Pulled trigger on PHP Hydra
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,093
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From: San Diego, CA
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 206
Likes: 5
Well good news is my Hydra came today bad news it came 15 minuets before I left to go camping so it will stay in its box until next weekend I did get exhaust gas temp gage installed today and my oil changed as well.
Pulling the camper stock and watching the egt really lets you know when to shift to keep it cool as possible.
Learning a lot as I go with my first diesel pickup.
i did drive tri axle as a side job for a while but they were in not so good shape and none had boost gauges or pyrometers that functioned one didn’t have a functioning speedometer I used my phone.
Now I’m looking for a a cheap laptop so I can run Torque Pro and have more gauges.
This can get addicting can’t it.
shawn
Pulling the camper stock and watching the egt really lets you know when to shift to keep it cool as possible.
Learning a lot as I go with my first diesel pickup.
i did drive tri axle as a side job for a while but they were in not so good shape and none had boost gauges or pyrometers that functioned one didn’t have a functioning speedometer I used my phone.
Now I’m looking for a a cheap laptop so I can run Torque Pro and have more gauges.
This can get addicting can’t it.
shawn
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 206
Likes: 5
Camping trip over camper parked unloaded and a couple hours before dark what the hell I’ll dive in and install the Hydra. After my Neanderthal computer skills got the chip programmed I reinstalled pcm and and fired her up. The first thing I noticed was that it really quieted the motor down in the cab. I only loaded up to 80 hp daily driver and 80 hp performance.
Im not looking to roll coal or burn the tires off. I did notice that the boost climes fast and it hits 20psi quick (red line mod in my future and maybe boost fooler)
I will be watching for high EGT.
Im amazed at improved power.
shawn
Im not looking to roll coal or burn the tires off. I did notice that the boost climes fast and it hits 20psi quick (red line mod in my future and maybe boost fooler)
I will be watching for high EGT.
Im amazed at improved power.
shawn
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 206
Likes: 5
First real run of any distance today 42 miles to work had Hydra set on 65 daily driver reset lie O meter in drive way before pulling out like I do when ever I change anything like fuel additive and arrived at work with 1.7 mpg better average that is a good thing.
I will run it home and get the average for round trip so far so good.
It seams to run the egt a little higher but nowhere near 1200 and boost seems to stay a little higher as I cruise down the interstate which is a hilly section of road.
Again the motor is quieter in the cab than before has anyone else noticed this?
shawn
I will run it home and get the average for round trip so far so good.
It seams to run the egt a little higher but nowhere near 1200 and boost seems to stay a little higher as I cruise down the interstate which is a hilly section of road.
Again the motor is quieter in the cab than before has anyone else noticed this?
shawn
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,093
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From: San Diego, CA
You think that the lie-o-meter was not accurate before, wait until you do some hand calcs with tunes. The PCM doesn't know what the tune is doing and only goes off of what it expects from the factory tune. Depening on the tune/tuner you might not even bother with resetting it any more.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2013
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,074
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From: DFW, Texas
This is due to adding more fuel. Nothing wrong that. Enjoy the new found power.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 206
Likes: 5
Played with 80 DD today it was a small step up from the 65 DD but a lot more smoke not full coal rolling but definitely more smoke if I’m easy on the long skinny pedal on the right till she builds some boost I can keep it to a minimum I’m not a fan of a big black cloud in my wake.
But I do like the new found power.
shawn
But I do like the new found power.
shawn
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 206
Likes: 5
Well in the 65 DD I averaged 14.2 mpg on the lie O meter for 3 days of driving have not added fuel since Hydra has been installed to start hand calculation yet.
But if the normal continues I may see 16+ mpg today on 80 DD I get + two mpg better average on way home from work it must be up hill to work.
Trying to keep smoke to a minimum and use a light right foot. Only thing I need to do is stop starring at the gauges an drive I watch the EGT gauge all the time worried it will spike. It hasn’t yet but it I still keep looking the exhaust gas has only hit 1200 once and that was when I was topping a hill with my camper on pre Hydra I have decided 1200 was my self imposed high limit and will back out of throttle when I reach that level. Guess I’m a little chicken.
shawn
But if the normal continues I may see 16+ mpg today on 80 DD I get + two mpg better average on way home from work it must be up hill to work.
Trying to keep smoke to a minimum and use a light right foot. Only thing I need to do is stop starring at the gauges an drive I watch the EGT gauge all the time worried it will spike. It hasn’t yet but it I still keep looking the exhaust gas has only hit 1200 once and that was when I was topping a hill with my camper on pre Hydra I have decided 1200 was my self imposed high limit and will back out of throttle when I reach that level. Guess I’m a little chicken.
shawn
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Joined: May 2014
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From: Lake Hartwell, GA
Nothing wrong with being cautious, so you do what you think is right for you and your truck.
