Since this is my first day of diesel school I ask for quarter before I query! I am but a humble newbie to the diesel truck mantra and a first time visitor to the Cummins mecca. My former life involved a close relationship with GMC and dare I speak it, gasoline! So, here goes, do I really need a booster gauge, pyro, exhaust brake (can't anyway cause its an auto, as I understand it) etc...etc...Now don't get me wrong. I have done my fair share of gas mods on my former truck and my 31 Ford A truck streetrod. But at this point I really don't wanna start bombin my 04 2500. I tow a couple of different toys now and again. They come in wet at 3k, 8k and 10k. I run Amsoil in my gassers and am religous about maintenance. So educate me guys and gals, what do you think. Merry Christmas ;D

 

Simple answer, Yes.

Other than that, just spend a few days, weeks reading up on the site.
You'll learn more than you ever deserved to know about Diesels and related subjects.
I wish I would have found the site before I bought mine.


phox

 

IMHO, if you are not going to bomb you probably don't need them, but they sure are fun to watch and they make the inside of your truck look cool ;D ;D

Seriously though, they are good diagnostic tools for trouble shooting problems. If, for example, your intercooler boots develop a leak, you would know it by the lower boost on your gauge. As far as the exhaust brake goes, I was under the impression that with the new 48re automatic, you could have an exhaust brake. I am sure that someone that knows for sure will chime in here.

Jim

 

Of course you need them. Need, man need. If you question it, you need it. If you think of it, you need it. If you wonder will I ever get that, you need it.

GO BUY. Buy, buy, buy. Work the system.

Yes, you need them.

Happy to help. ;D

 

Yup,

You are PERSONALLY responsible for getting the national economy back on track! So get out there and BUY!! ;D

Jim

P.S. if you don't have enough time to spend all that cash, I will donate some of my time to help you out, just send the cash out to me and I will take care of it! ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

You are right by asking do you NEED them. But do we need guages at all? Whats wrong with the simple red lights that blink when theres a problem? That would be so much easier! If you are the mechanical type that likes to maintain your own stuff then you will appreciate the extra gained diagnostics that three or four little guages will give you. Plus since you are already reading and asking questions on sites like these then I would guess that you will also be asking when you feel there is something wrong with your truck (hopefully nothing bad though) and you will probably get these typical questions asked first: Whats you EGT's at ??? and whats your boost levels at ???.

 

[quote author=ten8fiftyone link=board=7;threadid=24203;start=0#msg228508 date=1072239155]
exhaust brake (can't anyway cause its an auto, as I understand it) [/quote]

You have an 04 auto correct? I thought I read somewhere than on the 03's and 04's you could put an exhaust brake on an auto tranny but I may just be full of it and uninformed!

As far as the other things, you'll probably be fine without bombing but as soon as you bomb I would say you want guages.

 

Thanks all for the postings. I'll see if I can use the "scientific" argument on my CFO (Chief Financial Officer, if you're married you know who I'm talking about!) This could impact my e-bay activity though! Yesterday I went to my local Bobcat dealer to pick up a couple of parts for my skidsteer. My CFO advised me not to buy anything that I couldn't carry out. I near got a hernia dragging that new 4in1 bucket to the truck! But things are looking up, today my CFO drove the new truck into town to do "purchasing" (yeah, you know what I mean!) I'm happy to report that my CFO was very pleased with the new CTD Dodge!
__________________________________
2004 2500 Quad 4x4 Almond/Silver SB,auto.
31 Ford "A" Streetrod truck, Chevy power

 

I thought I would give my point of view, since I am new and kinda bored. Well I come from a sports car point of view. I have a 280zx turbo, and it has tons of gauges. The more the better I say. You don't really need a boost gauge, but it will help you keep tabs on your turbo. You can see how much it boosts and how fast it usually gets there. So down the way, when your truck is getting old and tired, you will be able to see if your turbo starts to fail. A tranny temp gauge is essential if you are towing. The egt gauge is nice on turbos, especially if you are planning performance mods in the future. It will let you know if you are running dangerously lean or not. Some people say you need a fuel pressure gauge too. I guess lift pump failure is pretty common. My brother in laws rig already had its lift pump go and it is only an 01. Well there is my input!! Oh I almost forgot, I don't think you would need a Jake brake unless you are doing some major towing, and maybe not even then!