EGT's...how hot is HOT??

[.44 mag]

Just got back from a long run pulling our 24' camp trailer across three states and two mountain ranges. This is the first time pulling under these conditions up some substantial grades. My EGT's were running anywhere for 1000-1200 most of the trip. Unloaded the truck normally sits between 800-1000. My pyro. sensor is located before the turbo.



It just seemed that in order to get any power out of it, the boost and EGT both had to be at the upper limits. I tried not to get it above 1200 pulling a grade. I was told that was about the max these motors like to see. How critical is that number?



What mods would help best to bring the power level up and the EGT's down?



Thanks!

 

[DieselMinded]

http://www.dieselminded.otisnet.net/what_to_monitor_for.htm



DM

 

[cwsoules]

I will back off on the throttle if EGT exceeds 1250. I try not to exceed 1200. Backing off often does not decrease speed more than about 5 mph. In mountains there are few steady grades so as the grade eases you can regain your speed. I am usually in cruise control in O/D but if the EGT and boost is climbing and I'm skowing I try to downshift to 3rd before the transmission shifts. Then often I lock out O/D and monitor primarially EGT and transmission temperature.

 

[.44 mag]

That's about how I was trying to drive it too. I guess it's just a balance of EGT and RPM depending on the situation. This last trip did have quite a few long steep grades and that's where I noticed the most dificulty. I was cussing the automatic and wishing my wife could drive a darn 6-speeed going up most of these grades. If I dropped it out of OD into third, the RPM seemed too high at anything above 2400RPM ( engine just didn't "sound right" ). I was wondering if I should look into a different torque converter and some of the trick trans. clutches etc. to help things along a bit?

 

[MikeBeggy]

I changed my convertor to a 1600 stall triple disc, upgraded my trans seals, clutch separator plates,valve body etc. Then, I added a foot switch and relay to lock the convertor when I choose and I wired a circuit to turn on the viscous fan to aid in trans/engine cooling. Now, the truck really pulls and handles the hills and loads without any hassles of overheating or slipping.

 

[MikeBeggy]

Sorry I got side tracked on the transmission..... I resolved my EGT heating with a free flowing exhaust and intake. I can pull the worst of hills with the Edge on 3 or 4 and barely exceed 1200 degrees. That's why I spent the effort on trans upgrades.