I wanted to post this while it’s fresh on my mind. I just towed my travel trailer for the real first time on the highway. Only about 20 miles but it’s enough to give me an expectation. It’s a stretch of highway with a few rolling hills.
I can see why a lot of people are down on NA IDIs. It really is a “slug”, a word I often see described. Getting it up to 50-55 takes a while (like an 18 wheeler with a load of logs) and maybe it’s an issue with my throttle cable, or something else, but I have to really mash it hard to keep it at 55. (Assuming my speedo is still showing 5mph faster than I’m going). The speedo sat mostly at 55 (so really 50) unless I have it an extra hard press. You need a muscular right leg to stay at 55mph. That would get tiring even so. Basically you have to nearly floor it keep it at 55? Might need timing?
Temperature was around 190-195, never reached 200. No really big hills though.
My tach reading is questionable at times but it stayed around 2000rpm at the 55 (50 actual) speedo reading. It wasn’t screaming so I suspect it was at least close to accurate.
If I had it to do over again? I’d have gotten a turbo IDI or PSD if I could have afforded it at the time. Yes, turbo is an option on this truck, but it means half an engine rebuild so it’s not really viable, at least right now.
At least I have a good excuse for staying well below the speed limits, it’s all my truck can do!
I can see why a lot of people are down on NA IDIs. It really is a “slug”, a word I often see described. Getting it up to 50-55 takes a while (like an 18 wheeler with a load of logs) and maybe it’s an issue with my throttle cable, or something else, but I have to really mash it hard to keep it at 55. (Assuming my speedo is still showing 5mph faster than I’m going). The speedo sat mostly at 55 (so really 50) unless I have it an extra hard press. You need a muscular right leg to stay at 55mph. That would get tiring even so. Basically you have to nearly floor it keep it at 55? Might need timing?
Temperature was around 190-195, never reached 200. No really big hills though.
My tach reading is questionable at times but it stayed around 2000rpm at the 55 (50 actual) speedo reading. It wasn’t screaming so I suspect it was at least close to accurate.
If I had it to do over again? I’d have gotten a turbo IDI or PSD if I could have afforded it at the time. Yes, turbo is an option on this truck, but it means half an engine rebuild so it’s not really viable, at least right now.
At least I have a good excuse for staying well below the speed limits, it’s all my truck can do!
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