# 10 plate and high egt while towing ...lower mpg
 

After 5 yrs of owning a 98 12v truck I added a #10 plate slid foward, 4"exhaust (diamond), scotty air, and pyro/boost gauges. While towing a load of Bees to florida this week (gross wt 26,620) I really had to get out of it or the pyro went over 1400 quick. the power differance is unreal but I really cant use but part of it. I topped Jellico Mt on I75 at 50 MPH (7miles at 4% grade). I was only at 1/2 throttle and could have topped it at 80 if egt were lower! Engine temp was at 210. On any hill I had to really watch the pyro as it would hit 1400 without getting on it at all.....just keeping speed at 65 on inclines boost never got over 28 lbs., was usually between 20 and 25 on hills . Do I need to back plate off and adjust star screw back 4-5 turns? My mpg was 9.5 loaded (was 10 last year with old plate). Coming back with empty alumn. dual axle gooseneck i was between 10 and 11. Never checked it before with that trailer but with empty bumper pull was 15 mpg. I have 4:10 gears. Seems like I may need to cut back fuel for effiency and temps. Any input or suggestions very much appreciated thanks Rick

I went through the same thing.......

I tried backing off the plate and the housing....but no good for me. I pull a 50 ft enclosed at around the same weight. (23-28k)
I gave up and put a ht3b on and upped the hx35 housing to a 16. I can now pull a 6% grade very very nicely. I run 3.54 gears and can basically go as fast as I want now. It amazes me and most the people pulling a hill when a 65 ft rig motors past.........at 70mph. I rarely down shift to 4th unless really loaded, then it pulls at 60-68 mph depending mostly on traffic.
I ussually see around 40-45 psi from the twins pulling a hill. I have an exhuast leak between the turbos, and then Ill move the plate up further and expect to see 50 psi. It now runs 1275 most of the time. In 125 degree heat Laughlin NV (the road to the middle of hell) I saw 1375 at 28k lbs.

I would say that unles you want to drop the money on a new turbo right now, just go with a 16cm housing on your stock turbo. This is supposed to drop EGT's about 200 degrees. Thats the problem i have right now is that i can hit 1450 degrees by the time i get to 65mph if i want[eyecrazy] . Im hopefully getting a 16cm housing for christmas though, which should put me about where i need to be EGT wise hopefully. You can buy them on www.smokindiesel.com for $145 i think. Someone said piers had them on sale for $135, but i dont know. I would think that you should be able to move the plate back and get EGT's a lot lower. If i move my plate back, i can drop EGT's a bunch, but i also lose some power. A 16cm housing will give yopu maybe a little more lag, but should really help a lot pulling. I would also suggest backing off the fuel plate. What did you top Jellico at before running as hard as you scould go? Do you have a 3k GSK too? I thought dad told me that he talked to you, and you said you had a 3k gsk? My GSK really raised my temperstures more than anything.

Eric

slide the plate back some to reduce egt's or get a bigger turbo,as for your mpg back your foot off,or just:D with the power. are you driving the truck harder because you have the power,that will reduce mpg...

didnt drive any harder....had more power and used less excellator to pull hills loaded. On way home I drove 65-70 like last year....all on interstate. I dont get on it ....just drive normal. Ill check mpg this week while empty and see if any differance. Seems to have gone down though. Rick

It may seem like your not driving any harder but that may not be the case. I think you should slide your plate back a little, that will help with the heat.

CRIS

Don't forget that they are selling the winter blended fuel now if you have been traveling in the areas that sell it. That stuff drops off your mileage quite a bit, I hate seeing it show up every year [eyecrazy]

MPG Didnt change much between fillups in ky tn or fl.....I ll slide plate back and have thought of turning back star screw a little. I'm sure a larger turbo/housing would help temps but I can back off it and lower egt....more soncerned about mpg with diesel running 2.00/gal(what a rip off compared to gas)!!