Boost Gauge

[Neibe]

I just installed a boost gauge in 97 Dodge 5-speed. My truck I bought new and is stock will peg the gauge at 30 psi at 2800 rpm's. I was told by a performance diesel shop not to worry unless it gets to 35psi. Any thoughts?

 

[moparguy]

Sounds like you got a good one. Sometimes a car or truck just runs better than it has a right to. My guess is everything just happens to end up on the good end of the spec. range.



My advise would be to send that gauge back, trade it in on one that goes to 50lbs.



Ronnie

 

[amsoilman]

There must be somethng wrong here, as I have never seen or heard of a "stock" 5. 9 CTD in a Dodge pickup that would produce that kind of boost.

If you are truly producing that must boost, you must have around 300 HP com'n from that beast!



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[illflem]

I agree with Wayne, if you are truly stock something's wrong. I'm thinking that your wastegate is carboned up and stuck closed or the control hose to it is melted shut. What the heck, some folks do this on purpose. Get a bigger gauge to see what you're really getting, boost over 35 psi doesn't help things and may cause damage.

 

[DieselB59]

Moreover... . if your truck... . a 97... . like mine... has its timing out as far as mine was (2. 5 degrees BTDC versus the 14 degrees it was supposed to be), then it will see false boost as mine did. I was getting 29 psi on a stock engine and it was due to the retarded timing that the higher boost was happening. What you should worry about is hitting that while loaded. In all cases, you should not exceed 25 psi while loaded. Control it with your right foot... . and get your timing checked. Once my timing was set, the engine was only able to hit 22 psi stock. Then I opened the fuel floodgates.