My service manager reads this site now!! Great news but I hope I dont get him in "trouble" on this question.

He felt that if I did not bomb my truck that I could not hurt it towing my 24 foot trailer up hills, in the heat, etc and dont need guages to monitor EGT, etc.

Are there electronics in these trucks that shut things down if you get too hot, etc. Is there enough margin built in such that it is not possible for me to overheat the turbo, etc.

Do we honestly put guages in becasue they look cool or we really need them in the stock trucks? I could put the $500 elsewhere right now.

 

No honestly on a stock truck like yours, they are not a need.
But, they are a nice insurance plan for your engines health.

These engines are safeguarded electronically and have been tested to extremes.

--Justin

 

In all honesty, you really don't need them. They are more of something to play with on a stock truck.

 

My truck is stock(except for the drilled out air box) and I have had no problems towing our 5er, even in 100*+ temperatures.

Again the key word is STOCK. Gauges are really not needed in a STOCK truck.

The only time guages become necessary are when fueling/pressure/timing/boost mods are installed.

Air box changes and exhaust pipe changes don't count as mods as far as needing guages.

 

I'm actually going through the same decision process. I was pretty sure that I wouldn't bother with gauges if I don't bomb the truck. But, I'm thinking twice about that regarding a trans temp gauge. My understanding is that the trans temp gauge on the stock truck is no more than an idiot light with a sweep - i.e. the damage is done before you know it. Since the weak point of this truck is the auto tranny, it might make sense to put a gauge on it to monitor the heat and take corrective action if it starts to heat up BEFORE the damage takes place. AND, if I'm going to go to the trouble of putting a trans temp gauge in, why not just do them all?

Just a thought.

Neil

 

Boost and EGT are useful for monitoring your engine, even on stock truck. I haven't installed my gauges yet, and I feel naked driving without them, I got so used to them in the Ford.

 

I have a stock truck with gauges and think they are worth it if you use your truck to tow with. If you run around empty, then maybe not as necessary.

My truck is the HO with six speed, and I even put a trans temp on it.

I tow a modestly heavy load and can easily hit 1300f on the egt's, its good to know you are getting it cranked up so you can come out of the throttle some.

Also, on the trans temp, I hit 200f the other day doing a long pull up a mountain. I had probably 12,000lbs of load on the truck (via trailer). the ambient temp outside was 70f.

When I run empty, I might push to 1,000 on egt (extreme) but usually get up to say 800f. Empty on trans is maybe 125f.

Just thought you might like another opinion on the subject. Hope this info is useful.

 

Although my truck is stock in the drivetrain department, I've been in several towing situations where I have reached the "danger zone" on EGT's, and had to back out of it. The truck had plenty of power to keep going, but without the EGT gauge, I would have never known and may have taken some life out of her. For me, there is no more important modification, whether you plan on fueling mods or not. Just my $0.02

 

I also think the gauges are needed if your going to do any towing. Although I don't tow to the capacity of this truck (~6k) I do tow quite a bit and need to know what the engine is doing. The first mod I'm adding is the boost/egt combo gauge in the SRT-10 pillar. I'm doing that for about $250. I just can't believe D/C doesn't at least offer it as an overpriced stock option.

 

I have a 3500 daully 600 auto. Where would i put the gauge and where would the sensor mount in the trans.

John

 

What I was told is that if the EGT gets too high an electronic system kicks in to protect the truck.

The tranny light is set at something like 270 degrees, which is before the fluid will be harmed and an electronic system will kick in there also whereby it goes into 3rd gear. So I guess if a light comes on and/or you notice you go into 3rd then you know to make additional steps to cool the tranny.

 

Sometime ago, I read a post on some forum where a Cummins Rep. said that our engines can stand a sustained 1350*F EGT.
I don't know if a stock SO can get that high, maybe a stock HO could. FWIW

 

why would the baks box have a de feuling circuit of the stock truck did?... do you suppose it is set lower?

i live in colorado and live at 8800ft. when im towing up to my house from denver 5500ft i will see 1400f if i pull hard up a hill, so iagree the guages are importand of you are doing any pulling. i read on here somewhere that for every 2000ft the egt will rise about 50f. jsut some info.

guages are good IMO

 

I'll take a stab at that.

The fueling boxes raise the fueling command coming from the ECM to the injectors (for HPCR engines) or to the injection pump (VP44). This is done by simply putting a resistor (variable in the cab adjustable boxes) inbetween the ECM and Pump/Injectors.

The turbine outlet temperature is a calculation based upon things like IMT, coolant temp, boost, etc. So if the ECM is calculating, say, 1300 degrees, that calculation is made before the box adds to the fueling/timing command which can make the actual EGT more than the calculated. Therefore, in order to save the engine from 1500 degree EGTs, the box (good ones) have a circuit that can de-fuel a little to save the motor.

Funny thing is that those 700+ dollar boxes are simply a variable resistor ($2) housed in a plastic shell (say $2) with the connectors (say $10) to go between the ECM and pump so you can take it off before you go to the dealer. That's one hell of a profit margin.

 

Morning Members,

First off we sell gauges lots and lot sof gauges and mounts so I am a vendor and we advertise here to promote our products etc. But you CAN and WILL hit very high EGT's and create excessive Tranny temps on a stock truck if you push it much past 9,000 LBS and are in a mountainous area. Plus if you're like most of us the go pedal gets pushed pretty hard, I mean, hey it's a diesel right, lets go!!!

I can't tell you the number of customers that have gotten gauges after they have had a "problem" caused by high temps. This happens more often with Power Strokes as the engine design tends to relate to higher EGT's for the same load and incline etc. If you tow and go, get a pyro, as we say here at DPPI. Cheap insurance and the dealer sure can't say you didn't try to take care of your truck if you install gauges to monitor it and the have a problem after the fact. Remember to pre turbo is the only way to fly, real temps as they happen while they are happening!

Call us if we can help.

Mark @ DPPI