Good Mod for Diesels

[Big Dave]

Get a pyrometer. It measures exhaust gas temperature. The best place to put the pyrometer is before the turbo.

In general, if you can keep EGT below 600 degrees, you will get good MPG.

[chrlk]

Great tip on the pyro. Pyro is also good to let you know if you are pushing your turbo to hard when you aren't driving for FE.
I am a mechanic for a small construction company and I have had to replace a couple of turbos on 3406 Cat engines due to long grades, heavy loads and heavy foot on the go pedal while ignoring pyro. CAT parts are big $$$. Not to mention towing a 80,000 rig off the mountian, lost loads...
Cheap insurance if you pay attention to it.

[Big Dave]

Nice thing is that these are commonly available guages. Mine is an AutoMeter.

[Dust]

Little bit of water injection would also help clean things up and reduce your EGTs

[SD26]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Nice thing is that these are commonly available guages. Mine is an AutoMeter.

How far from the cylinder head did you mount your pyro sensor?

[Big Dave]

My pyrometer is about 8 inches in front of the turbo, downstream of the "Y." It reads an average of the EGT of the eight cylinders.

Aircraft pyros read each cylinder. Pilots are very vigilant about engine trouble when they have only one engine.

[philp100]

With the high zoot rebuild I had done on my auto-magic tranny I can't hardly get it to shift if I drive with the EGT's under 600 on my Dodge.
On a more exciting note, I Pulled a long steep grade last month with GCW at ~14k. 28psi boost and EGT never went over 1100.
By the way, Big Dave, I love what you are doing to your truck.

[91CavGT]

I agree with Big Dave. Exhaust temp is a good indication of running effectively for best gas mileage on a diesel engine. If you run too rich, pyro goes up, run too lean and the pyro goes up. Keep it low and safe and effecient and gas mileage will be your reward!

I wish our school busses had an EGT gauge!! I swear, some of these drivers never let their foot off the go pedal till they pull back into the lot! The same school bus can get 5 mpg with one agressive driver, yet 7 mpg with a different and more sane driver but on the same route!!