Lesson Learned with new box! (short story)

[jakemeister]

I recently installed a predator stage 2 (I thnk its stage 2) box on my truck along with AFE intake system with torque tube. Ive used it for a few months WITHOUT I say again WITHOUT a Pyrometer. They told me at Dr. Diesel performance that a guage wasnt mandatory. Ive been upto 22,500 GCVW with my camper on the truck and trailer loaded big time! I have pushed my truck very hard while towing at this weight going up steep mountains and in the go pedal the whole time. . upto 15 miles at a time.



Now I have a Pyrometer and yesterday I was towing 7000 pounds in the same mountains as above. I was merging onto the highway which the on ramp is up hill and so is the highway at this point. I was hard on the go pedal as I usually would be. I look at my Pyrometer and my EGT 's were blowing past 1300 degrees!!! I almost I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER my pants. I backed off and it cooled down fast.



My point is, that 7000 lb load was nothing compared to what Ive towed in the past, and to think I have pushed my truck 5 times harder than that without a guage.



All I can say I am one lucky dummy that I didnt blow my turbo apart with my bad driving habits while towing.



Also dont believe those who sell these boxes and say you dont have to have a pyrometer... If you buy one get the guage because it could save your backside one of these days. .



By the way my pyrometer is a Di Procol with the TST wiring pre turbo. .



Jake... Tijeras NM

 

[BRayls]

gauges should be the first thing done. however I would not be too worried,had you had them on there stock you might find it was just as hot. these HPCR motors are hotter stock than the old 12/24 valve motors. I have seen the 600 of my buddys hit 1380 stock pulling about 10,000 up a small grade(what the westerners call a mole hill) here in Indiana.

 

[jakemeister]

Well, I guess its time to find out.



On my next days off Im going to pull a load (I will put my friend chevy truck on a trailer )up I40 east of Albuquerque NM on Sedillo hill with and without the predator and I will see what happens.

 

[Badunit]

My personal opinion is that an EGT gauge is mandatory for a STOCK truck and should be standard equipment, at a minimum be a factory option. That is, unless they program it to read to "customer expectations" vs the real numbers (like they did with the oil pressure gauge).

 

[DPKetchum]

For 05 I read its standard on Ford 6. 0!Boost gauge that is.

 

[GCross]

My personal opinion is that an EGT gauge is mandatory for a STOCK truck and should be standard equipment.

Ditto here, I couldn't agree more. This is another example of cost cutting. I would bet that even if this was offered as an option, 99% of the people that buy these trucks would opt for it.

 

[NDanecker]

My personal opinion is that an EGT gauge is mandatory for a STOCK truck and should be standard equipment, at a minimum be a factory option.

I also agree! I remember when a engine tachometer was only put on sport cars. Now it seems every car including Cadillac's come with tachometers. For a diesel, a pyrometer should be standard just as tachometer... . IMO!



I installed the Predator 2 a few weeks back but haven't got around to installing my pyro and boost gauges. I think I'll be pushing this up on my priority list!

 

[robertyoke]

how about a transmission temp gauge w/auto. ford yes. gm yes. dodge no. thats crap.

 

[Russknh]

Don't go to nuts over the Ford trans temp guage, it was found out quite a while a go that it was all ran thru the computor and is just a bunch of eye wash. You can get in a new 6. 0 and drive down the block and the trans guage is into the correct operating range before the end of the street--big joke on owners

 

[MMeier]

Much like the dorf oil pressure gauge of the last 2 decades, reads the same no matter what the temp or RPM you're operating at !!!

 

[Badunit]

Yep, the "customer expectations" oil pressure gauge irks me too. If it wasn't for this site I would have never known. I bet most owners haven't a clue that it's a fake.

 

[DocDetonancour]

Dr. P Box?

I recently installed a predator stage 2 (I thnk its stage 2) box on my truck along with AFE intake system with torque tube. Ive used it for a few months WITHOUT I say again WITHOUT a Pyrometer. They told me at Dr. Diesel performance that a guage wasnt mandatory. Ive been upto 22,500 GCVW with my camper on the truck and trailer loaded big time! I have pushed my truck very hard while towing at this weight going up steep mountains and in the go pedal the whole time. . upto 15 miles at a time.



Now I have a Pyrometer and yesterday I was towing 7000 pounds in the same mountains as above. I was merging onto the highway which the on ramp is up hill and so is the highway at this point. I was hard on the go pedal as I usually would be. I look at my Pyrometer and my EGT 's were blowing past 1300 degrees!!! I almost I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER my pants. I backed off and it cooled down fast.



