Honestly, haven't even put the hammer down...just normal highway and city driving...so no WOT attempts.

So doesn't this turbo also have a bigger compressor wheel? Maybe that offsets the slow spool - it drives more air at lower RPM?

Did the guy who recommended not doing the stage 3 try one out or was his thoughts on it more theoretical - looking at the numbers?

It would be cool to jump in the truck of someone who has a stage 2 with no major fuel upgrades to see the difference.

 

The Garrett wheels do a great job of moving air at low rpm and boost, its a good combo of the comp/turbine wheels. I get better performance from lower boost across the board. The bigger wheel will move more air per rpm, but also takes more energy in the turbine side to spool up.

The guy who made the recommendations is, from what I read/hear, one of the premier Garrett distributors for the powermax series on our trucks and sells a lot of them and gets a lot of feedback. In a single application I don't know anyone who doesn't trust him.

What elevation are you at?

 

I'm at about 2200 feet.

 

I am at 2700 feet, and generally go up from there. I really start to see an increase in EGT's per hp at about 6500' up on a 70°+ day, and 8000° on a 50°+ day. I have only been above 7,500 a few times towing with the new turbo, and none with the stock turbo, but I am quite impressed with how it works.

For comparison towing my 6K TT at 55-70 in 6th makes for about 950-1000° EGT's on the flats, and 1050-1150° on all but the steepest (over 5%) grades. I will pull hills in 6th from 1900+ rpms, below that I down shift and EGT's fall out the bottom.

I do still think I am having my WG open on me at about 30 psi, despite it being almost as tight as it can get and that may be effecting my cooling on the steepest of grades, but normally I don't get over 25 psi of boost and 22 psi of drive when pulling hills.

I would expect the Stage 3 to run about 100° hotter on the flats and the same, or cooler, on the 5%+ grade.

 

So I haven't had the 0299 code trip in quite a few days. I wonder if the computer has "learned" or maybe it's the cooler fall weather we've been having...

Overall I'm very pleased with this turbo. I think my next step will be Hamilton Cams to spool it quicker. After that I will follow by the big expensive package: modified fuel pump/injectors/head studs and of course ....a new transmission.

 

Is a new exhaust manifold worth it to lower EGT's? What do you guys recommend and what are the manifold blankets exactly?

-G

 

The exhaust manifold will help increase exhaust flow, which lowers drive pressure and improves spool.. EGT's could be a little lower as a result.

These are blankets.. www.crdpower.com

 

what do you recommend for an exhaust manifold? I've seen so many different ones and just want to know whats the best for the money spent.

-G

this turbo talk is very intriguing also. I have 97k on my truck right now, not sure when the best time to do it would be.

 

I have the ATS and am happy with it, but did so many mods at the same time I can't comment on gains.

 

I've had AFE and ATS. My manifold I had ceramic coated inside and out with high temp black.

The ATS has one 1/4 inch NPT port, the AFE has two 1/8 inch NPT ports. ATS has more metal to it..."webbed" between exhaust pots.

I saw a new one in diesel tech mag that looked a step above them all...I think it was called "SteedSpeed".

 

I have seen the steedspeeds in person and they are the cat's meow! But I don't think they offer a 3rd gen style.

Really on a 3rd gen anything is an improvement.

 

I have the steed speed with twin garretts. You won't regret gettting the Steed. They're made in Kamloops or Kelowna Canada as well so no brokerage or high shipping fees to where we're at.

It's unbelievable how much better of a daily driver these trucks are once you feed them the air they require.

 

Yes, I was surprised at the difference the manifold upgrade made. I did it as a single mod without anything else.

Still no 299 code seen. Last night I removed the boost fooler (sounds like I didn't need it anyway) and put in the Diablo Powerpuck Extreme I had sitting in my garage for a year. Would have not even bought the boost fooler had I know that the device taps the same MAP sensor.

I've got a few things I need to sell online now...

 

thats good news about your manifold. I had mine done with the turbo install so I can't comment. The steed looks like it'd flow better just by looking at it. Great finish on it as well. It was pricey though.

I see little to no boost pressure as you do under what was normal throttle position and have thrown no low boost codes. Guess I've been lucky. I find it wierd thought that it'd throw a code like that when idling.

What did your garrett vendor set your max boost pressure to out of curiosity?

 

Gmann...you have a stage 3?

My Garrett was said to be set to stock levels right in the instructions out of the box. I think that's what?...30 PSI?

Still no 0299 code and it's been almost a week...so who knows...