I called a local diesel shop to inquire about having an EGT gauge installed on my new Dodge 3500 w/6.7CTD engine. Surprisingly, he told me that as long as my truck is stock there is no real need for the gauge. I forget his exact words but he said something like "these new engines take care of themselves and won't harm the turbo as long as they're stock, i.e not chipped". Now, this guy stood to profit by installing a gauge in my truck so I'm wondering if there's any truth to his words?

Of course, I still plan to let the turbo cool down for several minutes after a hard drive and still wouldn't mind having the EGT installed but if it's not really necessary, then why spend the $$$?

 

It would be nice for your benefit just to see what's going on but, I'd say he's right. The ECM runs the show and will prevent damage to the motor. Start altering things and you've gone outside the design of the system.

I know a lot of people with 3500 work trucks that haul big loads without even thinking about EGT's. If something happens, it's under warranty so there isn't a concern about it. If you plan to say completely stock... I wouldn't worry about it since your warranty will cover you.

 

He's right. As long as it's stock and it can breath there should be no problem. Dodge set these things up conservatively. They don't want everyone blowing them up. But it's still fun to know where you're at and do what you can to keep the temps down. So gauges are nice.

John

 

The truck as designed and in stock form should perform exactly as stated in the owners manual(pull and haul the specified loads at safe speeds) while not exceeding safe parameters for the continued life of the engine. The owners manual will instruct you to allow for a proper cooldown time dependent on your driving and loaded conditions.

That said, I think gauges are still a good idea on a stock truck just so you can properly monitor what is going on under the hood of your tens of thousands of dollars worth of investment.

 

I would agree with that IF and only if you have the knowledge to know what it is you are reading. Otherwise, it is bling for trucks...and I might add there is NOTHING wrong with bling. If you look down and it says 1400 degrees, is that bad? If you don't know, then why bother?

In order to know what is bad you have to do one of two things:

1. Know the metalurgy of all parts involved and what temp will hurt them, as well as the accuracy of both probe and guage (highly suspect on the cheap setups most people purchase) as well as the install point. OR:

2. Take someone on an internet webpage's word for what temps are bad. Keep in mind, he is likely not any more of an engineer than you are and probably heard that same number from someone else on a webboard somewhere. It is shocking how often someone on a board says something and next thing you know, it is written in stone...law of god. Often it is also complete crap.

All in my humble opinion of course. That said, if I had a penny for every 'expert' on a webboard that told me my turbo charged race car I've been running for a decade would melt itself down in 5 laps with my setup...I would buy a new 6.7 in cash. Most internet experts have no idea what they are talking about...only regurgitating the words typed out by someone else who doesn't have any idea what he's talking about.

Your mileage may vary, this rant is worth what you've paid for it....drive it like you stole it.

Bill

 

For the most part he is right.
But if your going through the trouble to get gauges get an EGT and Boost.

 

You don't really need a tachometer on an auto shift either but almost every car and truck have them. Remember when there was only a red light for oil pressure. The more information available the better to catch a problem before it becomes serious.

 

Um, there is still only a red light for oil pressure in our trucks (technically).

 

If anything get a pyrometer to monitor the EGTs before shutdown. Be suprised on how much heat is generated during towing. Takes a few minutes of idling to cool the system down.

MikeyB

 

SO with a clogged air filter and a dirty DPF you dont think your EGTs would get up there??? I beg to differ.

 

billindenver is right, but at the same time, not really. We all do things we think are right, but can't really back them up with hard scientific facts. We have to make decisions based on the info we find and think is credable.

I discoverd with my gauges that running a higher RPM on grades really lowered the EGT. So I tend to do that now rather than just let it torque along with that locomotive roar. Pull at around 2200 instead of 1600. Gauges told me that info without me knowing how accurate they are. Also, while I don't know the actual point where my pistons will melt, I know that I'm more comfortable pulling at 1200 degrees than at 1400 degrees. Again, I haven't calibrated my gauges or studied the metalurgy of the aluminum pistons, but I know that in the upper ranges, lower is better than higher.

Having said that, I agree that there are a lot of silly myths that I don't buy into. It's just me and I could be way off, only my two cents worth, just me stumbling along.

One of my favorites is "idling for more than 15 minutes will wash the cylinders down and destroy the engine" another is "bigger tires ALWAYS produce better mileage", or "open diffs send ALL the power to the spinning wheel", and finally, deciding that information is bogus simply based on the fact that it came from the internet.

These four ideas are simply opening salvos that start a conversation that eventually leads to the truth. They are facts to some and myths to others.

John

 

That's why I said "as long as it's stock and it can breath"

John

 

Right on wetspirit!

I agree that the gauge systems available to the general public are not scientific instruments, but they do show a general baseline of readings in your truck. So, if you normally run 900 degrees EGT indicated on your cheap gauges when the truck is healthy, and all of a sudden you see it go way up or down in the same conditions, you know something is amiss and needs to be looked at. Doesn't matter that the actual temp was 912.7 degrees and your cheap gauges only showed 900, it's all relevant.

This info can assist you or your mechanic with determining whats wrong. So are these gauges critical on the newer rigs? No. But they are still useful especially if you're the type of person that likes to know whats going on inside your rig. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

Thanks for the info, guys. At least I feel comfortable for the time being without the EGT. I may yet add a gauge in the future but until then I'll keep her in the proper gear ranges when climbing and will also give the engine the proper cool down time per instructions. I'm sure loving my truck .

2007 Dodge Ram 3500/6.7L CTD/4X4/SB/SRW/6-speed manual/Big Horn edition/bone stock

 

I 100% agree w/ Wetspirit. When I tow heavy my EGTs stay several hundred degrees lower when my RPMs are at 2000-2400, especially on the long grades. You tap into the horsepower rather than just torque and turbo boost. Just stay concious of your gears and RPMs your truck will be much happier and fuel efficient, instead of lugging and hot as hell.