Yeah, I am guessing that pre-turbo I was a little overfueled and was running hot, but now I seem to be burning it all.
As I understand the turbo should compensate for altitude, so I should be running as if I am at sea level. As I understand the turbine wheel meets less resistance in the thinner air and so it will spin a little faster and should pack in the same amount of air as it did at sea level. I'm not sure this is a direct relationship, but I think it should work that way. That is why they work so well in aircraft, they automatically compensate for the thinner air up there.
So I guess I am wondering if you guys who are adjusted to smoke a bit, do your temps stay within a safe range even under full smoke?
JwS
According to the manual for my Banks, the fuel should be turned up about 1-2 flats of the allen wrench (1/6-1/3 of a turn) IIRC. The turbo was installed by the previous owner, so I don't know exactly how much it was turned up, BUT, pulling a 4k load up a 12% grade I get about ~10 psi boost, a slight haze of black when it starts to lug down a little, and my EGT's climb right up to the limit - which is 1150* for where the pyro probe is installed - according to the manual.
I figure it must be set about right. Black smoke is unburned fuel, and I haven't quite figured out yet why anyone wants more of that. Fuel is expensive enough without pushing any of it unburned out the tailpipe. It may look cool, but it is a waste of expensive fuel, so it isn't worth - or at least not to me anyway. I know one guy with a newer truck that is just so PROUD of all the black smoke he makes every time he stomps on the pedal - and I just laugh at him.
If your EGTs are getting up to or near the limit, or if you're making anything more than a light haze of black smoke under load and boost, then you're getting enough fuel for the amount of boost your turbo is making under the conditions.
If your EGTs are staying low (<1000*), you're seeing NO black smoke even when loaded and boosting as much as it is able, and the boost is still low, then in your shoes I'd try turning it up NO MORE than 1/2 a flat at a time - until the EGTs get to within 50* of the limit, and/or it starts making a haze of black smoke pulling hard.
Just my $0.02 - but then you have to remember I'm too cheap to waste fuel trying to look like the cool kids bellowing big clouds of black smoke