Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) DD2's, EZ & Engine Longevity........

[CumminsPuller]

Who has some "High Mileage" with this combo preferably towing miles? Has anyone seen some kind of graph stating what added fuel does to engine longevity? Or if EGT's are kept in checked there shouldn't be a question of longevity? My dilema: Getting a full DTT in the next month or so if all goes as planned and toying with the idea of installing DD2's. I tow for a living and tow heavy and with 196,000+ on the truck I would like to not have to worry to much about replacing the engine at 500,000 miles.



Thanks,



Jason

 

[CumminsPuller]

I searched and found this thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1477&highlight=longevity. Although a 12 valve thread and popular opinion seems to be that the 12 valves were the engine to have. 24 valve engines just as tuff? Longevity still there? Even with the extra fueling? Are they producing marine versions of the 24 valve with 370+ HP like the old marine 12 valves?



Jason

 

[JNeiman]

Ok, would somebody help this guy? I personally do not have injectors in either of my trucks (yet!) but I would strongly believe that as long as you keep your EGTs in check, which I'm sure you already do, there should be no problem. There are plenty of heavily bombed trucks out there with high miles. I'd say go for it. Or if you'd like to be a little more conservative, get a set of 275s. Hope this helps and I also help some of the boys with injectors will be able to give you some more advice. Have faith though in your engine. They are unbeatable. Good luck, JOE

 

[dresslered]

These engines are tough and can take more than I ever imagined. However, anytime you increase power, you are going to decrease MTBF. How many of you are shooting for the million mile marker anyway?

 

[Hohn]

I have the EZ and DD2s. I like the combo a lot, but I wish I would have gone with the PMAX instead. I don't tow heavy, so I don't think I can comment on that part, but...



I think the timing aspect of the EZ is a little too aggressive for heavy towing. I would go with the DDTTPM, or the PMAX (which has less aggressive timing).



The EZ is a great all-around box, but if you are going to be pushing your truck's limits, you should get a box that doesn't-- like the DDTTPM.



If I were SERIOUSLY towing heavy (over 15K) a lot, I would get JUST DD2 and a boost fooler-- no box at all... ... .



Injectors alone are going to be the easiest on the engine.....



HOHN

 

[JPLB22]

CumminsPuller

How many miles have you had your EZ on with your stock auto ??



I have a FP gauge and will be getting the full A-pillar the 27th of this month. I would love to have the DDII's and an EZ but I can not afford the DTT right now. I was thinking of going with just the EZ but was worried about transmission life. Are you getting the DTT because your transmission can no longer hold the power or are you getting it in preperation for the DDII's ??



Jeff

 

[78repowerwagon]

What Hohn said!!





I tow at around 18k akot with timing and DD2s, and hohn nailed it. I tow in OD all the time until it gets too steep then I shift into drive at 70 mph and level off at around 65 and hate to listen to the motor. I decided to unplug the timing box and it was tons quiter. Timing boxes make more smoke and are hard on automatic trannys because they bring power on earlier. I would recommend larger injectors with a boost fooler and no timing box.



As for life of the motor, i dunno. 24 v heads have bad guides that are worn early. I have seen them replaced with less than 100k. My truck has 188000 on it and I bet they are loose, but that does not seem to be affecting anything except for maybe some loss of power as it only makes 495hp (not with 2s) but maybe I can fix that when I have more time. .

 

[CumminsPuller]

First I want to say thanks to everyone for their opinions. Actually I am toying with getting a 91% TC in my DTT when i get it just for the fact that I do tow heavy. But I am not sure if that is the right move. If I do that, the DD2's probably will not come until next year sometime. So I would just have the EZ and a 91% TC. Not sure if that will hack it or not, with the lag until boost is built.



JPLB22... ... ...



I have had the EZ on the engine since I turned 100,000 miles. I have 196,500 miles now and the stock auto is still hanging in there. Had 24,000 lbs behind the truck the other day on a 150 mile trip and it held good. I am doing the transmission upgrade because I am to the point I do not feel comfortable pulling heavy loads or going on long trips pulling loads for fear of my transmission going south. I think the only reason it has lasted this long is because the way I baby it and drive it. The EZ is set on the middle jmper setting.



Jason

 

[78repowerwagon]

I will let you know on the torque converter. I just put the stock injectors in and am going to pick up a trailer with just the timing box and a B1 Bomber. We will see what happens.

Matt

 

[JPLB22]

Thanks CumminsPuller ! I think that 96,000 with the stock auto and an EZ sounds pretty dang good ! I would be happy to have the same results as you. I know each truck is different but I've got 25,500 on mine now and have towed once every couple of months ( not heavy though ) and I know I have not slipped the converter yet, so I think my transmission is in good shape.



78repowerwagon and Hohn gave me something to think about. I just got done doing a little research on Don M injectors and they sound like a very good product. I may decide to hold off on the box and go with some Mach 1 injectors and a boost fooler. Or some DDI's with the boost fooler.



I'm looking for just a little more get up and go with the stock transmission. More money in my wallet would sure help with the decision making !!



Jeff

 

[CumminsPuller]

Jeff... ..... I personally think you will be fine as long as you do not push it. And I think you meant to type 196,000... ... ... .



Matt... ..... You just had the 91% TC installed? Does the B1 build boost any faster?





Jason

 

[Boondocker]

EZ setting

Hohn,



What setting do you run your EZ on?



