From Ford...cost...

 

I drive as normal as I can be (which isn't very )

and I don't need one or haven't "needed" one in the last three diesels I've owned...

but that's just me...

a brocolli salesmen will tell you you NEED brocolli ...
and we ALL know that's not true

 

I love broccoli...but I love all vegetables...even Lima beans

 

Exactly as Tim said, cost. Ford is deleting things like the under hood lamp and glove box light. Nice touches that really finish off the truck.

I've found that when towing stock, I don't exceed the EGTs that would cause damage to the turbo. So I could have gotten by without the gauges. I tow a reasonably heavy trailer up some nice grades, but there are folks out there towing even larger trailers and they might be able to bring the EGTs up to where they'll do some damage.

I think that the gauges are just nice insurance. If you are modifying the truck and adding a tuner and then towing with it, then a pyrometer really starts becoming a requirement.

BTW, Rick Oliver, you'll melt the turbo before you melt the aluminium exhaust.

 

I'll take your word for it, since I have no idea what the turbo components are made out of. Aluminum melts at about 1200 degrees F (depends on the alloy), and the guage goes to 1400 F, so I guess I assumed there was a correlation. I've never seen it go above 800, and it usually seems to hover around 400.

But my stupid newbie question remains: If the pyrometer says the exhaust temp is 300 or lower (or maybe 350), it should be safe to shut off?

I've off the check the SCA level so I don't accidently totally hose the engine. Hope I can figure out how to read the test strip!

So much to learn. Supposedly, I should be able to tow 10K lbs with my 7.3L F250, but the "heavy duty" towing package on the truck is only rated to 5K lbs.

 

If your gauge never gets above 800 deg F, it sounds like your pyrometer probe is located post turbo. There's a fair bit of heat lost through the turbo, but just how much depends on flow conditions and rate of change, where the two probes are mounted and so on.

What I would do is drive around in the truck with no load at normal speeds, pull up to a parking spot and idle for one minute and see what temp you have reached. Call that your "safe" shut down temp. Then when you are towing or doing something that puts a good load on the motor and some real heat in the turbo, you'll have a reference "safe" temp to watch for when you shut down.

 

does any one have any trouble with their accessory delay feature staying on with your turbo cool down timer? or after their timer has shut down. I just though about this. and was wondering if any one had any experience? for example does your radio stay on after you have taken the key out while the timer is running.

 

I don't think the stock engine & trans temp gauges do anything more than occupy space. The Ford diesel mechanic is one of those that recommended I replace the factory gauges.

I bought an Autometer 'Cubby 3 gauge mount' (made for Super Duty) that fits under the blank area under the small cubby bin in the dash. Had an Autometer Z-Series electric trans, water and oil temp guages installed there. Bought an Autometer 3 gauge A pillar for the Banks kit but it hasn't been installed yet.

 

My AC and radio will quit when I turn the ignition off and while the keep alive function has the truck clanking away. Once the keep alive function shuts the truck off, the delayed accessory function comes back and the radio come alive again until I open the door or until it times out.

 

You have mail

 

ok, when I was out this morning doing some playing around with the ignition wires I discovered the delayed accessory issue that may not be an issue. The only prob is that I'm running an aftermarket head unit and subs and my amp is powered by the radio thus the amp is also turned on and off by the delayed feature. looks like I may have to wire the amp up to a circuit that is only powered when the iginion is on. I don't know if it would drain a battery or not? By the way does any one know how long the delayed accessory feature runs after the key is turned off and the doors NOT opened? Mabye this isn't an issue.

 

looks like the delay feature is 10 minutes. maybe thats not so bad?

 

Yes, it's right at 10 minutes....

 

I believe it can share an existing one, such as the one going to your pyrometer. Here's the section of an article referring to the device:
"The TTM is a great accessory for turbo diesels. It works by keeping your engine running until your EGT reaches a certain number. You should generally not shut down a turbo diesel until the EGT reaches 250-350 degrees. Instead of waiting in the cab until the temp does down, let the TTM do it for you. Connect the wires from the pyrometer to the terminals on the TTM according to the directions. Connect one terminal to the battery (for 1999-Up Super Duty trucks, use one of the two yellow wires in the main harness under the dash), connect one to ground, and the ignition terminal to the ignition wire (on 1999-Up Super Duty trucks, this is the large 10-gauge red wire with black stripe in the main harness). You can also wire in a kill switch in case the TTM ever malfunctions or if you need to shut the truck off immediately. Drive the truck to get the EGT up and then turn off the ignition. The TTM should keep the truck running until the EGT cools down. If you have a manual transmission, you may need to teach yourself to leave the truck in neutral with the parking brake set. "

Hope that helps

 

Great write up......good and usefull info