New to diesels, advice please!!!

[tntracing90]

I bought my first diesel about 6 months ago. 1994 7.3 idi ats turbo. It does great except on big mountain passes. We race the Pikes Peak Hill Climb and similar races, so this truck pulls alot of big hills. Last week, on Monarch pass the truck was reduced to 45mph, but it sustained it all the way up. My egt's were between 1100-1200. The truck only has 128k miles on it and the only thing I have done is turn up the turbo 3 turns (about 9-10 psi maxed out on a hill). I have not messed with the IP yet.
Should I??? The egt's are up there!!! Am I expecting too much??? Is 45mph on a big pass normal??? Thanks for your help, love the site!!!

 

[Wyreth]

Welcome to the light, lurker. =P

actually, that sounds pretty normal. (depending on what you were towing) Although, you really shouldn't cross that 1100* mark at all. These trucks will move the planet... at their own pace. They're just not powerhouses like other motors. The upside being, they laugh at what will kill almost everything else.

You're pretty much maxed on fuel if you're able to hit 1200* You can let the turbo spool a little higher, but not much. IIRC 12-15psi is pushing it without studding the heads. However, when was the last time it was timed? The IP retards as it ages, and that will boost EGT's and rob power. You may find a little more umph. Also, the injectors and IP are "medium wear" items, and only rated at 100k. So if they're original, they're likely pretty tired.

Adding an intercooler will go a LONG way toward dropping your EGT's and let you run more fuel. (more fuel = more power) If you're pulling alot of short grades, a water/**** injection system could change your life as well. (you can pull long grades too, it just eats up the water tank fast) If you're still running the stock muffler, you can go ahead and ditch that. Either strait pipe it (the turbo will quiet it down to "acceptable noise levels") glass pack it, or a strait through muffler. If you're feeling frisky. Type4 sells the torque cam, and that's a big improvement. Agnem also sells the "moose pump" which is a turbo calibrated IP, and a dramatic improvement over stock.

If you just maintain it like it is now, it will likely run forever. While getting you anywhere you need to go. If you want to get there faster, unfortunately, you're going to have to get a little crazy. But that's ok, crazy's good, right?

 

[FordGuy100]

Just how much of a load were you pulling?

A bed full of stuff, something is wrong. Decent sized trailer + grades and I can see 45mph for an essentially stock truck.

Open up the exhaust and intake, should help lower EGT's. You might then be able to increase fuel just a little which will help out.

 

[kc0stp]

While Im no expert (hint my numerous questions latley...) my first question would be what load were you pulling? (preferbly scale verfied weights...) Also age of injectors and injection pump and last time it was timed (making good boost so we can rule out power robbing exhaust leaks like Im fighting)

Figuring all that is in check Id seriously consider getting an intercooler and/or water/****

 

[OLDBULL8]

What do you mean by turning up the turbo 3 turns?
When climbing, keep the RPM's up around 1900-2000, shift down, once you let a diesel lug, it's a chore to get them backup in the power range.
What tranny do you have, manual or E4OD auto?
Doing some of the above is a real plus. Don't think your IP is wore out just yet, prolly just needs re-timed. If you were not Black smoking exhaust, your injectors are prolly OK also for awhile, might turn the IP fuel up a hex or two, just watch the EGT's, too high,turn it back down .

Put you truck and all mods if any, like you see in mine and others signature, easier to keep track of in answering posts.

Welcome to the OB.

 

[tntracing90]

pulling an enclosed trailer, about 7k total. Stock IP, stock injectors, stock intake with a k&n, aftermarket exhaust and the E4OD. When I said I turned up the turbo 3 turns, I was referring to shorting the rod 3 turns. I do have a boost and pyro gauge, and the turbo adjustment definitely increased the boost. Too much maybe??? I installed the probe for the pyro in the drivers side exhaust manifold between 7 & 8 so it should be fairly accurate. I personally have not turned up the IP. Having said that, that does not mean someone else did. If I do turn it up a couple of flats, will that help or hurt my egt's??? I am also planing on buying the hypermax cowl induction intake in hopes that it will drop egt's slightly.

 

[Jake_IN]

Never owned a turbo truck myself but everyone talks about the factory turbo trucks have that darn crushed down pipe. Might want to look into a different down pipe (if it has the crushed one) to let it breath a bit better.

 

[Wyreth]

pulling an enclosed trailer, about 7k total. Stock IP, stock injectors, stock intake with a k&n, aftermarket exhaust and the E4OD. When I said I turned up the turbo 3 turns, I was referring to shorting the rod 3 turns. I do have a boost and pyro gauge, and the turbo adjustment definitely increased the boost. Too much maybe??? I installed the probe for the pyro in the drivers side exhaust manifold between 7 & 8 so it should be fairly accurate. I personally have not turned up the IP. Having said that, that does not mean someone else did. If I do turn it up a couple of flats, will that help or hurt my egt's??? I am also planing on buying the hypermax cowl induction intake in hopes that it will drop egt's slightly.

Adding more fuel, will raise your EGT. Without doing something to lower your current EGT's I wouldn't dare turn the fuel up anymore. Letting your engine breathe better will help with that. (freeing up your intake and exhost)

Really, I would start first with getting it timed.

 

[icanfixall]

Between the cylinders on the drivers side back cylinders is between 6 & 8 cylinders. Look at the intake manifold port runners. Each cylinder number in cast into the runners. The passenger side cylinder numbers are front at the radiator... 1.3.5.7 and the drivers side are 2.4.6.8. Found on the passenger side on the intake or where the air is drawn into the intake manifold is the fireing order cast into the manifold.

 

[FordGuy100]

Sounds about right for that load then for a stock IDI with stock parts.

You might want to look into an intercooler, especially if this is a dedicated tow rig. That should help EGT's by a good amount. A better downpipe will also help (you mentioned that you have a better exhaust, is the downpipe stock? If its shaped like a cobra's neck, then its stock).

Torque converter locked up at 45mph?

 

[tntracing90]

I have the good ATS downpipe. Maybe I will look into the intercooler. I know hypermax makes one, kinda pricey. Can I use one off something else and plumb it myself?? or will I need additional adapters??

 

[93f250idi]

yes you can fab up an intercooler. iirc towcat has a good write up on here about it. ill try to dig up the link

 

[tntracing90]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. This will get me started. Probably hit you back when I am in the middle of the intercooler project!!!

 

[kc0stp]

Just for the record seems the most popular intercooler is the 7.3 PSD (99+) but the general knowldge base seems to think that no matter what intercooler you choose it needs roughly 1000cubic inches of volume (just like the 7.3's)