Towing EGT's and speed

[Sticks]

I have tried several times by responding to other threads where members have stated they had no EGT problems towing 8k# - 12K# in the mountains with Stage 1 or 2 injectors, and a box.



"How fast were you going at these "Safe" EGT temps, and at what altitude?"... no answer.



I live in Colorado, and I don't consider a 4% grade for 2 miles and 3k feet a mountain. I am trying to decide the best (and cheapest) injector/box combination for doing 7 - 8% grades for 10 miles at a peak altitude of 11k feet towing a 10k# fifth wheel. If I am going less than 60mph on a straight run, there is a problem, and the setup needs to be changed.



Right now I have a 2002 3500 ETH/DEE, and will be putting the Edge EZ and AFE back on after I settle this pesky VP problem (0216). Other than the Ex-brake and the missing muffler, the truck is stock. Gauges are next, then injectors and clutch. If at all possible, I want to avoid having to go bigger on the turbo.



Lets hear what you have (box, injector, ETH or ETC,... ) and how fast you were going on high altitude passes (8000+ feet) towing your second home.



Thanks in advance!

 

[78repowerwagon]

I am running Blue Chip timing box and Stage II injectors with a B1 Bomber. I usually tow 30-33 foot fivers weighing 9,000-12,000. In the Colorado mountains where the speed limit is 65, power and EGTs are not an issue. In Wyoming where the speed limit is 75 and the grades are looong, towing in overdrive the EGTs gradually climb untill I have to shift out of OD to keep the temps sane. On steep long grades it will pull down to about 70 then it falls off the turbo and I have to shift out and then it cools off while picking up speed.

 

[cwsoules]

When towing in the mountains I keep an eye on the EGT and drive in 3rd. If it gets above 1250 I back off on the throttle to keep it at about 1200. If I keep my foot in it I have seen 1350 before I pull my head out and back off. My profile has my truck mods listed.

 

[robertyoke]

I tow with the 98 truck with the power max on level 3 to keep egt below 1400 deg . It will pull Vail pass at 65 to 70 with my 5er at 20,000 cgvw. the truck has the stock turbo ,but 4 inch exhaust and k&n filter(at altitude the k&n is good for 100deg egt drop). altitude makes your egt's go way up , the new truck has stock power ,stock exhaust,& stock air filt and I have seen 1350deg towing same 5er at 55 to 60mph(that's all shes got)

 

[plongson]

We all know this has been a warm summer all around the west... and it has an effect on egt and towing. I found that pulling 17K GCW in the morning the egt was managable and later in the day, similar grades would cause egt issues. I found that as you come down in elevation, you can get by with higher ambient and have accectable egt. All this makes perfect sense when you think about air density. If you depart from stock configuration, just keep an eye on the meter when the foot goes down...

 

[RichMorris]

EGT's and towing

July '02 i pulled I 70 east bound up through the tunnel with a GCWR of 21K. My '01 HO 6 speed was in fifth gear and EGT's were steady at 900 at 50mph. The only power enhancement was an Edge EZ in stock mode. Rich

 

[Barry]

My 02/3500 ETH/DEE, 4"BD turbo back. EZ and Stage 1s. BD Brake and 4:10s. With my 31' 2 slide Montana 5er, I could go over Raton pass in 6th with egts around 950PT. I could also do Leveta Pass the same way.

 

[DLBurns]

EGT's

Recently pulled my new 12,500 pound fiver over the I-5 grade at Ashland Oregon. I managed to get the speed up to 48mph and kept the egt's at 1200. Ambient temps were in the mid 80's

I wanted injectors but doesn't look like I can handle the extra temps.

 

[CFAR]

Towing I80 over the continental divide I had to back out several times, plenty of power but also plenty of heat. If I were you I would get gauges before I put the ez back on. It seems that there is quite a bit of egt temp differences on different trucks.



III's with the stock turbo are probably not the best choice for towing and I don't like towing in 5th at 70mph.

 

[RustyJC]

Based on our experience, gauges would be my first mod! In absolutely stock configuration towing our 13,500 lb 36' 5th wheel at probably 250 feet above sea level, I would routinely see 1300 degF at WOT. No way I could have gone to bigger injectors as step 1.



In our current configuration (see signature) and with the EZ's boost elbow installed, I can't drive EGT over 1100 degF while towing up to elevations of probably 5500-6000 ft (Davis Mountains in West Texas). I could use some more fuel (DD2's would be nice), but I'd probably have to upgrade the clutch at the same time.



Rusty