Gauges and Performance

[danmcguire]

I have only been a TDR member a short time and have couple of questions. What advantage is it to having EGT and Boost gauges? what do they tell you and what can one do to change their #s to your advantage? What is boost anyway? I have owned my 97' stock truck with a K & N filter, 3. 54 rear end for two years and pulled a 9000# 5th wheel over 20,000 miles, several times over the Siskyous, Grapevine Pass in L. A. From Seattle to Florida via the Rockies and home via Arizona up thru Utah, Idaho, etc and have never once seen my water nor my transmission temperatures anywhere but in the lower to middle of the gauges . I read all these articles about bombed trucks running really hot while pulling trailers, transmission problems, etc? Am I missing something here or what? Other than getting over the pass a little faster than I do, why add on all this hot equiptment if it cooks your engine and transmission prematurely?

 

[RBSOB]

Gauges/"bombing"

Dan, welcome to TDR, you will find loads of helpfull info here. You mentioned owning a '97, do you now have a newer truck? Many diesel owners install a few auxillary gauges to monitor various operating functions, even on otherwise stock trucks. Probably the most common and usefull gauges are; boost [how much intake air pressure your turbo is producing], EGT exhaust gas temp, safe limits can be exceeded, especially towing, Trans. Temp. for automatics and fuel pressure on 24 valve trucks. Monitoring these functions can help you avoid problems just like any of the "standard" gauges and boost and EGT are extremely helpfull in diagnosing many performance problems\failures. Fuel pressure is critical on 24 valves. Have Fun, Jim G.

 

[cwsoules]

Gages

The first time we towed our 5er to the East Coast and back by I-40 I did not have gages with the exception of a transmission sump temperature gage. When going up a steep grade I'd put my foot into it and huff and puff to the top. I did monitor the transmission temp and it did rise somewhat on a long steep grade. Dodge recommended that you let the turbocharger cool before you shut off the engine at the end of a day. I usually shut down rather quickly.

The second time across we went I-10 out and I-80 returning. As I watched my newly installed EGT, Boost and transmission temp gages, I quiclkly became aware that the first time out I was cooking the turbo as I had to be careful to not exceed 1250 on the EGT. I would have to back off slightly. My transmission outlet temp also went up further that I had expected it did. By this trip I had modified my truck and had the DTT modifications which gave me much improved control going up and down grades. I found my attention focused on the EGT and transmission temperature and I would shift out of OD based on what was happening. (The first time across I did not tow in OD).

When securing the truck now I wait for the EGT to drop to 350. After a long pull it can take some time for this to happen. I believe that I now have the information available to allow me to manage my truck as I tow our 5er.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Gauges are great. They should be the first thing you do to your truck before anything else. EGT and Boost are a must, transmission temp if you tow, and fuel pressure is nice to have too with the high quality lift pumps we have in our trucks. You will see how nice it is to know exactly what your engine is doing and if there is a problem you will know right away.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Dan - if you're gonna leave your truck stock - and it seems that's the way you're leaning - you don't really NEED guages! You are pretty unlikely to exceed any of your STOCK truck's limitations, and other than the "entertainment value", the guages you might add, like boost and EGT, will merely give you something else to look at as you travel down the road. Sure, they have value as a tool to track significant changes in engine performance and operation - but on a stock truck, are more a luxury than a necessity. (yeah, I'll get roasted for this!)



BUT, as SOON AS you begin significant performance upgrades, the added stresses and additional demands you place upon your engine and drivetrain QUICKLY outpace your stock guage's ability to keep you properly informed as to what's going on in critical areas of your engine and drivetrain! Transmission and differential temps - as well as EGT - can all get out of hand in a hurry. Without guages on a "power enhanced" truck, you could quickly and blissfully exceed the reasonable temperature of your exhaust system and turbo - to the tune of $eriou$ dollar$... Same goes for transmissions and differentials...



Stock? Drive on in blissfull guageless contentment - as you watch other, more powerful rigs pass you by... But when you decide you wanna KEEP UP with the pack, and increase power - be sure to budget for guages along with the go-fast stuff!