My point is, that 7000 lb load was nothing compared to what Ive towed in the past, and to think I have pushed my truck 5 times harder than that without a guage.



All I can say I am one lucky dummy that I didnt blow my turbo apart with my bad driving habits while towing.



Also dont believe those who sell these boxes and say you dont have to have a pyrometer... If you buy one get the guage because it could save your backside one of these days. .



By the way my pyrometer is a Di Procol with the TST wiring pre turbo. .



Jake... Tijeras NM

Do you think the box has helped/hurt mpg? Any codes?? thanks, Doc

 

[jakemeister]

The predator box has helped my MPG considerably. I get 20mpg according to the trucks computer with a mix of highway and city driving. . Ive got upto 22 mpg on the highway according to the trucks computer.



so if i do it the way youre supposed to, divide the gallons with miles driven im sure its higher. Since there is still 3% fuel left in the tank when the DTE(distance til empy) says 0.



I thought the box was worth the money just for the fuel mileage increase. I also has AFE intake and torque tube. 6 speed 4x4 dually 3:73 gears.



My boost max boost Ive seen Is about 29 psi (when I really tromp on the go pedal) and average EGT's at 7000' MSL unloaded is 600 give or take.



Any other questions Id be happy to help.



About the codes, never got any at first then I got the plug backwards one time after i removed it for stealership repairs and it threw some codes but, it was my fault.

 

[DPKetchum]

Those EGT numbers don't sound correct! Where is the EGT probe. Pre or post turbo. If post turbo I would not trust those readings!Or is that LITE cruise speed?

 

[HOCummins04]

For 05 I read its standard on Ford 6. 0!Boost gauge that is.

That is correct. I saw several 05 Fords at the Craftsman Truck race this past weekend. It is at the bottom of the Spedo if I recall correct.

 

[jakemeister]

that is light cruise speed unloaded and probly more like 600-800 degrees... sorry if i misled you. .



probe is pre-turbo in the exhaust manifold where TST directions recommended the probe go.

 

[DPKetchum]

Thats cool. Whats the hihest it has hit unloaded?Loaded?

 

[jakemeister]

Ive seen the EGT's hit 1000 degrees unloaded when I was trying to pass a few semis going up a steep mountain grade with the outside temp. around 98 degrees. I live in the east mountains near Albuquerque NM around 7000' and it does get a little warm here in the summer. i also just got the guages so im still learning how my input on the go pedal affects the EGT's in day to day driving.



I know since i got the guages a few weeks ago i have been more alert to EGT's and boost trying to keep them down (EGT's under 800 and PSI under 12 psi)and i have noticed an increase in fuel mileage.



But then i think anyone can do this while just listening for the turbo spooling up and just letting off a little will increase fuel mileage. the guages just give you more of avisual... and boy do they look sweet on the A-pillar



As for loaded. . ive only pulled once since the guages install... and thats when i seen the EGT's blow past 1300. But like I said i let off it a little a the EGT's cooled down immediatly.



I have a x country trip coming up and I will have my cab over camper on an pulling 7000#'s. im going to keep a detailed log of outside temps,grades,winds,and other variables that affect EGT's,fuel mileage and truck performance and i will post my info at the beging of sept.

 

[NDanecker]

The predator box has helped my MPG considerably. I get 20mpg according to the trucks computer with a mix of highway and city driving. . Ive got upto 22 mpg on the highway according to the trucks computer.

I also have the 600 and predator and would double check your numbers by hand. Don't go by the computer. I think the box effects the computer MPG readout 'cause I don't get what the computer shows since I installed the box.



Actual mileage has dropped around town but has slightly gone up on the highway... maybe 1 mpg or so. It really depends on how heavy you are on the go pedal. To get a any sort of consistent increase in MPG you have to really take it easy! :{

 

[jakemeister]

NJTACKLE,

I have the 03 305/555 HO 6speed 3:73 dually 4x4... . I just got off the phone with my wife and asked her about the fuel mileage and she said the computer is acually about 1 mpg to low!



Granted a woman drives it most of the time,(she is easy on the truck) 150 miles a day round trip to and from work. Maybe thats why its doing so good, she uses the cruise control uninterupted for most of her trip.



So the predator box is doing my wife and i alot of good at the pump.



I think the 315's you have could be throwing your calculations off abit.