Are gauges really needed?
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 28
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From: TN
Are gauges really needed?
Hello fellas.
I searched and searched these threads looking for an answer to this question. I will try to be as detailed as possible with my question so i can get accurate answers from you guys. I am 40 years old and own a 2002 F250 Crew 4x4 with the 7.3. I don't want to take it to the pulls or to the track but would like a little extra punch when I kick it in the ***. I ordered the 6637 air filter and it is sitting on my work bench. I also picked up the Diablo Predator (yes, i know I need the DP, but i don't have the $600 I would need for the 6 settings) and my 4" turbo back straight exhaust is on the way. I plan to run my tune in the 60 HP setting.
With this said, do I need gauges to help prevent tearing something up?
I searched and searched these threads looking for an answer to this question. I will try to be as detailed as possible with my question so i can get accurate answers from you guys. I am 40 years old and own a 2002 F250 Crew 4x4 with the 7.3. I don't want to take it to the pulls or to the track but would like a little extra punch when I kick it in the ***. I ordered the 6637 air filter and it is sitting on my work bench. I also picked up the Diablo Predator (yes, i know I need the DP, but i don't have the $600 I would need for the 6 settings) and my 4" turbo back straight exhaust is on the way. I plan to run my tune in the 60 HP setting.
With this said, do I need gauges to help prevent tearing something up?
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,225
Likes: 1
From: Farmington, Minnesota
Originally Posted by jhorton
Hello fellas.
I searched and searched these threads looking for an answer to this question. I will try to be as detailed as possible with my question so i can get accurate answers from you guys. I am 40 years old and own a 2002 F250 Crew 4x4 with the 7.3. I don't want to take it to the pulls or to the track but would like a little extra punch when I kick it in the ***. I ordered the 6637 air filter and it is sitting on my work bench. I also picked up the Diablo Predator (yes, i know I need the DP, but i don't have the $600 I would need for the 6 settings) and my 4" turbo back straight exhaust is on the way. I plan to run my tune in the 60 HP setting.
With this said, do I need gauges to help prevent tearing something up?
I searched and searched these threads looking for an answer to this question. I will try to be as detailed as possible with my question so i can get accurate answers from you guys. I am 40 years old and own a 2002 F250 Crew 4x4 with the 7.3. I don't want to take it to the pulls or to the track but would like a little extra punch when I kick it in the ***. I ordered the 6637 air filter and it is sitting on my work bench. I also picked up the Diablo Predator (yes, i know I need the DP, but i don't have the $600 I would need for the 6 settings) and my 4" turbo back straight exhaust is on the way. I plan to run my tune in the 60 HP setting.
With this said, do I need gauges to help prevent tearing something up?
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,993
Likes: 2
From: Bend, OR
Na... You dont need gauges... If you have a spare 8-10k lieing around for a new motor then the $300 for a set of gauges is not worth it!
LOL J/k, but I have two cooked PSD's in my shop from High EGTs...
LOL J/k, but I have two cooked PSD's in my shop from High EGTs...
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 28
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From: TN
I guess what I am asking is what will cause the EGT's to rise? I can see if I stand on it and shove the pedal through the firewall. What happens if the EGT's rise? Do I pull over to the side of the road and let the thing cool down?
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,121
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From: Knoxville, TN
Originally Posted by jhorton
I guess what I am asking is what will cause the EGT's to rise? I can see if I stand on it and shove the pedal through the firewall. What happens if the EGT's rise? Do I pull over to the side of the road and let the thing cool down?
They are going to rise regardless, but if they rise too high then just let off of the throttle.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,582
Likes: 12
From: 21791
If you don't tow, or dont work it hard, no you don't really need gauges. they are only to watch. You "should" add them to the list, but have fun adding power now. To be honest i've never let out of the pedal or switched a program due to too much boost, higher EGT or transmission temp. Rarely tow a trailer, or work it hard, and you dont need it. Hook up a trailer and they are mandatory!
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 28
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From: TN
Thanks guys. Now I am confused and not sure what I should do. I had a budget to work with and purchased the items I listed in the start of this thread. Totally forgot about the gauges. I drive 10 miles to work and very seldom pull a trailer. Once a year I pull a 23 foot redline from Nashville to Charlotte. I wanted a tuner so that I might be able to run more efficiantly and have that added punch when needed. I really don't want to burn anything up so I guess I better wait until I can raise the funds for the gauges before putting the 60hp tune on it. Any other advice is appreciated.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,459
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From: Wyoming
Yeah I learned the hard way running a tuner without all the gauges. I was running the superchips tow-perf tune, which i think is 60-80 hp, I was in the hills going through some deep snow runnin the truck pretty hard, almost fried my tranny, burned the fuid pretty good. I do have an EGT gauge so I was watching it, but I was even having a hard time keeping it in the "safe zone" You would be amazed how quickly those temps can rise if you ever have to run it hard. So I guess I would say atleast get an EGT gauge for now, thats the most important one.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Bloomfield Hills, MI
I have wondered the same question - Im getting 5" stacks and have the 6637 - im not getting gauges. If i tow i never push her hard up hills - i live in MI and its not too hilly. Also i never tow over 10K for extended periods. I cant do the damn wireing and i know that to get someone else to do it would be a good $300-400..possibly more. I just dont push the truck hard enough
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
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From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
Don't let the wiring scare you off. Run power & ground up to the pillar (if you putting them on the pillar). Connect all reds & blacks to those. Run the lights wire to the switch, and tie into the brown wire (double-check me on that -- I've slept since I did mine!!). Then it's a simple matter of running to the boost tee with the tube, the tranny temp pickup that just plugs in, and the EGT pickup, which also just plugs in. I did the wiring one night after work, and did the gauge install the second night. Not too hard of a job, really.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,760
Likes: 27
From: Hampton, Maryland.
Originally Posted by randomhero1172
I have wondered the same question - Im getting 5" stacks and have the 6637 - im not getting gauges. If i tow i never push her hard up hills - i live in MI and its not too hilly. Also i never tow over 10K for extended periods. I cant do the damn wireing and i know that to get someone else to do it would be a good $300-400..possibly more. I just dont push the truck hard enough