When I had the EZ only, these were my perceptions:

Setting 1 - kind of pointless, not smoke-free, power comes on too late for my driving style.

Setting 2 - best overall, seems smoothest, power comes on before I upshift.

Setting 3 - too much smoke, didn't feel more powerful



Since installing RV-275 injectors, I've been playing with the settings again.

No EZ - (& no boost elbow) some smoke off the line, not noticably smoother except no punch at mid-boost.

Setting 1 - still smoke at launch, late power.

Setting 2 - A little smokier but managable with light accelleration and higher RPM shift points if I want to be courteous.

Setting 3 - haven't even tried, I like my stock clutch!



I guess I can't say I tow heavy if I'm under GCVW, my 5th wheeler is about 10K.



Cheers,

Neil

 

[JPLB22]

Jason... I just meant the amount of miles that you had with the EZ with the stock auto.

100,000 - 196,500



Jeff

 

[Hohn]

Re: EZ setting

Originally posted by Boondocker

Hohn,



What setting do you run your EZ on?



When I had the EZ only, these were my perceptions:

Setting 1 - kind of pointless, not smoke-free, power comes on too late for my driving style.

Setting 2 - best overall, seems smoothest, power comes on before I upshift.

Setting 3 - too much smoke, didn't feel more powerful



Since installing RV-275 injectors, I've been playing with the settings again.

No EZ - (& no boost elbow) some smoke off the line, not noticably smoother except no punch at mid-boost.

Setting 1 - still smoke at launch, late power.

Setting 2 - A little smokier but managable with light accelleration and higher RPM shift points if I want to be courteous.

Setting 3 - haven't even tried, I like my stock clutch!



I guess I can't say I tow heavy if I'm under GCVW, my 5th wheeler is about 10K.



Cheers,

Neil

When I ran just the EZ, I used the most aggressive setting at first. Then I got sick of it feeling so strong on the bottom that the top felt weak, and I felt it was hard on my stock clutch, so I went to setting 2.

Now after I installed the DD2s, I moved the EZ to the tamest setting. I let the injectors do more of the work, and it's a lot more driveable. Smoke is very controllable.

I tried setting 3 w/ the injectors, but it didn't feel any more powerful, just smokier.



Now that i am in Cheyenne and not GA, setting 1 is really my only choice. The altitude really lowers the threshold of smoke.



I would recommend that you try to get used to Setting 1 on the EZ. It doesn't makes any less power, it just makes you use a little more pedal. It also tames the cruise control. Try using the EZ (w/ injectors) w/ CC and you will see what I mean-- it's hyper-sensitive.



Justin



NOTE: Don M's EDM injectors are excellent, as are all EDMs. But you really don't need EDMs unless you are going to go with a stage 3 or larger injector. The EDMs will probably give you better mileage (and smileage) within a given stage, and smoke perhaps a bit less, but the cost difference isn't really justified IMHO until you get past a DD2.

 

[78repowerwagon]

I just got back with the trailer. It is a 34' Keystone Everest weighing about 12,000 which would make the total about 19,000. It took off fine with the tight converter.



Jason, I have Suncoasts tightest converter for towing. The B1 is slow to spool but is very impressive once it starts to spool.

 

[CumminsPuller]

78rePowerwagon..........

Thanks for the road test... ... . if possible would you compare suncoasts tightest converter with DTT's 89,91 or 93?



Hohn:



I noticed immediately after installing my EZ that my cruise control is as you say "Hyper-Sensative"..... So much I do not even use cruise in OD while towing. I thought there was something wrong? Talked to Chris Strickland (Strick-9)at Relentless Diesel and told him how my Hyper-Sensitve CC in OD was and he stated that was the first he had ever heard anything like that.



Jason

 

[78repowerwagon]

I am not sure how they compare. It will drop about 100rpm when it goes into lockup.

 

[Hohn]

for CumminsPuller..

CP:



The Cruise control is all computerized on our trucks-- no vacuum actuation as far as I know. Thus, we can't do Illflem's trick of putting a restriction in the CC line to slow down the CC response, AFAIK.



I theorize that because the the EZ tricks the ECM into fueling more under all circumstances, that's why the CC is harsh. If I remember correctly, the EZ increases fueling 67% more ALL THE TIME-- even at no boost-- when on its most aggressive setting.



So when the Cruise control accelerates at all, it does so with 67% more fueling than stock-- thus the aggressive response.



On the tamest settting, fueling over stock is only 33%, so the CC isn't quite so sensitive.



That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it



Justin

 

[CumminsPuller]

Justin... ... ... I'll buy that... ..... Thank You.....



Jason

 

[Hohn]

Just thought I would chime in here on what I did yesterday.



I got a wild hair and decided to move the EZ from position 1 to position 2. The difference in response was considerable. More importantly, it's still easy to drive with no smoke.



This is totally the OPPOSITE of what it was in GA. There, all i got was more smoke. No here in WY, I get more response, and the turbo seems to spool a lot faster. Smoke is about the same.



I got an email from Keith at DD after I asked him about the EZ and dd2s. He said that the timing is a little too much with the combo. I love the response of the combo, but the timing hammer leaves me feeling it's not the best for the engine. I don't tow heavy, so I am sure I could get away with it.



But this all adds up to me looking closer at a PMAX. Besides, my stock clutch is still holdling ~340 hp, and I would kind of like to find its limits..... I can't believe it's still hanging in there, given the abuse it has seen... .



Justin