Guages

Ron Posno · 06-17-2006, 03:45 PM

Installed three guages - boost, tran temp(auto), EGT -- on pillar post of new 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 SW, 5.9 turbo diesel w/jake brake. Plan to pull 36ft Mobile Suite in mountains. What are appropriate running numbers and do not exceed numbers for above guages?

Stripit · 06-17-2006, 08:27 PM

Sorry I don't have any answers for your questions, but was wondering how long of a job it was to install them?

Ron Posno · 06-18-2006, 02:20 PM

Four hours shop time.

Ron

Thom · 06-19-2006, 11:29 AM

one of the best places to get info on your Dodge is
http://www.dodge-diesel.org/
you may need to register to post and search, its freeeee

Thom

5thwheeler · 06-19-2006, 03:27 PM

Ron - I've got a 2004.5 Dodge 3500 with the Cummins. Your safe running EGT's at 1400 all day long and higher for very short bursts. Pulling in the hills of Wyoming I can peg the temp gauge at 1600 VERY Easily in stock form so be carefull. I have a manual so trans temp isn't an issue but on my last truck (Auto) pulling heavy at highway speeds temp was 180 and would climb to 225-240 on logging roads when going slow.

Motor31 · 06-20-2006, 12:37 PM

I would be very careful on raising the pyrometer temp. for the Dodge or any other torbo'd vehicle. Keep in mind the sensor is likely reading post turbo temps. That means the sensor is installed after the turbo and is getting cooler exhaust temps than the turbo is. A gap of 3" can result in a 100 to 200 degree lower temp reading on the guage without a turbo blocking any heat.

If your sensor is about 3 inches past the turbo and you run the temps up to 1400 degrees, the turbo is more likely to be running at 1700+ degrees since it is closer to the ehxhaust gases than the sensor and is also helping to bleed off heat from those gasses before they get to the sensor. Cooking the turbo can cost you big time as the blades can start to melt or fragment and the engine will suffer for it. They aren't terribly cheap either.

The best place to monitor the exhaust gasses is before the turbo but then you risk damaging the turbo if and when the sensor starts to degrade. That's why it is put after the turbo since small frag would then just go out the pipe into the muffler area or out entirely. Look at where the sensor is placed on yoiur truck. For every inch past the turbo add at least 100 degrees to the reading on the guage and you will have a closer temperature to what the turbo is actually working in. Don't forget to cool it down by idling about a minute if you just came off of the highway. There is a lot of heat built up in the turbo and only circulating oil through it will keep it from coking up the oil in the bearings until it cools.

cwsoules · 06-20-2006, 05:06 PM

I try to keep my EGT below 1300. In the mountains I watch the EGT and slow down or downshift as required. I tow 10.4K 5er at about 62 mph. When the grades are steep 6% or greater I can not maintain 62 mph. I lock out OD and keep the EGT at about 1200 and find that my speed may drop to 45 mph. Check out turbodieselregister.com for more on this topic.

Ron Posno · 06-22-2006, 08:49 PM

Thanks fellas for the info on gauges. It's most helpful .. and isn't 5th wheel a great site. Super idea. Will be spending two months in Fla and 2 months in Donna, TX this winter. Three additional months, we're just travelling. Hope our trails can cross.

Ron