"After all.Dodge pays for the warranty,not Cummins."

My 2003 has a Dodge 70k powertrain waranty and a 100k Cummins warranty; they both seem to 'care'.

 

Well, I'm new to diesels trucks and my truck is stock with no added gauges but I've made a couple observations in the 3200 miles I've driven it.

1. When motoring down the road and the water temp gauge goes up from its typical cruise reading of ~ 180*, I figure the engine is getting hotter (why else would the gauge go up?) and thus so are the EG temps. It may not be a direct relationship, and I don't know what the EG temps are but common sense tells me to ease off a bit and let the water temp come down. So watching the water temp gauge could keep someone from getting melting the engine?

2. Hot running temp are only one use of a EGT gauge, the other is cooldown and that's why I'm putting one on my truck! Yea, I could install a turbo timer, but I'm not in such a hurry that I can't sit and watch the EGT gauge before shutting her down.

My 0.02 and probably not worth that as I've had the truck 5 weeks.

Cheers

 

1. Common sense says this should work, but it really doesn't. Engine temps will vary on these trucks, unlike the typical gasser where the needle never moves once warmed up. The EGT's might have some effect on water temps, but the problem is your motor would likely be melted down before the water temps had a chance to indicate a problem. Another issue is that the water temp should increase on a hard pull, so you still have no way of knowing if it's just normal or if the EGT's are doing it. The needle on your EGT gauge will move almost as fast as the tach.

2. Good point. I had the same thoughts as you, but sitting in 90-100 temps with the A/C off waiting for it to cool below 300* got real old real fast.

 

OK, take it to a Cummins shop for warranty work.

Dodge buys the engines from Cummins without warranty. You have a Dodge warranty on your Cummins engine.

Rusty

 

I've pulled steep grades for many miles and have seen normal 188* coolant temps while hitting 1400* EGTs. So don't rely too much on that correlation.

 

Jrussell & Ptgarcia,

Ok now you all have me worried. There I was commuting to work with nothing in the truck but my 240lbs, nothing in tow and I'm just keeping up with traffic doing 60-70mph figuring all is well with the truck and BAM I come up from test fitting some side steps and see your posts.

So maybe the h20 gauge isn't a good way of monitoring turbo health. It (engine) sounds ok, no leaks, great power and getting 18mpg (hand calc) so maybe it's fine on the other hand ---- where is that Genos catalog and how quick can I get an EGT gauge :-)

Thanks for the info.

Cheers

 

I'm sure you haven't hurt anything, but an EGT gauge is definately recommended for anyone that tows.

 

Are you ready for a laugh?

I haven't towed yet, but when I do it will be the 2 motorcycles.
Total weight (cycles and trailer) ~ 1600 lbs!!!!! I'm not sure the big beast will handle it

Course, now that I have a truck that can tow a little weight, a bigger, nicer, enclosed trailer could find a home in the driveway!!!!! Just to keep the cycles protected and make that Cummins work a little

I knew the new truck was going to hit the wallet in more ways then just the pmt!

Cheers

 

I would not tow anything without the EGT gauge. First the EGT is directly proportional to load, however if the ambient temperature is low then the EGT will be lower then if it is real hot outside. Just the condition of the air filter will change the EGT temps. That makes the question how the ECM knows when to defuel without a EGT probe. The defueling point would varies with the same load conditions. The best approach during towing is to watch the EGT and lift the go pedal to keep the temperature in check.

 

He has an 04.5 and up HO,you have a 98,and your comparing the 2? His newer engine can take a few hundred degrees more heat easily,it is built for it,Cummins knows exactly how hot they get,they built the engine accordingly.What will smoke your 98' wont hurt an 04.5.I cant for one minute beleive you guys think that these trucks werent tested in the most extreme conditions for durability before the HP was allowed to be 325,and warranty for 100K.
If every stock truck built since mid 04 is hitting 1450+ easily on pulls and no one with stock trucks are complaining of ventilated pistons or dropped valves,and there are thousands of the HO's with over 100K on them,pulling heavy every day,whats the problem?

 

ECM on the ISB uses virtual sensing to calculate the EGT , it uses Charge Pressure and Charge temperature, calculated fuel flow , engine rpm's and start of injection to calculate the EGT's

Charge temp. and press. i= boost pressure and intake manifold temperature.

 

Very interesting. Mind if I ask the source of this info? Do you happen to have a link to something? Not questioning you by any means, just curious.

 

Skip the enclosed trailer and go straight for the toy hauler. I saw one this year at the RV show with a rubber floor,water proof vinyl seating, diamond plate walls and a big screen tv. It had "Man's Dream Vacation" written all over it. Of course, the other half cringed. It was soooo cool.

Later

 

That info is directly from Cummins , cant seem to find that link

 

Like I said earlier I wasnt totally sure of all the parameters with the Defueling on the engines.

I do know this, it makes no difference on my truck if I am hauling a heavy load or I am empty trying to get out of ditch. When the EGT's hit 950degs post turbo she defuels.

From my dealings with Cummins, they have stated that I could hook up what ever sized load to my truck and floor the pedal and be safe climbing hills as the truck will back down on it's own.

I will state I have yet to hear of a FULLY stock truck melting down from properly running engine.

Failures of injectors and addition of mods are the leading cause of Cummins engine failures.