Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) first tow questions

[IRNGOAT]

just got back from vacation (central oklahoma to gunnison colo. ) ,towing a 3500 pound trailer loaded with a 3200 pound jeep and the usual gear. the trip up was brutal ,third gear ,pyro on 800 deg. (post turbo) most of the way ,seems that I had more power than I could use, the boost gauge sat on 20 psi most of the time but it still felt like I could melt a piston at any time. the road up is a gradual grade all the way. now THE TRIP HOME WAS TOTALY DIFFERANT comeing home that truck

would flat scald the dog . Is it just the grade or is there something I'm doing wrong, I have had several guys tell me just add a box (edge va ) etc. but it seems to me that adding more fuel would just make matters worse. any suggestions? I'm seriously thinking about 4. 11 gears

 

[Supermod56]

I tow way more weight than that with a 3. 54 gear and don't have any EGT issues. What RPM were you at?? I try to keep it around 22-2300 going uphill. Lower than that seems to "lug" it and heat it up. What you ought to do is get a 4" exhaust, that will help a lot. When mine was stock towing 10K it would never get over 1000 pre-turbo. I put the 4" on it the day after I bought it. So I know it helped! Even when I put the DD TTPM (EZ) on it, it only went up to 1050-1100 on a steep grade. Cold-air intake helped a lot also. Get it to breathe and keep it wound up and you will be fine.

 

[SHobbs]

Talk to Bob at Source Automotive and tell him you want to go mad. From what I have read about the the mad ecm (catcher) it adds about 65hp and does not get you out of any safe ranges. Edge ez gives you around 45hp. You can get a diff box which would include tapping the inj. pump which may or may not shorten the pump life. Up to you, it's your truck and your money.

 

[Supermod56]

Talk to Bob at Source Automotive and tell him you want to go mad. From what I have read about the the mad ecm (catcher) it adds about 65hp and does not get you out of any safe ranges. Edge ez gives you around 45hp. You can get a diff box which would include tapping the inj. pump which may or may not shorten the pump life. Up to you, it's your truck and your money.

The Catcher is the HEAT!!!! What a difference in towing performance! Sold the TTPM as soon as I put the Catcher on, Price is a little more than a EZ, but well worth it. Problem is your truck is down for awhile if you have your ECM "Catcherized". They do have an exchange program so you're not down, I bought a 2nd ECM and had it flashed, I had to keep the stock one for emissions testing. You still need a 4" Pipe.

 

[Horsepuller]

I regularly haul around 10k lbs, stock. If no one is in my way... I can stay in 6th, maintain around 65mph, 2000 rpm, 1100 egts and about 21lbs of boost while climbing most grades. Shifting down into fourth has only been necessary when I get stuck behind a big slow truck. Something doesn't sound right in your situation.

 

[IRNGOAT]

R. p. m. seems to be the issue the route that we take is 2 lane most of the way whith rolling hills and 65 m. p. h. . With 3. 54 gears I just can't run fast enough to keep the heat blown out of the engine.

 

[keimmmo]

My biggest concern for you would be the trans temps! Do you have a trans temp gauge? I put one on after I burnt the factory fluid after my first heavy tow! Adjusting my driving habits helped a lot. My only modifications are a gutted muffler, a 180* thermostat, and I have removed the air intake silencing tube from the air intake box. Moving more air through the motor keeps the exhaust temps down. Remove some restrictions from the intake and exhaust and keep the revs up.



Steve

 

[IRNGOAT]

My biggest concern for you would be the trans temps! Do you have a trans temp gauge? I put one on after I burnt the factory fluid after my first heavy tow! Adjusting my driving habits helped a lot. My only modifications are a gutted muffler, a 180* thermostat, and I have removed the air intake silencing tube from the air intake box. Moving more air through the motor keeps the exhaust temps down. Remove some restrictions from the intake and exhaust and keep the revs up.



Steve

thats a concern of mine too, trans temp gauge is coming soon. I'v also been thinking of ways to let it breath a little more. maybee 4in exh. and bhaf.

 

[NIsaacs]

It sounds to me like your stock truck is doing just fine. All stock, pre HO CTD's are somewhat underpowered. 800* post turbo is not hot, 20 psi turbo boost is normal and 65mph in 3rd gear w/3. 54's is good. You will not see much difference with intake & exhaust mods on a stock motor. Put one of the mild fueling box's on and put a smile on your face!





"NICK"

 

[Mingoglia]

My '01 ETC actuall ran 250-350 post turbo cooler when adding a Edge EZ. Fully loaded stock on long grades I would hover right on the absolute hottest EGT the truck could withstand. With the EZ, even on 115 degree days going up a long 5mile 7 percent grade I can't break 900 post. The ETH's tend to run a little warmer with the EZ.



I ring my truck's neck when pulling a grade. If I'm running 48mph uphill in 4th gear, I'll drop to 3rd gear and hold the engine at redline just so I can hold 52mph. Most sane people will just lose the 4 mph and run their engine at the lower RPM. I have no problem holding my truck at redline all day long. ... and with this, I'll never see over 900 post (900 is on the hotest, longest hills, I really only usually see 750-800 going up hill).

 

[keimmmo]

I think the 180* thermostat did more to lower my trans temps that anything else I have done. The ATF is cooled by the water... cool the water and you cool the ATF. I REALLY recommend a trans temp gauge!!! It probably saved my trans!!!



If you have the bucks and WANT a BHAF and 4" exhaust, go for it. Just removing the tube between the factory air box and the fender and gutting the stock muffler will make a noticable difference. (What I have done. ) And, it is free except for a little welding gas and a couple of hours of work. We are all individuals... fix your truck the way YOU want it!!!



If you have the skill to do the work and are interested, send me an e-mail address and I will send you instructions on how to gut your muffler.



Steve