Help tell my Grandpa why I need gauges...

[TxDieselKid]

In my family, my grandfather has a lot of pull. I have been trying to convince him why I need a set of gauges. He fails to see my points. I tell him to better monitor many differrent aspects of the engine. But still to no avail he has not caught on. So help me convince my grandpa that I need a set of gauges.



I am asking for cash insted of gifts this year, because with my full time schooling, and part time job, $$$ is hard to come by. I am only asking for $100 each from my family members, about the avrage they spend. This will cover about half the price of them and I will foot most the rest. My girlfriend is giving me cash as well.



I want to do them all at one time so it's all or nothing.



Here is what I want... .

1 SPA Boost/EGT

2 SPA Presure/Temp -

Auto transmission Presure/Auto Temp

Pre and Post Fuel Presure/Post-turbo temp



Please help, I only have until I go back to school on Sunday afternoon to show him!



AJB

 

[Joe G.]

Show him pictures in this thread:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28923

 

[TxDieselKid]

oh come on now...

JoeG,

Thanks, thats a good one!



Come on guys, I know some of yall can think up reasons I haven't come up with yet.



Andrew

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

Be Honest,

Tell him that you have spent thousands of extra dollars to get the Cummins motor. Therefore you need to moniter it while driving like a jackass. Thats what I told my wife, it worked for me

 

[CumminsAholic]

Because a 350 chev motor is $400 if that at a junkyard. A Cummins is at least $4500 at a junkyard. Most people can afford to melt down a 350, but a cummins is a different story. It's a good Idea to protect your investment, especially when it's worth so much. It's like insurance for your motor and transmission. That's how I'd explain it. Oh and they look cool. It's also a bomb that doesn't make you any faster... which actually kinda sucks, but oh well.

Corey

 

[Bigsaint]

I like Greg's response . I really don't know what else to add other than you want to moniter the engines performance and be able to diagnose a potential problem yourself, rather than running to the dealer like a brain numb robot.



Simple as this...



Egt gauge, to make sure your not running to hot and melting expensive items. Plus you can accurately gauge when to shut down your truck and extend the life of your turbo.



Boost gauge, set a baseline and know when you have a boost leak, bad MAP sensor, loose manifold bolt or a dirty air filter.



FP pre and post, tell him about all of the problems that we have seen with the OEM lift pumps, a gauge will help to moniter those psi's and tell you when the pump is going South ( evident by sporadic highs and lows when at idle and under throttle). By watching FP you are prolonging the life of the VP44, about a $1300 replacement if you buy it from Cummins and do it your self, way more if you have DC replace it out of warranty. Also, explain that two FP readings, pre and post, will tell you when it's time for a fuel filter change. If you really want to impress him, do a search on lift pumps and show him the endless posts.



If none of these work, tell him ( at your discretion ) that you were smart enough to buy a Cummins and that he should trust your judgement on the need of gauges as you and most of us on the TDR believe that they are important enough to justify the cost.



This might be a good time to discuss what he wants for Christmas .



Scott W.

 

[TxDieselKid]

That's what I'm talking about....

Yeah guys, keep them coming... .



BigSaint,

Good post man. Thanks.



The plan is that everybody kicks in for them with about $100 a piece. Then I will pay for the rest. Since my birthday is Jan 21 then I would prefer they pay me with cash insted of gifts for this too.



Keep them coming,

AJB

 

[paccool]

How 'bout when HE was younger the cars were made better and most had gauges. Now most just have the idiot lights thus the need to be able to see whats REALLY going on with the engine!



Please don't flame me anyone, he asked for us to keep em coming!

 

[SnoKing]

My Stock truck (see sig) can push pre turbo EGT over 1300 towing a mid size 5er. Boost will help you know if you have an intercooler hose leakingor other tubro problem, Auto Temp is a no brainer (Chevy and Phurds are coming with one, I have two senders and a switch installed) and Fuel pressure seems to be a well known problem. Do not fuel pressure yet. It is really neat to open the door and have people see your A Pillar gauges. Most people ask if the truck came with them.





Yes I have grandkids.



SNOKING

 

[jmeehan]

I don't have anything new to add, just one more voice for the "protect your investment" vote.

 

[TxDieselKid]

WOW, this is gret...

Hey thanks so much guys... If anybody can add anything else, please do.



AJB

 

[Forrest Nearing]

umm... get a job?



Forrest

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Santa, I need Gauges

Back many years ago before oil embargoes, compact cars—when Packards, Pierce-Arrows, Hudsons ruled the earth cars were becoming sophistocated for the first time - they were getting dash gauges. Gauges were important to a practical people, they told you of impending trouble before the worst happened. They are still important…No idiot light could do the same - they only declare the obvious: they the worst has already happened. You own a truck with what is essentially a small tractor-trailer engine. Has your Grandpa ever seen a semi cab without gauges?? Diesel engines are capable of running under abnormal conditions that gassers could never tolerate, but this doesn't mean we should ignore these conditions. The price of the "essential' gauges to protect a $4500. 00 engine or a $1400. 00 turbo? its good insurance!

 

[SlyBones]

how about peer pressure....

Last year I asked santa for gauges for christmas. And he got me a 3 gauge set with a dash pod. Now if santa can get them for me, he can get them for you too.

 

[Fireman]

I'm with Forrest

Yep, get a job.

 

[TxDieselKid]

Re: I'm with Forrest

Originally posted by fireman56

Yep, get a job.

I got one, I work in the Hardware department at Sears 30 hours a week, and I go to school full time (15 hours). Thanks so much for your constructive thoughts, and encouragement! But on my part time pay, it does not cover the $800 cost for the gauges. Not to mention the cost for fuel, my fair share of truck note, tution, books, room&board... . get the point?



DieselDogHouse,

Good points there man, thanks alot!



AJB

 

[sonorakitch]

I am not sure if you are set on the SPA gauges, but you can do better than $800. I bought my Autometer Boost and Pyro with a dual full pod for the A-Pillar for about $300.



You can tell Gramps that the boost gauge will help you get better mileage when speeding around. And the pyro is important to let you know if the exhaust is getting so hot that it could start a fire underneath your truck. That oughtta do it



By the way... I feel your pain. I am a senior at the UofA, go to school 18 hours a week and work 20. Still don't get quite enough to BOMB as much as I want, and sometimes I wonder why I don't drive a Honda like every other student. But then, when one of those guys are following a tad too close, I just mash the pedal, watch all that smoke engulf their import, and realize I am better off.



~Chris

 

[merryman]

Never having asked for or received cash from ANYONE after starting high school, the question baffles me.



Vaughn

 

[RKohn]

I've got a full time job and a part time business...

and I still can't afford'em.



Must be the cost of 2 kids in high school.

 

[jwdeeming]

Alright guys - ease up. Anybody working 30 hours a week and pulling 15 semester hours doesn't need to be told to get a job. I've been there too and that's a bust-*** schedule.



Hang in there, Kid. It'll pay off in the end. I for one can see you're not asking for "handouts".