What Turbo's are you running and how well does it cool?
Does it pull the hills well?
How heavy are you?

57-12?
62-12?
62-14?
64-14?
66-14 or what ever?

How about on the hills or at elevation.

I just bought a ps62-14 and I believe it was a big mistake. Truck still runs hot and now has even more smoke. I think that a better choice would have been a 57-12. I tow around 10,000 lbs.

Mark

 

I will be watching this thread with interest as I am considering a change in turbos at some point soon.

 

very good idea for a thread. i am in the same boat. i do not want to spend the money for a turbo i thought would tow well without knowing it for sure.

 

Mark,

I've got the 62/80. Empty with Smarty on SW #9 and the TST at #9 I can come close to 1300*, but by then I am well into the 100+mph range.

Towing is another story altogether... I think the reason the 62/14 is touted as the choice for singles when towing is because it is about as big as you can go without serious surging issues, but if you have a CaTCHER ECM all that is out the window because of the low end fuel it adds. Towing 14K lbs. with SW #9 I must watch the EGT gauge almost constantly and surging is pretty noticeable on anything other than a downhill grade. Think about the function of the CaTCHER for just a moment.... it has been mentioned that the programing condenses the throttle by 75%. That means that at 1/4 throttle you are technically adding fuel as if your foot was to the floor. I don't see how you could expect your EGTs to stay cool like that. If you had a Smarty you could back it down to SW #5 where the engine doesn't hang on the pedal as much, but the driveability enhancement is still there.

Another thing to consider is RPM. Our engines are essentially giant air pumps. When you are revving higher you are moving a greater volume of air. If you are not operating your truck at the optimal RPM when towing you will not see the benefits of the bigger charger. Cummins used to have performance and economy RPM specs on their website a few years back for the ISB. I paid particular attention to this because at the time I had a fleet of 4 Class 6 trucks with ISB's in addition to my Dodge. The recommended range for optimum performance was 1900-2400RPM and the range for economy was 1800-2100RPM. Keep in mind that those engines were entirely different than the ones Dodge put in their trucks, but the principle behind the recommendation is still very much the same.

 

Sorry this is late. Been on the road, towed a corvette from San Diego to Dallas, then went to New Orleans and picked up boat, stopped in Port Arthur Tx., and went on to Texas City to have the Trans. looked at and serviced. I'm not happy with the 62-14 It runs hotter then the stock turbo, at 1200+ on any hill in all most any gear, the truck seems slower and it smokes all the time it never fully clears up. Max boost is 30* even with the waste gate plugged and at cruise its 1*-2*.

Please give me my stock turbo back! if this is normal.

Maybe a 62-12 would be better?

Mark

 

Mark,

You may want to consider a TST. I'm thinking you don't have enough fuel being added at higher RPM to spin that big exhaust wheel. You aren't moving enough air at 30psi to keep things cool. I know you have an aftermarket convertor, but did you try running in 3rd lockup at around 2400RPM? If so what was your EGT then?

Did you speak with any of the Smarty/CaTHCHER vendors while driving? You certainly had plenty of time and you could have provided real time answers to just about any question they had.

It's not that the charger isn't doing what it is supposed to, I think you don't have enough fuel on the top end to get it moving enough air.

Did you simply go after the 62/14 because everyone here talks about it being "the" charger for towing? If so that is only true when you have all the other supporting mods to spin it.

 

If I add more throttle or rpm it gets hotter and if I lug it its worse.
I'm checking for leaks tomorrow.

 

I agree, you don't seem to have enough fuel to really spin your turbo on the top end... I bet a TST would make a LOT of difference.

 

Back to my survey

Could some of you post some replies on what you are running?
What your temps are @cruise, @ climbing and what rpm and speed?

ON my truck I found a boost leak where the elbow mounts to the turbo, the housings would not fit together. I had to clean it up with a grinder.

My boost now goes to 32* very fast and my egts are cooler, but I still run hot climbing hills and my max boost is at 2800 rpm and it still smoke at 55-65.
II claimed that I should see 45 lbs with my set up but it wont. there are no more leaks. I'm going to switch it out for a 12 cm housing if I can't get my egts cooled down at towing speeds. I also get a huge cloud of smoke and boost drop when it shifts into overdrive when cruising at light throttle.

So, please let me know what everyones experiences are?

Mark

 

You have to have fuel to make boost.

 

If you are cruising down the highway on a slight incline you will use the amount of fuel necessary for your power requirements only not more. If your egts are to hot you need more air not more fuel. If the turbo doesn't have enough drive pressure to drive it at the given speed, rpm, and the next gear available is ridiculous, 800 rpms (1900rpms--2700rpms)higher then you need a different turbo! Not more fuel! I;m not accelerating. I'm cruising!!!

 

More RPM=more air. Running 2700 RPM will not hurt your engine.

If you are unable to spool your turbo, it is to big. That leaves you two options, smaller turbo, or more fuel to spool the one you have. a 57/12 probably would have been a better choice for you. But you will take a hit to sell your turbo for another one. Thus my suggestion for more fuel. Your Catcher adds most of it's fuel down low. Not at the upper RPM where you need it to keep the big turbo spinning. Thus my suggestion of a TST to provide top end fuel.

Also what is that 10k that you are hauling? I would rather haul weight than wind. If it is big and bulky that is also raising EGTs.

 

I only hit 43PSI with the mods in my sig so I think you need more fuel as well

 

What size exhaust housing?
whats your boost at what speed and rpm?

On my return trip with a 2000 lb boat and trailer, my temps at cruise 75 mph, in OD @1800 rpms on a medium grade, max boost 16 lbs, egts 1250*(to hot for me)
And Altitude was from sea level to 4000 ft.

Don't tell me I need more fuel for cruise, I'm not accelerating, just cruising I need more air to cool the truck or higher rpms.

Thanks

 

Stock turbo. 12cm housing. 4psi at 65.

Yeah, your 1250* is to hot. You may just have to drop a gear and slow down a bit.

How do you want to get more air? You have three options, a smaller turbo, more RPM, or more fuel to spool the turbo you have.