Driving "blind" on EGTs

[BrianWalker]

Most everyone here has gauges except me. I'm saving for'em.

But until I get them, are there any "rules-of-thumb" RPMs, speed.

etc, from those of you who have gauges use.

Truck is completly stock and when full, I'm pulling about 9k.

WOT is not good.

What is a good rpm range to use to keep EGT in check. Or are there too many factors involved: Grade%, RPMs, outside temp, weight towed?



Thanks,

Brian

 

[BPINE]

Keep the RPM's up (2300 or so) do not lug it down and you will be fine. If it is stock it shouldn't be much of an issue.

 

[amillstream]

Lay the coal to it! You shouldn't be able to hurt the truck in bone stock form. I had no mods on mine untill 90000 miles and run the truck hard and would stay in it on some really long hard pulls and truck still ran like the day I bought it. But if the 03's respond to the boxes like the 01's you'll wonder why you didn't put one on sooner! Go with gauges first though.

 

[DPelletier]

With my '01. 5, I was sure I couldn't hurt it no matter what I did, but on my '03, I have heard enough reports of high EGT's at the higher rpm range to make me nervous. I run at 17,800 lbs GCVW and the first part of the journey starts with a huge 6% grade that lasts (mostly uninterupted) for 20 minutes or so. I have decided its prudent to keep RPM's under 2700 RPM when running at full throttle. Sorry Brian, I don't know if the 3rd gen EGT issue is related to the CP3 or ? You probably don't have the EGT worry that I do with your 250hp SO, but I can't confirm that.



Cheers

Dave



ps. Yes, I'm getting guages, I just haven't had the time yet!

 

[klenger]

I have decided its prudent to keep RPM's under 2700 RPM when running at full throttle

Actually, I think EGTs will be lower with higer RPM's because the engine is moving more air, although 2700 should be high enough. It's pulling at 2000 that you want to avoid. But, what the heck do I know, I don't even have gauges. Hoping BrakeSmart will get their EGT/Boost accessory together.

 

[DPelletier]

Ken,

That's what I thought too, originally. Then one of the resident aftermarket vendor guru's said I was wrong. What else is new?



Dave

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

YOU GUYS ARE ALL NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Do not listen to these guys!!! You can burn up a stock motor with high EGT's. I have two 03 SO california trucks and both can hit 1250-1275 WOT in fourth gear. High RPM's are egt creators in the new 03+ trucks. Lugging in OD or 5th will do the same thing. Keep your foot in it til 2500* and the back out a little bit. Boost lowers and so do egt's. Pulling the grade up to my town (hwy 62) I can see almost 1300* in a totaly stock truck. Be careful!!!

 

[klenger]

What I meant to say was that higher RPMs for the same speed and load should lower EGTs. In other words, downshift rather than lugging on the hills.

 

[BrianWalker]

Looks like 2200-2300 rpm is a good target.

I need gauges!



Brian

 

[DPelletier]

Nuts?



Quote " High RPM's are egt creators in the new 03+ trucks "

Isn't that what I said? I wasn't sure if the SO was affected the same as the HO, but from what Greg says, its an issue for you too. I didn't mention the lugging thing before because it was so obvious.

For the record: I only use FULL Throttle between 1700 and 2700 RPM on my stock HO and if I can, I prefer to keep it between 2000 and 2500. Even then, I wont use full throttle below 2300 if I can't accelerate.



Dave

 

[RustyJC]

Just because it's stock, don't assume the EGT's are all that great! My 2002 HO would hit 1300 degF pre-turbo towing our 36' 13,500 lb 5th wheel with no changes other than the dealer-installed Jacobs exhaust brake!



EGTs will drop substantially on my truck with a downshift and higher RPM's for a given grade and load. YMMV!



Rusty

 

[jakprince]

The way i look at it is if its completely stock and you melt it then dodge can eat it. If it needed gages then it should have came with them and the owners manual should have told you how to use them.

 

[mbaston]

I have been spending considerable time towing various weights up to 12. 5K at various altitudes in my 03 HO with EZ and AFE air filter.



