I'm currently using a phidgets to measure EGTs with my Spartan Phalanx. I've been wanting a way to monitor fuel pressure and it looks like you have found the hardware. I'm going to ditch the phidget, order a LMA-3 and the fuel pressure sensor you have listed. I may need help getting it all set up however. Thanks for all the info. I'll get things ordered today.

 

The only issue I had to deal with was the calibration of the EGT probe. I had to play with the initial offset to get it read closer to reality. I did this with an infra red thermometer on the exhaust manifold. Basically at idle I measured the manifold temp and set the temp offset of the probe such that the temp readings matched.

Another thing you need to be aware of is that the Innovate hardware uses a DB9 serial connector. If you want to use a newer laptop that doesn't have a 9 pin com port connector you'll also need to get a usb to serial converter. I still have an archaic laptop with win98 around just for these occasions, but I've used the usb to serial converters for other applications and they work fine.

Also remember you need to get the Innovate/MTX license from Drewtech.

Other than those issues I don't expect you'll have any problems.

 

Fellas, quick question. I bought my truck with an Edge chip already installed. It is an Edge Attitude & Juice Module. I think the dash mounted display is referred to as "Attitude" & "Juice Module" is the chip. Anyway, I want to switch over to an SCT tuner. I know that your are to NEVER use 2 differnet tuners/chips at the same time. However, I would like to keep the edge display monitor (attitude) to view EGTs, RPMs, etc.. Would it be a problem to keep the edge on the stock setting and use the SCT tunes?

I don't think you can remove the module and still use the monitor. It appears that everything is tied together at the module (chip). Any input on this would be greatly appreciated, as i don't want to have to purchase gauges if I can salvage what I have..

2005, FX4, 6.0 PSD, 123k miles

 

Jayybird, IIRC yes you can. I think you just leave the Edge on the stock setting and you should be good. If I'm wrong someone will let us know, I don't have one (Edge) and I'm just remembering (trying to anyway) what I have read in the past.

 

That's what I had thought, but like you, I couldn't remember for certain.

 

Fellas, thanks for the input. I just read on another site that someone else try to do this and it worked fine for some and not for others. One mentioned that they had to completely disconnect the Edge inorder to switch the SCT tunes.... I think i am going to completely remove the Edge chip & monitor, sell it, and buy an Edge Insight...sounds like the safest and cleanest way to go.

 

If that's how you calibrated your EGT temps, I don't think you are getting a true reading. Your manifold will never be as hot as your exhaust gasses. Your readings have to be too low. I thought the idea with an EGT was to read Exhaust Gas Temp.

 

It may not be exact but it will be close. At idle especially with the engine cold the manifold heats up very quickly, and will rapidly approach the same temperature as the exhaust gases. Remember that what is being done is setting an offset value, not changing the response curve of probe. My probe was initially out by about 160 F now it may be out by 10 or 20 at the most. When you're looking at a 20F error over the range of EGTs we are concerned with it's not that substantial enough to worry about, and I am more than happy with that level of accuracy. There are lots of other factors that weigh in to accurate EGT measurements and in reality we never control all of them. Really we are looking for a general comparison to assess operating characteristics.

If you wanted super accurate measurements of EGT the right location to measure is in the combustion chamber of each cylinder, but that's neither practical or cost effective. And even that is not quite enough as you begin to be concerned with the heat distribution during the actual combustion event. This is the whole issue with measurements, it becomes a question of how far down the rabbit hole do you want to go. In reality we just need general imprecise measurements that give a reflection of the operating characteristics of the system we are concerned about. We are not concerned with specific measurement values, what we need is an indicator to tell us when something has changed/gone wrong.

I hope this makes some degree of sense.

 

I understand everything that you've said and I do agree with in of it's self, 20 degrees isn't that much of a variance. However, if that is the variance and I'm cruising at 1250(which is safe all day long, or atleast the majority of people agree that it is a safe temp to run all day long and I can eat that very very easily), if the true temp. is actually 1270 and your cruising at that temp all day long, then I would start to be worried about some things going wrong.

Maybe I'm just a little hyper sensitive to the whole temp thing, but that's where I would be on a 20 degree variance. It would depend on where that 20 degree variance was happening at. If it was at 800 I wouldn't worry at all, if it was 1250 then I would start to worry.

 

The issue with the Edge depends on the year of your truck/the revision date of the Edge. On '05 and newer trucks the Edge inhibits the flashing of the PCM by the SCT. On older trucks it's not an issue. I certainly would not limit yourself to looking at only Edge products. There are several other options out there that are as good or better than the Edge, not the least among them is the DashDaq. But in the end it is entirely up you

 

What other brands do you recommend? Again i will be using an SCT tuner and just want something simple to monitor mostly EGTs everything else is bonus. I've noticed that the dashdax & Edge insight seem to be the most popular but I am not looking for anything crazy, just want to watch that TEMP. Thanks man

 

I understand, but don't agree. It's like saying the bottom of a pot will be the same temp as the flame on the stove.

But as long as you are happy, I'm happy too.

 

These engines are a lot more tolerant of heat (egt) than you give them credit for. I've seen the exhaust systems on these trucks glow bright red all the way past the end of the downpipe and suffer no damage. How many EGT probes are you running? 1, 2, 4, 8, 10? Where is/are your probe/s located? Are they all set to a depth corresponding to the highest temperature in the exhaust stream? How good is the cold junction offset working in your converter board? Do you have one cylinder in one bank slightly out of balance? How good is the insulation on your exhaust manifold? Do you have an exhaust leak somewhere? Any one of a multitude of factors will change the reading by 20F when you're up in the 1200-1500F range.

In the end you're looking for a comparative measure for how your truck runs relative to itself. You know that on a certain road with a certain load you see some temperature, one day if you see a dramatic change in that temperature something has changed and may need to be checked. But if you run the same road one day with the ambient temp at 50F, then run it again with the ambient temp at 100F and see a 30F change in EGT are you going to be worried? Probably not.

1250F is a very conservative estimate as to heat range. It's a good target and one that I agree with, but if you ran for an hour at 1350F you wouldn't hurt anything. Once again it's all a question of how you've arrived at the measurement and what you're looking for. The bigger concern at sustained high loads it what your EOT is doing and once it starts to heat soak and creep up in temp (230-240F) that's a much larger concern and should be more closely monitored than EGT.

The real world answer is that if you're running out on the ragged edge 2000-2200F and you know exactly where the engine starts to melt then very accurate measurements may start to matter. But in the range where most of us live it's a non concern. If you set your safe target at 1100F, 1250F, 1300F.... It really makes very little difference there are too many variables which can lead to measurement inaccuracies.

 

Well, just as a test what does your EGT probe read when your truck is sitting idling?

If you have a chance check the manifold right next to where the probe is, I bet you'll find a strong correlation. That's why I set mine up this way. I'm trying to get the offset close because I knew from the initial measurements that it was out.

Slightly off topic, but how do you know EGT probe is measuring accurately? Did you ensure it's placement was at the highest temperature in the exhaust stream?

Of course I'm happy I've got a Ford 6.0

 

You should also be concerned with EOT, ECT and the diff between them, and FP is also one you need to keep your eye on. Injectors ain't cheap, and low pressure or running out of fuel is very hard on them, if not fatal. Just my .02. This is why I'd like to get the Insight, for things like ECT, EOT, volts, etc. I have analog EGT, boost and tranny now and I'm fixin' to get a FP gauge soon.