Installing/Choosing EGT Gage

[DaveK98]

Ok, I know search the forums, I have been, just wanted to get a few things resolved.



Got a bone stock 05 and I tow a 5th wheel that weighs about 10k lbs probably should put in an egt gauge?



If I should:

1. What brand should I go with? What's the best/most accurate or what should I avoid!

2. I think I would do the drop the turbo method and put cardboard over it. What seals the manifold to the turbo? Do I need to replace a gasket?

3. Place everyone seems to put it is at the collector on the left side.



Thanks for putting up with me.....

 

[Bertram65]

Being stock you do not really need one, but they are interesting to watch how the rpm and load effects temps, and usefull to monitor shutdown temps. Can't go wrong with Autometer, made in the US, good tech support and sold everywhere. They make so many different styles, I personally like the Phantom series, that is what I have in my truck.

 

[JHardwick]

Someone did an analysis sometime ago and there was a pretty significant difference in EGT response time ... ... ... look a little harder.



I have the Hewitt, which was the worst in that little study, LOL, but hey, the gage faces match the factory gages, and it has the EEP emblem!



Don't worry about dropping the turbo, it's a complete waste of time.

 

[RJOL]

Ok, I know search the forums, I have been, just wanted to get a few things resolved.



Got a bone stock 05 and I tow a 5th wheel that weighs about 10k lbs probably should put in an egt gauge?



If I should:

1. What brand should I go with? What's the best/most accurate or what should I avoid!

2. I think I would do the drop the turbo method and put cardboard over it. What seals the manifold to the turbo? Do I need to replace a gasket?

3. Place everyone seems to put it is at the collector on the left side.



Thanks for putting up with me.....

I have used Westach for the last two CTD's. They are mid range in price, dependable, and look good in the truck. I really like the dual boost/egt gauge as it is real easy to see the truck performance at a glance.



If you drill the hole for you probe, using the grease method and taking it slow, then use a magnet to pick up any loose shavings that might have fallen in the manifold, I don't think you will have any problems. I have done this twice, without problems. Just start the truck, once everything is installed, without revving the engine, and any loose flakes will just blow out the exhaust. Have fun...

 

[DPKetchum]

Just installed a Westach combo gauge yesterday with the single gauge pillar. Looks and works great. Very pleased. Ordered through Geno's garage. Kit was complete and instuctions were excellent.

 

[WVaughan]

RJOL, your close to my neck of the woods. I'm from Whidbey Is. and read your reply on the install of the egt probe in the exhaust manifold. I cringe at the idea of getting any filings in my turbo, but I will give it a shot this weekend & heed to your instructions.

 

[john3976]

I did not pull my turbo and all went well.



I used grease on a drill bit and went slow, after I made it through the manifold I used a small magnet and got the few filings that did fall into the manifold.



My understanding is that when you start up the engine the exhaust blows the few filings that are in the manifold past the turbo before it has a chance to even start to turn.



My gauges have been in for about a full year now.

 

[DPKetchum]

Did mine same way. no issues

 

[BHolm]

I would also say that you do not NEED the egt gauge stock but I have one, and my truck is stock. I used the Westach dual gauge with boost and egts and installed it in the single pillar mount from Geno's. Looks stock, works great, very interesting to monitor. I have the exhaust brake so I installed mine post turbo in the fitting provided, no drilling required.

 

[RJOL]

RJOL, your close to my neck of the woods. I'm from Whidbey Is. and read your reply on the install of the egt probe in the exhaust manifold. I cringe at the idea of getting any filings in my turbo, but I will give it a shot this weekend & heed to your instructions.

I'm in Gig Harbor... Been to Whidbey several times to visit relatives...



If you drill slow, use the grease, and the small magnet on the end of a rod (you can get these at auto parts stores), you'll be fine. One other tip is to clean the drill bit and dirty grease a couple of times while your drilling, especially just when you start to break through the manifold. This get all the old filings out of the way except for the last few when you finish the hole. Also... This job goes a lot better if you have a good SHARP bit... .

 

[JFaulkner]

All above is good advice however if your dead set on pulling the turbo, I found for me it's usually easier to pull the manfold with the turbo attached. Not as easy as the slow\grease method though.

 

[rbattelle]

You could put the probe in the turbo exhaust elbow, since you're stock.



[Here we go!]



-Ryan

 

[SLO CTD]

Drilling your manifold isn't nearly as scary as it seems. If you take your time, it goes smooth. Another way to clean out the shavings is to use a shop vac with the end reduced to a drinking straw... fits right in the hole. Real fast, real easy. Take a deep breath and do it. Good Luck!

 

[betterthanstock]

I drilled it in the easiest spot, at the branch between 2&3. I was almost too close to the web, but it turned out perfect. It does not restrict the flow from any cylinder, and measures the first 3. Plus there is no danger of chips falling into turbo, and no parts to remove.

The magnet pulled out about 1 cubic inch of filings (it seemed like it, as they were hanging on the magnet). Had to re-insert it up to 10 times, to the left, to the right, fore and aft until it came out clean. No grease, and used magnet after the drill, and after the tap.



Let it idle for 10 seconds, then slowly raise RPM in neutral to 2500 to blow out any stray chips without much boost (rpm) on the turbo.

 

[Bekim]

From what I've read, the left side of the manifold probe position you speak of is the exhaust outlet side, not the intake side. So turbo damage is not gonna happen. Anyoe else read threads that say this?
And bravo for wanting to monitor EGT's on a stocker while towing, You can still burn things towing, even on a stocker.
Cheers
Mike
###

Ok, I know search the forums, I have been, just wanted to get a few things resolved.

Got a bone stock 05 and I tow a 5th wheel that weighs about 10k lbs probably should put in an egt gauge?

If I should:
1. What brand should I go with? What's the best/most accurate or what should I avoid!
2. I think I would do the drop the turbo method and put cardboard over it. What seals the manifold to the turbo? Do I need to replace a gasket?
3. Place everyone seems to put it is at the collector on the left side.

Thanks for putting up with me.....

 

[RMarkey]

I was sceptical about the shavings also. I just used one of those extendable magnetic pens and fished it down where the shavings were, (where they don't fall directly down into the turbo from the manifold, just in front of the down tube. ) Did it after drilling and a few times and after tapping untill it came back up without anything on it. Haven't had any problems here.

 

[JRMora]

I was sceptical about the shavings also. I just used one of those extendable magnetic pens and fished it down where the shavings were, (where they don't fall directly down into the turbo from the manifold, just in front of the down tube. ) Did it after drilling and a few times and after tapping untill it came back up without anything on it. Haven't had any problems here.

DiPricols (though I would probably do the ISSPros - the new ones). DiPricol has new gages called Optix that look pretty good, too.



Have had them on for two years, ~40,000 miles.



Did what everyone else did - greased tap, started engine and let idle. No problems.



Juan

 

[WVaughan]

Thanks for the confidence guys. Installed the EGT & Boost this weekend & it went smoothly. Now I can monitor what is going on with the Xzillerator as I'm going threw the gears..... =)