EGT's towing w/o pyro

[TKingsbury]

Here's the deal. On memorial weekend I'm going to tow my suzuki on a trailer from Sacramento to Yreka Ca for camping fun. At this point I don't have the time or the $ to put in a pyro, though I do have a boost gauge I can put in. My question is; will I need to worry about EGT's if I can keep it in boost (how much?) and don't lug it in the hills? My truck is stock drivetrain-wise, muffler removed. It has a few inches of lift with 35x12. 50/16. 5s and 3. 54s. The trailer will weigh around 5000 lbs loaded. The previous owner towed in the hills with it some and he didn't burn it up, but I'm a worry-wart. I know how to drive a loaded truck up a grade without overworking it, so take that into consideration. Also, how much boost would be good at steady cruise in the valley? Without a tach, I fugure I could just use boost as a guide. Any thoughts?

Travis. .

 

[RFox]

i tow a 28ft 5th wheel from santa rosa to reno over donner pass... my truck is mostly stock and my egt's will go up to around 1250' on a hard pull... . my trailer weights 8000lbs... on flat ground your boost should be around 7-15lbs, on hill around 15-21lbs... these are numbers when towing... hope this helps you some... . i'm sure someone that knows more then me will jump in and help you too.....

 

[TKingsbury]

Rfox, does your temp stop climbing, or do you have to back off? I assume you're using drive in the mountains, do you tow in o/d on the flats?

Travis. .

 

[CDegner]

RFox,

You don't mention but I'm guessing you are running pretty close to stock tires. The 35 inchers that Travis is running is going to put more of a load on the engine.



Travis,

you say you don't have the time or $ to put a pyro in. Do you have the time or $ to rebuild an engine if something goes wrong? Not trying to be a smarta$$, just saying that if you are driving blind, you have risk involved. With your setup are you at risk of engine problems, I don't know.



Carl

 

[MRickard]

I would say just cruising down the road you should not have a prob. It would be on the hills or any 'me cool' accelerations. Your trailer weight will definatly raise them up a bit during acceleration and hill climbs too. Hill climbs are the worst as they are the longest, and if you are in higher elevations it will be hotter too. Not quite sure on exact boost/EGT ratios but am sure they are quite varried. If your pump is stock, and you take it easy on grades and accelerations, you should be fine. I just hauled 2 yards of rock (about 5200 lbs) in mine this afternoon, and took it easy and I think I was doing about 900 at 10psi on accels, and 600 w/ 0-2 lbs on light cruise at say 30 mph, if that means anything. EGT is directly related to the amount of fuel being burned, the amount of fuel being burned is directly related to load.



Since you are a worry wart I'll put this in here: it is good to let off the throttle as you're cresting a grade that is followed with a downgrade as slows the temp switch. Mine will get to near outside temp, real quick, when 'coasting' in gear down a grade w/o throttle. Example: you are doing a good steepo and EGT is 1200. Outside temp is 20 deg. F. You crest over the top, and there is a downgrade, you let off the throttle, EGT goes to 50 pretty quick. If you know anything about metalurgy, a 1200 airstream switching to a 50 in short order is not good. Cracks the metal and distorts it. PB likes them for pictures though.



You could always pick up a new turbo though from PDR durring the 1st gen meet in july though - so no worries!



Also, if you cannot afford a pyro, how can you afford a trip w/ current prices? The trip cannot be worth more than the cummins!

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

With a 5spd, you'd have more trouble lugging it "down low and hard" than you would if you dropped a gear and ran it at the governor all day ... . use the gears, keep your RPM up and watch your water temps as a safety measure but you should be ok.

On a stock turbo you are all good up to 26-28psi.

After that it will start to work against you a bit because it's going out of it's map (efficiency range)



pb...

 

[bgilbert]

Well if your pulling a hill, I'd drop down to 4th gear -direct- at 55-60mph, any less and your rpm's are close to luggin the engine, 1300-1400 rpm. Don't try to pull it in 5th gear at this speed. When you get back, save up the $120 for the pyro. Bill

 

[RFox]

travis... . the egt's on my truck towing in the mountains usually run anywhere from 1000' and can go up to 1300' when it's pulling hard... i have had to let off the throttle due to temps. . i take it out of o/d on hills, but do tow in o/d on flat ground...

 

[phillips5]

I agree with the pastor. You will be ok keep it under 28 psi. For long grades keep the engine over 1650 and under 21 psi for long periods of time. The front countershaft bearing does not like lots of boost for long times. 150 dollers for a baering kit and it's not fun to do. Over fill the trany by 1 quart for extra oil to that bearing.

 

[TKingsbury]

Thanks all for the advice. I think if I keep the revs up and gear down if it feels like it's working too hard I'll be ok. I'm not affraid to drive slow up a grade if necessary, no ego here. Last year I used my dads 75 d200 w/318 that is loaded to the max so I know how to take it easy.

The fuel price is irrelevent, that is paid out of the bill account. The pyro would be out of my account which never seems to have enough in it, but the main reason for no pyro is really time. I have a zillion things to get done before I go. Once again thanks for the input.

Travis. .

 

[phillips5]

Wen you shift down into fourth you can run hammer down 28 psi all day long just not in overdrive. Fourth is direct drive and the torque is going streaght throu the input and main shaft no pressure on the counter shaft. I would rather run 28 psi in direct for 20 minuts than 22 psi in overdrive for 30 seconds. I made it sound like don't ever go over 21 psi in my last post . thought I shoud clarify. Just overdrive every thing else GO MAN GO

 

[TKingsbury]

So, is the concensus that if I pull the grades in 4th and keep it in the "sweet spot" that things should go ok? That's just what I seem to be getting out of everyones posts. Just for the record, I did say that I understand how to drive without overworking the truck. I would never consider pulling a grade in o/d. Thanks again and as always I welcome the input.

Travis. .

 

[dpuckett]

Back in my younger and not-so-wise days, I drove a 92 D350 that was basically stock (autp) pulling a 24x8 box trailer all over Denver and northern COlorado. Never had any problems with engine or transmsion. If I was going 65+, I'd even go in OD. I go in 5th loaded, though with 4. 10s I pretty much have no choice.



With only 5000lbs, I wouldnt wory about it, esp if you are at or near stock. just take it easy in the steep hills, and if you think you may be getting it hot (dont go by water temp gauge), back out of it and drop 5 mph. You'd be surprised what a difference that can make.



Daniel