I have found the following:



1. High RPM equals High EGT period! The same hill, same speed, if I pull under 2 grand in a higher gear I will see lower egts than pulling 2500 or more rpms in a lower gear.



2. Altitude is everything. When pulling across Wyoming, I could easily push EGTs above 1350 with the EZ box off. At sea level, I could run the box on 3 with no real problem.



I am anxious to replace my exhaust to help lower my egts at high altitudes.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Originally posted by jakprince

The way i look at it is if its completely stock and you melt it then dodge can eat it. If it needed gages then it should have came with them and the owners manual should have told you how to use them.

Yep, there are thousands of stock Dodge/CTDs running without gauges and if they had gauges the drivers wouldn't have any idea of what they meant and some probably wouldn't care either. These vehicles have been road tested by D/C and Cummins with all kinds of trailers and loads in all kinds of conditions for thousands of miles.



I don't have gauges yet because I haven't decided which ones I want and I'm not worried. My truck is stock!



Bill

 

[Forrest]

I wonder how the aftermarket cams help out higher rpm towing EGT. I wonder if the stock cam is out of it's "map" in the higher rpm conditions.

 

[DCornelius]

Regarding maintaining an optimal rpm when towing, with the 48re, shouldn't the ECM (or whatever) take care of the appropriate gear for conditions, especially in tow/haul mode?



Thanks,

David

 

[RAMINSPEED]

Speaking from a guy with an 03 HO and after market exhaust and intake.



1. The higher the RPM, the hotter the EGT

(a). Unless you lug it way down.



2. With my mods and no box, the hottest I've ever gotten it pulling up a steep grade at 7500 feet while passing a big rig is 1088* pre turbo.



3. Elevation is your enemy. You loose boost pressure.



Just buy some guages and get it over with. You'll be glad you did and it'll take the guess work out of it.

 

[DPelletier]

Thanks Raminspeed,



Quote;



1. The higher the RPM, the hotter the EGT

(a). Unless you lug it way down.



That's what I've been trying to say since the beginning of this thread! I guess I am losing my ability to effectively communicate as I get older!



Ordered DiPricol pyro and 60psi boost ga. from Geno's last week. should be here any day now. No more guessing.



Cheers

Dave

 

[Sherman]

Originally posted by DPelletier

Thanks Raminspeed,



Quote;



1. The higher the RPM, the hotter the EGT

(a). Unless you lug it way down.



That's what I've been trying to say since the beginning of this thread! I guess I am losing my ability to effectively communicate as I get older!



Ordered DiPricol pyro and 60psi boost ga. from Geno's last week. should be here any day now. No more guessing.



Cheers

Dave

these are diesel engines not gassers,checked with Cummins about rpm's and hard pulls ie:heavy load and long hills and they say anything above 1650rpm is fine all day long, these engines are made to lug that is their purpose they are made to pull loads,if you want to race get a HEMI gasser!You have to remember that max TG is at 1600 that is your pulling power, I'm pulling 14000# at 70 mph and no problems,box stock the only added instument you need if any is a pyro if there is a problem your turbo heat is the first place that will show!

 

[DPelletier]

Sherman,



- Did I say something to indicate that I race my truck, or give a hoot about how fast it will go empty? Towing is my only concern.

- 1600 rpm may be the torque peak, but its much easier to hold speed at the horsepower peak. try it.

- Do you have a pyro. If so, what does it say when you're running at 14,000 lbs @ 70mph? What effect does rpm have?



I've heard the same stuff before too. Cummin's tests these engines at full load, full throttle conditions for days at a time, yadda, yadda. BUT I've also seen dozens of posts where STOCK trucks are producing EGT's at higher RPM's that I wouldn't be comfortable with.

It's your truck, do what you want. I've made my decision; DiPricol pyro from Geno's should arrive any day. It will be installed pre-turbo and I won't tow at over 1250 degrees sustained, period. If it becomes too much of a pain to limit the EGT's with my right foot, then the upgrades start. First will be an AFE, then Banks 4" and if I still have EGT's issues, probably get Piers to "do his thing" with my Turbo.



The key observation here is: 3rd gen trucks generate higher stock EGT's than thier predecessors.



When I read threads like this, I realize why I only want to buy new trucks.



Dave