in my muffler and the boys at DC quoted me app. $500 for a new DC muffler. I thought well a good down on a 4" system. Then I talked to Bill K. and mentioned that and the altitude, his advice was to go to 3. 5" from the new muffler back. I went to Buds Muffler Service (ask for Bill) and got a new Walker straight through 3. 5" muffler and replace the system from the resonator back with this set up, it is mandrel bent and it really helped. The low end power is there, especially since I just added the EZ with an elbow. SMILES all around.



The only thing I get is some smoke at the low end (and of course if I really get on it). I am not a smoke fan, but the power is very impressive.



And some of the power was there before the EZ and elbow.



As I said leaving the 3" to where the resonator was and then going to 3. 5" from there seems be what I need.

 

[K_Arts]

DKGross - I would really like to get some more info on this system that you have. Do you know if they can down from a 4 to a 3. 5?



What you have sounds exactly what I have been looking for. Any more info?? Maybe some pics?



Thanks



Kev

303-885-2875

 

[DKGross]

Kev,



I know we just talked but for the others that may read this.



My exhaust system is stock from the turbo to just under the passenger seat. Where the resonator used to be the pipe is expanded from 3" to 3. 5". Then it goes into a Walker 3. 5" straight through muffler and on out as a 3. 5" mandrel bent pipe.



It has what I think is just enough back pressure. You can hear the turbo at both ends (under the hood and at the exhaust).



It did make a noticeable jump in performance by just doing that.



Dave