I installed my pyrometer the other day... now I'm looking for some advice on how to interpret the readings. I understand about staying under 1300 degrees and letting her cool below 300 before shutting down. What else do I need to know? What temps are "normal"? How much time can I spend above 1300 before I should stop pushing the fun-pedal? Also, I have a truck-camper and a 7000+ lb. trailer... what temp's are ok while climbing long grades with that load ?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Cheers
-Mark

 

1200 all day long, spikes of 1300. 600-650 will be the best fuel economy. 300 is a little low for shut down, I don't have that much time on my hands, but anything around 400 is a good number as long as you don't have a load on the back, then I wait until it drops to 350 or so.

 

Mark, I would turn off any programers or power add ons you have and drive the truck for a day or two, pay attention to the pyro and see what its reading when stock. This will give you a good baseline to go from. Or you can run the heck out of her and back out at 1300. Their are people that go higher and have not had any failure, but I like to stay below 1300 whenever possible. And for everyday driving I try to keep her high at most between 1100-1200. Most days I dont see 1000, but you will get many opinions on what is safe. But the less time at high temps the longer your valves and valve seats will last, not to mention your pistons, turbo, etc,etc... Im no expert, but someone will chime in with more.

 

How do you keep yours at 1100 to 1200* for everyday driving. Around town i'm usually 800 to 1000, cruising on fwy 700 to 900. that is unless i get on the skinny peddle and add sum'coal. then i'll run 1100 to 1200*. every now and then i can get to 1300*. but most of my normal driving is at the cool end of the spectrum.

 

Hey Mark, could you fill out your sig so we know what truck you have?

EGT limits vary according to which generation of truck you have, for instance.

 

Signature updated! Thanks for all of the advice so far!!
-Mark

 

Like suggested above the best thing is to know what the EGTs are in stock mode. Then if/when you mod things you will know how they have effected the EGTs. I had gauges installed before any other mod. I ran for a few months completely stock. That gave me a good idea of what the EGTs, Boost and trans temp was like through a good range of driving conditions.

With all of the mods in my signature my normal daily driving gauge readings are not a lot different from stock readings, until I put my foot in it.

At first when as a NEWBIE I saw 1250* EGTs I would panic some and start backing down. But over the years I have learned to tune the stack for daily driving and rarely see over the 1200* mark daily driving. At the track a much different story. I don't recommend it to anyone, but I have seen over 1700* a few times at the end of the 1/4. That was before the Smarty and upgraded TST, now even at the track on high 12s runs doesnt get over 1550* much.

 

I have a BD intercooler, BD Twins, and F1 Helix 2 cam. All help me keep my EGTS in check. Honestly on an average day I dont see anything above 1000 unless I lug it in overdrive. On the highway at 75mph I am at 650-750 depending on the grade. With the twins and cam I hit 55-60lbs of boost very quickly, which helps cool things off.