Death Valley - Last Weekend

[AutoJim]

[ QUOTE ]
I am surprised someone else (more knowledgeable) has not jumped in.

[/ QUOTE ]

What am I, chopped liver? I explained the "why" of it already, or did you just skip that post?

[PSDCool]

AJ,

If I remember correctly are you not some kind of engine cooling engineer? And, you do desing and test cooling systems for a living?

[Armypilot]

CMOS, if you stopped in Llano for BBQ, you didnt stop for some good BBQ, you stopped for some awesome BBQ. Cooper's has to be the best of tried here in Texas.

[Larryect]

Sorry.... You did explain the why. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] It seemed to me some people were questioning the quality of the gauges. They may not realize the gauges are computer controlled. This is not a quality problem. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

To answer another question in the thread: Because the gauges are computer controlled, they cannot be corrected by changing a resistor.

[AutoJim]

[ QUOTE ]
If I remember correctly are you not some kind of engine cooling engineer? And, you design and test cooling systems for a living?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[601HP]

georgehilton,

I share a lot of your opinions. Here's why.

(I have 6 Isspro gauges; Turbo Boost, EGT, Trans Temp, Water temp, Oil Temp, and Oil Press.)

In June 0f this year I was towing a 7,000 lb. trailer up and down the western Pennsylvania mountains while traveling west on the PA Turnpike.

The WATER TEMP gauges:
When climbing some steep grades, the factory water temperature gauge remained in its typical stationary position, but the Isspro gauge climbed an additional 30+ degrees. (over 220 degrees)

The TRANSMISSION TEMP gauges:
When climbing the same steep grades, the factory gauge remained in its typical stationary position, but the Isspro gauge swung upwards another 25+ degrees. (about 195 degrees)

The Isspro EGT gauge really showed its value when;
I was climbing a 6 percent grade and the CAC plastic tube burst. After stopping to evaluate the problem, and speaking with a PA Turnpike employee, I decided to limp another 25 miles to the nearest Ford dealer.

While finishing the climb up the same grade the tube had burst, and at only 30 mph for lack of power, I noticed the EGT's had very quickly jumped to 1250 degrees. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] I backed off the throttle position and the EGT's dropped to about 900 degrees, and the speed still remained constant at about 30 mph. I tested different throttle positions while on this and other hills and found I could easily get into the red zone of the gauge within seconds, but the vehicle speed did not increase.

If I didn't have the pyrometer would I possibly have cooked something in the engine? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] Probably not, but you never know.


And unrelated to the trip, the OIL PRESSURE gauges;
We all know the factory unit finds its same location and never moves until the engine is shut down. But the Isspro gauge, it ranges from 21 pounds to about 65 pounds when the oil is warm. It responds to minute throttle position and RPM changes rather instantly.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]
David

[georgehilton]

601hp,

When I bought my first PSD in 2001 and put it to work, I complained to the Ford Service Dept that the temp gauge did not move under working conditions. The Service Dept Mgr politely explained to me that the temp gauge is not supposed to move unless a severe over temp condition exists. He told me the same as others in this thread that it is to prevent the public from complaining about moving gauges.

Working conditions for a PSD can be severe around my Appalachian neighborhood. They see continuous duty in coal mines and heavy use in logging camps in addition to farm work. These are conditions where a radiator can become obstructed with debris. In my case, I use the truck in the farm field where the radiator gets lots of chafe from straw. The radiator becomes obstructed. The computer controlled temp gauge does not help in this manner by indicating an increase in coolant temp. The farm tractors on the other hand have functional temp gauges and indicate coolant temp increase so I know to use compressed air to blow the debris out of the radiator before the engine comes overheated and damaged.

And back to Rank54's original post. A PSD in operating in 120 to 130 degrees is probably quite toasty. With only a 70 to 80 degree temp difference between ambient air temp and desired coolant temp, it is most likely his truck is a little warm. But one would never know because Ford's coolant gauge is pegged to one spot and doesn't move.

In my PSD with the VDO coolant temp gauge, the Ford gauge is pegged to the same place while the VDO gauge moves through the range of 120 degrees to 220 degrees. One would never know if the PSD is running cold or hot by checking the Ford temp gauge.

My preference would be for Ford to install functional gauges like all the manufacturers did in the past -- AND add a note in the owner's manual on "How to Read Your Gauges"

I feel strongly about this gauge issue because I had to figure out on my own and from my experience with other engines in working conditions, that the Ford gauge did not really work. And then I had to install a coolant temp gauge that did work. All this took time and money. And isn't this a silly problem to encounter anyhow.

Thanks to others who have given this some thought and taken the time to share their knowledge. I sincerely appreciate your effort. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

[bullseye]

Read Dieselmann's Blowin' Smoke article on how the factory "gauges" react to temp changes. It'll have you ordering a "real" gauge before your next tow!

http://www.intellidog.com/dieselmann/b_smoke13.htm

[newbie_101]

Can someone enlighten this newbie and explain what the EGT is when referring to temperature.

thanks.

[haul_n_horses2]

EGT is exhaust gas temperature. You want to monitor this under load so you do not melt your pistons and at idle so you do not cook the turbo by shutting down prematurely.

[newbie_101]

Thanks.

[alfy4]

Stupid question here but where do you put the thermostat port for the "true engine/coolant temp"?

ks