What can I do without an EGT Gauge?

[Erase_The_Eraser]

Whats up guys, I just ported the intake ports and exhaust ports on my 92
Eco _turbo diesel and did the metal HG upgrade along with drilling out the relief holes in the block and head, to top it off I installed ARP head studs and things have been going great! Now I just want some more power and I keep meaning to pick up an EGT gauge to properly tune it, but I keep thinking to myself "There must be a way to tune without the EGT" SO.....Thats the question, I don't have the LDA, so I dont want to end up running too lean when I dump in more boost....any suggestion folks? Cost effective ones?

[RabbitJockey]

i think as long as you stay away from smoke you'll be fine

[jtanguay]

i've seen engines with like.. 20-30 psi compression on certain cylinders before because people just beat on the motor.  like trev0rbr said... keep an eye on smoke and dont beat on it too bad and you should be ok.  if you turbo it, then you want an egt gauge.

[935racer]

We started saying something around the shop here about egt gauges, "If you can't afford to have one, you certainly can't afford to not have one" :lol:

[2mAn]

Yeah, get an EGT gauge and install it.  $80 from aircraft spruce for the gauge and sender.  

Andrew

from where??

[3play]

>Yeah, get an EGT gauge and install it.  $80 from aircraft spruce for the >gauge and sender.  


How far can the guage be from the sending unit?
My other diesel (1957 PD-4104 Greyhound bus) needs an EGT and it
will need about 45ft. of wire to connect the probe....

M.Mech
1985  Merc. 300 TD
1957 GMC PD-4104
1981 Rabbit Diesel (mosquito fogger)

[Erase_The_Eraser]

I was actually thinking how I had written the "Lean" part wrong while I was writing it....geh, anyway...you guys have probably confirmed it for me...Don't touch anything until the EGT gauge shows up. What should I keep the temps at? my friend has a Dodge diesel and he says not to exceed 1250...but thats coming from a Dodge guy, where should the VW sit at? He also said it was ok to place the sender for the EGT after the turbo on the downpipe, I somehow thought it could give a false reading.

[Erase_The_Eraser]

Libbybapa - So....without fueling, how much boost can I throw in there without building up too much heat?

[QuickTD]

A few simple rules for diesel tuning,

Forget rich/lean, the concept does not apply.

The more boost you add, the cooler the EGT will be.

Adding boost will not add power unless the engine is already overfueled (smoking)

Adding fuel will increase both power, smoke and EGT.

[Benjamin]

1250*F

is this not a little bit low?

Greetz, Benjamin

[Black Smokin' Diesel]

is this not a little bit low?

Greetz, Benjamin

It's low but it's a pretty good temperature to keep it at. I wouldn't keep it above 1500°f for too long tho, just for a quick sprint (1/4 mile). 1500°f is in the upper range of the safety limit.

[Hillshy]

Hey Libbybapa,

Quote
the gauge can be any distance from the sender as long as correct thermocouple wire and connectors are used and the polarity of the leads is correct.

in other words, i can cut/rejoin both wires as i also need to lengthen my EGT cable for use on a bus and it won't effect the accuracy of the gauge?

i had already intended to do this mod but then apply some actual tests via my Gas torch to check gauge accuracy before and after.

 Hillshy