Do I need gauges?

[MathewsR]

There is a lot of discussion about gauges to prevent engine and transmission damage. I plan to keep my truck stock and tow only on ocassion. What are the risks of not running gauges under these conditions?



Thanks,



Russ

 

[JRD]

It never hurts to know whats going on in your engine. So if/when something happens you can stop it before it really goes bang. Isay if you tow on a somewhat regualr basis, or have any box, gauges are needed. Althoguh I would have them even if I had a stock truck and never towed, thats just the kind of person I am. 300 bucks is a cheap investment for your 30-40,000 dollar truck from leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere.

 

[RJOL]

Russ... If you keep it totally stock and don't tow much it probably comes down to how much info do you want from your truck. You should probably be okay, and you have the warranty to back you up.



However... What you do get by monitoring FP/EGT/Boost/transmission Temp is an early indication that something is not right. Low FP can mean a bad pump or a clogged fuel filter (maybe a bad batch of diesel). Very low or high egts can indicate a fueling problem, or many other things. Low boost can mean a leak in your boost system. High transmission temps can mean a problem with the transmission. I prefer to catch these things before they become a big problem cause I personally believe that even if you have the dealer fix it after the problem occurs the truck never seems to be as good as it was before. JMHO...

 

[donnier]

I agree with the need for gauges. At the moment, I have boost and pyro installed in my truck. I tow occasionally but want to know what the engine is doing.

 

[DSiemens]

Guages are very cheap preventive indicators. Any unit that tows a lot should also have tempature readings on the diffs, transmission, pyro as well. Any unit that's bombed should have guages as step 1. The sub $500. 00 in guages is the most important addon.



Most serious problems will show up on guages before catastrophic failure occurs as well. Before a transmission or diff blows it might run really cold or really hot. Most repairs are less money before catastrophic failure occurs.

 

[MathewsR]

What about warranty concerns? Gauges usually indicate mods have been added. It appears that DC can void a warranty for just about anything. I didn't have a very good experience with my selling dealership so they will be looking for any excuse to give me a hard time.

 

[john3976]

What about warranty concerns? Gauges usually indicate mods have been added. It appears that DC can void a warranty for just about anything. I didn't have a very good experience with my selling dealership so they will be looking for any excuse to give me a hard time.

It is to bad but I would not doubt DC voiding a warranty over just gauges in the truck, it is against the law but they know only one in every 200,000 will take the fight to them, so just think, they pay for the one out of 200,000 who will stand up and fight them, and the others they get out of covering the warranties. Nice little racket.



There is a thread where DC has voided the guys warranty and the reason DC used was two reps were at the dealership and saw the gauges, they entered the truck not even knowing what was wrong with the truck hooked up their little computer they had with them and said that something was hooked up to the truck at one time, they don't know what it was and that it is gone now, however they voided his entire truck warranty, not just the engine warranty, the entire warranty.



That guy needs to take DC to court and make them prove that something else caused the bad number 3 injector. He paid customer pay over a $1,000 to replace the bad injector and drove it home, the truck is doing the same thing it did before and his selling dealer says it is a bad number 3 injector. His selling dealer also told him as far as DC is concerned his entire warranty is canceled on his truck.



Remember this all started just because he has gauges in his truck.

 

[RJOL]

... There is a thread where DC has voided the guys warranty and the reason DC used was two reps were at the dealership and saw the gauges, they entered the truck not even knowing what was wrong with the truck hooked up their little computer they had with them and said that something was hooked up to the truck at one time, they don't know what it was and that it is gone now, however they voided his entire truck warranty, not just the engine warranty, the entire warranty.



That guy needs to take DC to court and make them prove that something else caused the bad number 3 injector. He paid customer pay over a $1,000 to replace the bad injector and drove it home, the truck is doing the same thing it did before and his selling dealer says it is a bad number 3 injector. His selling dealer also told him as far as DC is concerned his entire warranty is canceled on his truck...

The only part you left out is that "HE DID HAVE SOMETHING HOOKED UP" before he took it to the dealer. Until I see someone on this board who can prove he had nothing but a couple of gauges installed (no performace mods) and Chysler voided his warranty, I just won't believe it. JMHO...

 

[BK]

Plenty of guys tow without gauges. And if you keep your foot out of it you probably will be ok. But the gauges can also help drive conservative and economically by keeping an eye on the boost and keeping it at 5 or below, and by watching the EGTs and keeping them below 600.

It's real easy to get up to 1,000 - which is safe, but also means your using more fuel, making more power than maybe you want to need...



Even stock a transmission temp gauge is real important. . just the act of backing up and spotting in a trailer can send the temps soaring. With neutral , and 1,000 rpms you can see the transmission cool off.