Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) EGT Question

[Horsepuller]

EGT Question Can a stock truck while pulling a load generate excessive/dangerous EGTs? My thinking goes like this, if the truck is stock, it should be engineered to pull a "reasonable" load without generating high enough EGTs that could damage the engine. Right? I have the gauges on my current truck, but didn't on my '93. Now that I know how EGTs react to different driving situations, I am sure that I have been pulling loads while exceeding 1200 degrees, for extended periods of time, like 20 minutes. But I have never had an engine problem. So I am thinking that our trucks left stock can't really hurt themselves. Otherwise, these trucks wouldn't have the reliability record that they do. What do you think?



Also, I was pulling a load up a 6% grade for about 10 miles (before I had my EGT gauge working) and heard the fan kick on when the stock temp gauge needle would reach 240 degrees(Edit: I meant 190 ), or right in the middle. Does the fan help EGT's at all? What temp does the fan kick on at and what is the equivelent EGT temp. I have to imagine that if the fan kicks on, the EGTs have to be pretty high. Is there any correlation between the two?

 

[Royal]

EGT Question Can a stock truck while pulling a load generate excessive/dangerous EGTs? My thinking goes like this, if the truck is stock, it should be engineered to pull a "reasonable" load without generating high enough EGTs that could damage the engine. Right? I have the gauges on my current truck, but didn't on my '93. Now that I know how EGTs react to different driving situations, I am sure that I have been pulling loads while exceeding 1200 degrees, for extended periods of time, like 20 minutes. But I have never had an engine problem. So I am thinking that our trucks left stock can't really hurt themselves. Otherwise, these trucks wouldn't have the reliability record that they do. What do you think?



Also, I was pulling a load up a 6% grade for about 10 miles (before I had my EGT gauge working) and heard the fan kick on when the stock temp gauge needle would reach 240 degrees, or right in the middle. Does the fan help EGT's at all? What temp does the fan kick on at and what is the equivelent EGT temp. I have to imagine that if the fan kicks on, the EGTs have to be pretty high. Is there any correlation between the two?

Yes you can over temp (EGT) if you do not maintain enough RPM'S. With your 6 speed if you run a minimum of 2200 you should not exceed 1200 pre turbo temps. If you lug the engine at lower rpm's is when the EGT's increase fast. I have a stock with Auto Tran. and if I let the rpms drop the EGT's will easly exceed 1200. I back off the throttle or down shift manually when I see 1100 pre turbo temp's. My fan drive never engages if I do not exceed 1100. Fan engagement is related to radiator air flow temp. only. There is a thermal strip on the front of the fan drive unit thay senses air temp's.

 

[Horsepuller]

Thanks, that is useful info. I didn't have a tach on my '93 or an EGT gauge, so I had to drive by listening to the engine and the trans for my cues to shift. This truck hauled a 3200 lb (dry weight)camper in the bed. When it wasn't hauling the camper it pulled my 28' steel GN horse trailer, all without gauges. When I sold the truck it had 186k on it. The only thing that was ever replaced was the 5 speed Getrag, and that was before I owned it. My dad owns it now and has the 3200lb camper and works it hard. Still no gauges but still no problems. So I still tend to beleive the trucks, if driven with common sense, are pretty hard to damage even if you don't have gauges. I like to over engineer and over build things, so I am definitely not arguing against gauges for stock trucks.



As far as the fan is concerned, wouldn't high EGTs, for a sustained period of time, heat up the block which would then heat up the coolant and trigger the fan to kick on? I am just trying to get a better understanding.



Thanks

 

[Graphic man]

for a ford you are safe with 1250 egt's but no more

you can cause damage if it goes higher even in 2 min

do not lug the motor grab a lower gear and keep the RPM's up

even a stock truck could see unsafe EGT's if the load is heavy enough

and you lug the motor





Hope this helps



Scott

 

[Horsepuller]

Lugging the engine from what I gather is less than 1850 RPMs? What is a good cruising RPM, 2000 - 2200?

 

[Graphic man]

thats a tuff question it would depend on the truck, load and EGT's 1500-1800 rpm is lugging the motor, try 2200-2500 to get the egt's down on a hill



Hope this helps!



Scott

 

[Horsepuller]

I'll try that out, I have always thought 2000 was the sweet spot but it seems I have been babying it too much. Now I've been making a point of shifting in the 2200 - 2500 RPMs and that seems better. Just takes some getting used to coming from a '93 with no tachometer.



Thanks