With my new egt gauge, my truck easily hits 1350, and peaks at 1550, if I turn my chip off it gets as high as 1250. How long can I hold it at the peak temp before causing damage?

Also, what does it mean when I'm on the floor and EGT is at 1500 and Then it drops to 1300 while I'm still on the floor and accelerating, does that mean I'm running out of fuel?

 

1250* sustained is ok, anything higher, the shorter the time frame it stays ok.

1300*-1350*=3-5min

1350-1400= 1-2min

1400-1500= 30sec

1500 and up= 5-10sec.

Of course my numbers are what I do and go by. There will be other people who say its good or bad, but this is how I run my truck. To each his own. I have a friend who runs a Edge Hot Unlock on his '06, and see's 1800* at the end of the track....done it many times will no ill effect so far. Like I said to each his own. You are going to have to compile your own observations and judgements...because there is no REAL RIGHT answer!

Hope this helps ya some!!

 

And there are guys that have hit 1500+ for just a few seconds and caused some significant damage. I normally shoot to stay under 1250 for long up hill pulls.. Anything over that really becomes a guessing game, some will say they've pulled forever at 1400-1450 with no ill effects. I just don't like pushing it.

 

staying below 1250 pulling uphills it what we all want but then i wanna see what it'll do. I've pulled five minute hills 8-9% grades 24,900 GVW @1350-1400 a couple times a week for the last few years and no problems. I think if you go by what 07 says you should be safe for sure.

 

I agree, this is a good chart to go by. Some will say different but this will keep your engine together longer.

 

I agree also with 2007's recommendations. I have seen 1700+* at the end of a 1/4 numerous times for a second or two. I did not like that at all, that was before the Smarty stack. Now I see maybe 1550+* for a second or two and run faster times.

 

So what does it mean if my EGT drops before I get to the end of the track? shouldn't It be climbing still? At about 1/8 mile I hit 1500, then by 1/4 mile I'm back down to 1300.

 

Since I dont see any upgraded lift pump...I would venture to say, you are out of fuel...but it does seem very strange. I have not heard of that happening before.

What are you using for gauges??? How do you control you Quad?

 

I drive over a grade just about everyday where the truck stays in OD all the way up, 50 mph slowing down to 40 mph for the curves. Truck runs 1150-1250 for 5-7 minutes straight occasionaly 1300 for 10 seconds. I could gear it down, but the truck has plenty of torque while traveling and I'm light on the pedal to save fuel. Any problem doing this?

 

If your stock...then nope, thats how Cummins sets them up. Concerns about high EGT's only arrive when you are running aftermarket fueling programs which alter the timing and duration and could cause damage.

 

your temps start to drop because you're getting into the higher gears and the truck is running more efficiently moving the air.

Most I know don't even look at the egt gauge while racing. What are you gonna do lift ? and loose the race ? My gauge is buried by half track most of the time, meaning 1600+. I've made well over 100 passes this last season without issue.

Yes, I agree you shouldn't run high temps for a sustained period but, that doesn't count when racing ! That 12 to 16 second people take to get down the track isn't that bad

 

These pistons are designed and have been done by TST to handle 1300* 24/7
I know that doesn't sound good but I tow alot and I have seen 1300*-1400* up a grade for several minutes.My friends have stock trucks that tow as well and see 1400*+ quite a bit.

 

I know I very rarely look at my gauge running the 1/4 but I try and get 1 reading at the end.... when I remember.

The sustained high heat is the killer. The metal takes a while for the heat to soak in and cause the fatigue failures. You can take an oxyacetylene torch and hold it over 3/4in steel for 15 seconds and cause no damage, but hold it there for 1 min and see what happens.

 

I have a quad xzt tow chip, otherwise I wouldn't have the EGT gauge.

 

this is true..... heat soaking is bad ! My way of determining how hot the truck really is, is by looking at the water temp gauge. That's the best way to see how hot things are. EGT just tell what the exhaust temps are but, the water temp tells what going on inside the block.

I will do 2 hot laps and that's it. You're asking for trouble if it's tried a third time. As long as there's time between runs for the truck to cool down a bit... it's typically ok