Just wondering what weights people are towing with their 6.0L's and if they are having trouble with EGT's. I am now towing about 12k and the minute it hits Overdrive in either regular gear or Tow haul the EGT's scream to 1200-1300*.
Just wondering if this is unique to me or if others have had this problem and what they did to fix it. Truck is in my sig., pretty much stock.
Thanks for any input.

 

When I had my 06 F350 DRW, with 4.10 rear end, my temps towing on the flats were usually in the 750-800 range. When I went to the mountains of west Texas, I’d get around 1100-1150 max. I pulled our fifth wheel that weighs around 14.5-15k pounds. Your temps seem a little high. I ran stock exhaust with no cat.

When I had a TT, which weighed around 11k, and I pulled it with an 04 Ex, my temps were also always below 1100 with an occasional brief spike around 1200 going up the mountains of west Texas.

 

The Toy Hauler usually come in between 13,500 and 13,800.

 

The max I've pulled with mine is about 12-13.5K and it handled it like a champ. All three times were with a Super Duty or Excursion I was towing to a shop for repairs.

I noticed you had the Atlas 40 in your sig.

Hopefully you're not running a PCM tune on top of that.

When towing heavy with the Atlas 40, EGTs are going to spike due to the truck not needing to downshift to keep up. (more power = less need to downshift)

This is why when I have to tow heavy, I return my FICM and PCM to stock. At most, I run Matt's unlimited tow tune and it makes a difference with the shift points, keeping the turbo spooled, and EGTs down.

You shouldn't have a problem with EGTs if you're towing stock especially since you have an early '04 engine which is a 2003 engine. You have the larger 59 mm turbo that did a great job feeding these engines the air they needed. Contrary to what everyone else says or thinks, I run and AFE Stage 2 intake on my '05 and it always seems much happier especially towing.

Running the stock intake and SRL+, I had smoke everywhere when I mashed it. Running the AFE Stage 2 SI (sealed intake), the smoke was gone and at most I had a puff of it before it all cleared up. We used a drop in AFE filter for my buddy's 2007 F250 and it made all the difference on his.

Bottom line:If you're using your truck to tow, give it some more air to breathe unless you're in some seriously dusty conditions. I'd also tow stock to help keep EGTs down.

 

Are you still running the 3.73’s? With 285’s and 3.73’s it will put some added strain on the engine where the turbo will have to spin more to keep it at the same speed. I suggest going to 4.10’s minimum. If that doesn’t work a V-10 will do the same job with the right gearing!!!

 

FWIW, when I tow our TT at roughly 8K with the AC running, my EGT's spike in torque lock. Turn the AC off, and it's back to what I'd consider normal (8-900). I'm completely stock with the exception of a blue spring, EGR delete, and a 4" turbo back straight pipe. Only other items I run are a coolant filter and remote bypass oil filter. 3.73 gears on stock tire size as well.

 

Thanks Toreador. No other tune just the Atlas 40. I had an AFE Stage 2 on for awhile but put the stock air intake back on at about 55,000k. Yes I constantly have to keep letting off the throttle to get it to shift down and get the turbo back up to speed. As I still have the AFE I might just put it back on to see if it helps. Not to much dust here in western Oregon. As you have the Atlas 40 also, how do you get it back to stock as you said? I thought the Atlas 40 just got our FICM's back to where they were when we got the rigs before the dealers started de-tuning them. Maybe I am wrong here.
I also might give Matt a call and see what the thinks
Thanks again TD.

 

I upgraded from a 7k camper to a 12k camper and my Temps aren't bad as far as coolant and oil Temps, but I don't have an egt gauge. My truck is all stock except for egr delete studs, and blue spring mod. Stock exhaust is starting to rust on hangers. Been thinking about trying to find a quiet aftermarket exhaust to replace with and maybe go to an intake, but heard they don't make much difference and I really want to keep the truck quiet.

It's now our dedicated tow vehicle so I'm considering eventually regearing to 4.10s from the 373's it has now. Sucks since I just put a front locker in last year.

 

Tor would have to have a FICM tuner in order to switch tunes on his FICM.

Stewart

 

Correct, sorry I left that detail out.