Is there any issues w/running the diesels at higher altitudes? I'm new to this type engine. My gassers have had some issues in the past needing carbs re-jetted and stuff like that. I live near Denver at a bit over 5,000ft. and will be making trips up into the mountains on occasion going to as much as 14,000 feet. How do the diesels deal with this? Mine's a 1st gen.

Thanks for your inputs!

 

stock you will just see a little more smoke and a little less hp as alt. increases. you can make some tubro/injector changes to compensate. as your are starting at 5k ft. probably a good idea.
Clark

 

With the diesel being turbocharged it shouldn't make alot of difference as far as I figure. Naturally aspirated engines need atmospheric pressure to run but having a turbocharger means it's suppling it's own air. For what difference there will be, a change in turbo and fuel delivery will compensate for your area.

Mike

 

Sounds good. Can you elaborate on the turbo and fuel changes? I'm guessing a smaller housing and some of the pump mods I've seen talked about here, but otherwise unsure...

 

Yes. Smaller housing makes a huge difference here at altitutude. And a few tweeks here and there on the pump will have you grinning. (Check my signature for what I've done.) The biggest thing you need to watch for at really high altitutude, 10,000 feet and above, is that the EGTs tend to get really hot in a hurry. That's because the compresser is far less efficient in the thin air, and the intercooler can't do its job as easily either because of the thin air. It all snowballs after a while.

That said...I regularly tow my 5th wheel, with motorcycle trailer behind that, over I-70 to Moab. I just have to keep my third eye glued to the pyro and coolant temp AND the transmission temp. They can get out of hand in a hurry coming up the west side of Vail pass!

 

I don't think that there should be much diff between power from sea leval to 10,000 feet!? lets say that your turbos max boost is 20 the boost should be the same a sea level as it is at 10,000 feet just the speed of the turbo whill be much hirer at 10,000 feet due to thin, thin, air. don't live at 10.000 feet and haven't test my theary but i do live a 7,000............This theary by only hold water if the turbo has a waste gate....

Now that i have a boost guage i will be able to test it....atleast between 4,250 feet and 7000 but i have dun it with out the guage and didn't nottis any diff in performance between alltitust....Being non intercooled theres a lot of diff between night (cool) and day driving

 

That's an interesting point about the intercooled vs. non-intercooled. I'm surprised the ambient temp difference between day and night would be noticeable. It looks like mine is non-intercooled. From your sigs, they must have started using the intercooler in '92. Would that be something to consider as well if I do decide to go with the smaller housing at some point?

 

Yours could be either depending upon when in 1991 it was made. They made a change mid model year and we appropriately call them 91.5's to signify they have an intercooler and a few other changes made during that change.

Its real easy to tell, if the pipe from the turbo go right to intake over the valve covers then its non-intercooled. Likewise if the pipes go and come from the front along the radiator its intercooled.

 

Well, I'm baffled now. I don't see anything going over the valve cover, so I'm guessing intercooled. I posted another engine pic in my gallery. Can anyone confirm this?

 

Uhhhhhh, the valve cover on yours tells you it is intercooled, in great big letters, LOL...

 

Yep, you have the intercooler.

 

Sounds like a good thing. This site is great! I belong to a number of these forums in different automotive areas (Mopar A Bodiy, BITOG), and this seems to be quite spirited and helpful with alot of folks actively participating and answering, where on the others I've seen topics go dormant for days. Many thanks!