Let me reassure you a bit and maybe inspire a bit of confidence to ease your concerns though so you can look more at the road instead of the gauges.
Your PMR rods are nothing to be concerned about unless you are making big HP numbers. By big, I mean far higher than what you are and take a lot more money, time and effort to attain than a few bolt on modifications and a Hydra with PHP tunes.
The truck can run all day long at 1200 degrees, it is when you start creeping above that you should be looking at things to change in order to keep the truck healthy. You can go above 1200 degrees for short periods of time, say if you were climbing a grade and were at 1300 for 45 seconds or so. The problem with going above 1200 is that the engine becomes heat soaked and there is much more time involved to cool it off properly after that happens.
I agree that 1200 is a good goal to stay under, and that is what my personal limit is as well.
Your truck should not and most likely will not hit 1200+ degrees unloaded. If it does, you may have some boost or exhaust leaks which add heat to the system very quickly.
When towing, that is when you need to watch the EGT gauge to see how your truck reacts to different tunes and terrain. Learn what it likes and what it does not like. Change your driving and tuning style appropriately until you find a happy place for both the truck and yourself. This may be a heavy tow tune which is nothing more than a stock tune for the engine with slightly different shift points for automatic transmission trucks. The ideal use of a Hydra is to find and use a tune that meets your goals and expectations for towing and unloaded and drive the truck. Once you find those tunes that meet your expectations, then drive the truck and use the gauges as tools, not the focus point.
You may have to get a few different tunes from a few different places. Places like 1023 Tuning, SDK and Gear Head are great to start with. For 1023 you can go to RiffRaff and buy a single tune for fairly cheap. Run it, see what you think and talk to the tuner about changes that you feel can be, or should be made. Some tunes do not work well with a truck, where on another truck the exact same tune makes it run like a beast.
Be safe, and enjoy the ability to make changes to your truck regarding hardware and software when needed.
Let me reassure you a bit and maybe inspire a bit of confidence to ease your concerns though so you can look more at the road instead of the gauges.
Your PMR rods are nothing to be concerned about unless you are making big HP numbers. By big, I mean far higher than what you are and take a lot more money, time and effort to attain than a few bolt on modifications and a Hydra with PHP tunes.
The truck can run all day long at 1200 degrees, it is when you start creeping above that you should be looking at things to change in order to keep the truck healthy. You can go above 1200 degrees for short periods of time, say if you were climbing a grade and were at 1300 for 45 seconds or so. The problem with going above 1200 is that the engine becomes heat soaked and there is much more time involved to cool it off properly after that happens.
I agree that 1200 is a good goal to stay under, and that is what my personal limit is as well.
Your truck should not and most likely will not hit 1200+ degrees unloaded. If it does, you may have some boost or exhaust leaks which add heat to the system very quickly.
When towing, that is when you need to watch the EGT gauge to see how your truck reacts to different tunes and terrain. Learn what it likes and what it does not like. Change your driving and tuning style appropriately until you find a happy place for both the truck and yourself. This may be a heavy tow tune which is nothing more than a stock tune for the engine with slightly different shift points for automatic transmission trucks. The ideal use of a Hydra is to find and use a tune that meets your goals and expectations for towing and unloaded and drive the truck. Once you find those tunes that meet your expectations, then drive the truck and use the gauges as tools, not the focus point.
You may have to get a few different tunes from a few different places. Places like 1023 Tuning, SDK and Gear Head are great to start with. For 1023 you can go to RiffRaff and buy a single tune for fairly cheap. Run it, see what you think and talk to the tuner about changes that you feel can be, or should be made. Some tunes do not work well with a truck, where on another truck the exact same tune makes it run like a beast.
Be safe, and enjoy the ability to make changes to your truck regarding hardware and software when needed.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 206
Likes: 5
My truck has the ZF6 manual transmission.
but I must say I have been very conservative with it even in stock form it has only been with me about 6 months an I’m still a little bit concerned about parts that may be weak mainly in running gear u joints and such. Slowly I’m getting it into shape a little at a time.
Before long I’ll be using it like a truck.
shawn
but I must say I have been very conservative with it even in stock form it has only been with me about 6 months an I’m still a little bit concerned about parts that may be weak mainly in running gear u joints and such. Slowly I’m getting it into shape a little at a time.
Before long I’ll be using it like a truck.
shawn