From the beginning:
I bought this truck used, 98 3500 4x4 5spd 4. 10LS quad cab, with 161,000 miles on the clock back in late February. When I bought it I knew that it had a bully dog torque computer, a bully dog exhaust temp gage with the probe after the turbo, looks like a new exhaust manifold was put on and the muffler had been eliminated and replaced with 4” flex pipe exiting out the rear.
I removed the bully dog computer but left everything else alone for the time being. The first time I pulled our 30’ high profile fifth wheel camper the truck had very little trouble getting up to speed and could fly down the road at 60 or 70 mph with no problems. The highest exhaust temps I saw on acceleration and climbing small hills were in the 700 to 800 range. I had some black smoke on acceleration but none while cruising. The only bad thing was I had taken the turbo silencer ring out and while pulling the camper the screaming of the turbo was ear piercing. Climbing hills on the interstate the pitch of the turbo would get so high it would go out of my hearing range.
A couple days later I decided to put the silencer ring back in. As I was doing that I discovered that the waste-gate was unhooked. The hose was zip tied to a wire loom and the hole in the outlet elbow was plugged off. After talking to some guys here at work about how the turbo could possibly over-speed I decided to hook the waste-gate hose back up. I got an elbow, some new silicon hose and new clamps.
Now when I pull the camper my exhaust temps climb to 900 degrees all to easily. I have to take it easy when accelerating and also when climbing hills while cruising or I can hit 900 degrees in an instant. I’m glad I have the gage. I’m also getting some black smoke when going thru the gears even when empty.
I don’t feel like I’m down on power that much and my fuel mileage is 16-17mpg, but my temps sure do rise fast.
Should I hook the bully dog torque box back up or will that make things worse?
Should I get one of those boost elbows that have the restrictor in it?
Should I just take it extra easy when towing?
I’m sure a complete 4” exhaust would help.
Thanks,
Scott
I bought this truck used, 98 3500 4x4 5spd 4. 10LS quad cab, with 161,000 miles on the clock back in late February. When I bought it I knew that it had a bully dog torque computer, a bully dog exhaust temp gage with the probe after the turbo, looks like a new exhaust manifold was put on and the muffler had been eliminated and replaced with 4” flex pipe exiting out the rear.
I removed the bully dog computer but left everything else alone for the time being. The first time I pulled our 30’ high profile fifth wheel camper the truck had very little trouble getting up to speed and could fly down the road at 60 or 70 mph with no problems. The highest exhaust temps I saw on acceleration and climbing small hills were in the 700 to 800 range. I had some black smoke on acceleration but none while cruising. The only bad thing was I had taken the turbo silencer ring out and while pulling the camper the screaming of the turbo was ear piercing. Climbing hills on the interstate the pitch of the turbo would get so high it would go out of my hearing range.
A couple days later I decided to put the silencer ring back in. As I was doing that I discovered that the waste-gate was unhooked. The hose was zip tied to a wire loom and the hole in the outlet elbow was plugged off. After talking to some guys here at work about how the turbo could possibly over-speed I decided to hook the waste-gate hose back up. I got an elbow, some new silicon hose and new clamps.
Now when I pull the camper my exhaust temps climb to 900 degrees all to easily. I have to take it easy when accelerating and also when climbing hills while cruising or I can hit 900 degrees in an instant. I’m glad I have the gage. I’m also getting some black smoke when going thru the gears even when empty.
I don’t feel like I’m down on power that much and my fuel mileage is 16-17mpg, but my temps sure do rise fast.
Should I hook the bully dog torque box back up or will that make things worse?
Should I get one of those boost elbows that have the restrictor in it?
Should I just take it extra easy when towing?
I’m sure a complete 4” exhaust would help.
Thanks,
Scott