Hi Guys,

I'm thinking about setting up my truck with a system that would basically be a "smart" check engine light, where I could set alarms for when various sensors are out of spec, that goes above and beyond what the factory ECM performs. For example, fuel pressure is below 50psig, EGT over 1300F, etc. It would also allow me to be more lazy when driving and not having to watch the gauges as closely. Don't need a big fancy display. I've used the Scangauge for years and love it, but it's pretty limited with 4 values to be displayed, does not offer any alarming and I can't incorporate non-factory sensors.

Edit: I ended up making a decision, see my reply below. Truck didn't have any fuel pressure or EGT sensors which is pretty important, especially fuel.

Wanted to share what I've found so far and see if anyone has any feedback on the systems I've found : Edge CS2 and Banks iDash 1.8. I ran thru some quick pricing on the components to see how they compare.

Edge
-Insight CS2 Display: $315
-EAS Starter Cable: $43
-EGT Sensor: $110
-Universal 5V Input: $168 (2 inputs)
-Pressure Sensors: $145/ea x 2 = $290
Total: $926

Banks
-iDash 1.8 Supergauge: $280
-B-bus Starter Kit: $30
-4-channel input module: $294
-EGT Sensor: $90
-Pressure Sensors: $70/ea x 2 = $140
Total: $834

Would also need the adapters for the fuel pressure, not sure about the oil pressure which will add some $$$.

I was honestly surprised to see Banks coming in lower cost as they are generally proud of their stuff (it's also been very high quality to go along with the higher price). Still not a small chunk of change, but by the time I try adding standalone gauges I probably won't be that far off.

Curious if anyone has any feedback on either of these two systems. I'm definitely leaning towards the Banks, just based on their reputation and lower price point.

Thanks!

 

That’s a pretty penny just to not monitor a few parameters and let others drive your truck. I like to be the one that notices anything out of spec versus leaving that to a device. Sounds cool though, kind of like Bill Hewitt’s early warning system.

 

I'm not doing this just so others can drive the truck. That's more a side benefit. I want to add EGT, fuel pressure and low pressure oil to my monitoring as I currently don't have them. Especially on the fuel pressure I think the alarming is very important as I could catch a fuel pump failure quickly and hopefully shut the truck down earlier, avoiding or minimizing injector damage in the event this happens. Even with a gauge, I'm not watching it 100% of the time so an alarm of some sort would be very beneficial with items that can go wrong quickly.

Thanks,

 

That is a cool idea, I was not trying to kill your idea. I like telling people they can’t borrow my truck because if the engine blows up I don’t blame it on them. Ha

 

I had the Edge setup in my 6.0 with various extra sensors and it worked extremely well. I am sure the banks one would too, but as I have first had experience with the insight that is what I would recommend.

 

I've got an Edge Insight in my truck and it will alarm when EGT gets over the set point, FICM voltage, ECT, etc. All depends on what you set it up for. My fuel pressure gauge is not tied to the Insight though. Works nice and just turns on and off with the truck. Simple.

 

Wow, if you go with my solution, cost you pennies.

 

Sort of a little side fork in the thread.
I had a chat with the guys at Linear Logic The makers of the SGII. Seems that if you inject the correct code onto the can bus the SGII
will read it and if the proper programming has been done the SCII will read it. They also told me that they can build the programing at
no cost. So you could get the SGII to read both the fuel pressure and the EGT numbers and display on the SGII.

 

Sean, interesting! If they could add alarming capabilities to the SGII I'd be there!

So with this option you would need some kind of CAN bus input module? Something like this?

https://www.autosportlabs.com/produc...can-interface/

How do you tap into the CAN bus on the truck?

 

That may very well be what you need to do that.
Can buss is just a party line with all the players taking turns talking.

 

Hey guys I wanted to provide an update. Reading about the failures on the fuel pickup I decided I really needed to get a fuel pressure gauge so I finally moved on this.

Started with the Banks iDash because I liked the compact 2" gauge format. It would allow me to pillar mount it without losing my grab handle. This would keep it low-key to keep thiefs away. Ordered it from Banks, received and hooked it up. Would only pull thru a few easy parameters like ECT. None of the 6.0 specifics. Called Banks and found out it's not compatible out of the box with pre-08 vehicles. To make it be able to pull all data out of the ECM would require a Banks Tuner for another $600. I don't want a tuner, so they were able to take it back.

So I went the Edge CTS route. found out the best value was the "competition pack" which gives you EGT, (1) pressure and (1) temp with all of the accessories.

https://www.riffraffdiesel.com/edge-...mpetition-kit/

Still deciding how I want to mount it so its on the windshield currently. Will probably end up with the mount that sits of top of the dash. Pretty happy with it so far. For some reason it isn't pulling thru all of the parameters I could get with the Scanguage so I might need to give them a call. Not getting FSS, IAT2 and BARO currently.

Also still deciding how to permanently mount the fuel pressure sensor. Currently have it sitting in front of the Battery box. I liked that location as its away from any kind of wiring harness or electronics modules and is still easily accessible. For the hose assembly I purchased from Diesel Power Products (#DD-60FS-FPAKIT) Really friggin' expensive for a hose & adapter but I didn't have time to figure out exactly what I would need. Did come with a tee & schrader valve for testing which is nice for purging the hose of air in it's current configuration.

https://www.dieselpowerproducts.com/...PAKIT-60l-ford

Fuel pressure looks good so far. 58-60psi at idle, lowest I could get it at WOT was right above 50psi. Didn't have a load hooked up so I couldn't go WOT for very long. Blue spring kit, about 1-year old.

 

Sorry to wake up an old post, but I saw in this post HERE that you now run a CTS3. I also started with a couple of CTS2 but went to the CTS3 when it came out. Wow, it's worth the extra $100. Yes they do charge too much for the EAS options. I'm on the fence about trying out the rear cam. And yes their support can be downright bad, typical big company. I've hit a couple really sharp guys there though, obviously on board before the Holley buyout.

Did you every write up your move from CTS2 to CTS3, which extra PIDs you monitor now on the CTS3 and why? I just mounted the first CTS3 we've done on a 6.0 last week and am having fun exploring. I didn't get the EGT probe in yet, ran out of time. That of course will be center screen on the CTS3 just as it is on all out 7.3 trucks.

 

Carlos I never ran a CTS2, I was on a Scangauge before. I prefer the 16 PID display so I can see everything. Have alarms set up for most of the PIDs.

I've been bugging Edge to see if they can add the IAT2 and FSS parameters to the display but not much luck getting thru to anyone. They also took away the ability to change the decimal points on the latest update...GRRR

 

There is one good support guy at Edge named Craig Stegen, who knows a lot. The frontline guys are nearly useless, reading off a screen.