View Full Version : EGT and boost gauge
frostyblue
3rd May 2013, 10:54 PM
Given the fact that i havnt and prob never will fiddle with the turbo to get more boost is a EGTGauge really any use when everything is standard, i would be interested in reasons for or against in keeping an eye on the temp in a standard TD5 and same for a boost gauge
Cheers
Ken
Blknight.aus
4th May 2013, 05:29 AM
the advantages of boost/egt on a stock td5 are
if you're willing to drive the gauges its good for your fuel economy.
it will give you some warning of things that are not going right
it gives you a base line for if you upgrade later
you've already got them fitted if you decide to upgrade later.
The disadvantage is
you have to pay for them and fit them
SiddersC
4th May 2013, 05:49 AM
The disadvantage is
you have to pay for them and fit them
You also watch then like a hawk and get paranoid if they read slightly out of the norm :)
If you want them fit them, they are definitely of benefit
OffTrack
4th May 2013, 06:06 AM
If you are not touching the boost or remapping, they are pretty much a waste of money. Save the pennies and buy a Nanocom.
A EVO will do you far more good in the long run and you can monitor coolant temps, boost, and a whole range of other parameters that will actually help you identify issues rather than just hinting at them.
cheers
Paul
TD50WA
4th May 2013, 09:01 AM
I agree with Paul. Get a nanocom.First.
But
Even though the nanocom can give the same info, and the other points on the gauges are valid, the gauges when fitted are easier to see and refer to.
Oops, nanocom doesn't give egt....no probe to get info from.
Personally I have the nanocom, a boost, egt, trans temp, and water temp gauges fitted.
When my dad had my disco (before it was mine), it was standard, he towed with it and still did a manifold. This is usually a result of high egts. So even a standard car can benefit from extra gauges. When towing a caravan, you are pushing a standard disco, so it's better to be informed so you can be safe by avoiding long periods of high egts by adjusting your driving according to the gauge.
I have since added more boost, bigger intercooler, Bruce Davis ECU, boost box and maf for high air flow, so gauges are very handy to make sure things are tickety-boo.
Cheers
Kev
onebob
4th May 2013, 09:25 AM
Hi frostyblue. I have both - the boost gauge was my teenage son's choice and the EGT mine.
The boost gauge provides a bit of animation (the wow factor) and said teenage son now admits it is pretty much a waste of space better filled with a Oil Temp gauge or the like although it did assist in diagnosing and understanding an engine problem that suddenly developed whilst on a sunny Sunday outing but the ensuing discussion between us boys centered around the flickering needle vs the puzzling engine response drove the missus mad :D and she was glad to get home whereby we discovered a split in the hose between the waste gate solenoid and the waste gate actuator resulting in an "over boost situation" if i understand it correctly. I was an expensive mod because strictly speaking I bought the wrong gauge for a diesel, see photo below - being a perfectionist i changed it for the correct one didn't I - and the old one still annoys me everytime i open the desk drawer and see it:mad:
Now to the EGT ..... it WILL change the way you drive an auto! it'll teach you to DRIVE.
You soon realise that under certain driving conditions that more "GO" pedal doesn't result in more GO (ie speed gain) what's happening is that there's more fuel going in and EGT rises rapidly however backoff the GO pedal a little, the road speed doesn't change but the EGT starts to come down. So in these circumstances i kickdown or manually change down and the EGT comes down and you regain the engine response you want or need - and SAVE FUEL. You get a feel for it and you find yourself only occasionally glancing at the gauge. Gone are the days when i just shove the stick into "D" (for dattaway :D) and expect everything to be sweet.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/05/1296.jpg (http://s149.photobucket.com/user/onebob_photos/media/88.jpg.html)
OffTrack
4th May 2013, 10:22 AM
Now to the EGT ..... it WILL change the way you drive an auto! it'll teach you to DRIVE.
You've omitted a key point: that you are running a chipped ECU. That makes ALL the difference to EGTs.
I'd still argue that with a stock map the EGT probe is more about satisfying the some deep-seated longing to feel like you're in an aircraft cockpit rather than being an essential bit of kit.
onebob
4th May 2013, 11:12 AM
You've omitted a key point: that you are running a chipped ECU. That makes ALL the difference to EGTs.
I'd still argue that with a stock map the EGT probe is more about satisfying the some deep-seated longing to feel like you're in an aircraft cockpit rather than being an essential bit of kit.
:D
to clarify .....my comment was less about high EGTs and more about what having that window into what was happening inside the engine taught me about efficient use of the engine and transmission and because i considered it to be relevant to other TD5 drivers , stock or otherwise
cheers ..
OffTrack
4th May 2013, 12:37 PM
:D
to clarify .....my comment was less about high EGTs and more about what having that window into what was happening inside the engine taught me about efficient use of the engine and transmission and because i considered it to be relevant to other TD5 drivers , stock or otherwise
cheers ..
It's pretty good point.
Even so, that strategy will be most effective with a remapped engine. The high EGT's indicate the engine is being over-fuelled for a particular load, so by driving to control EGT's you limit the amount of fuel being wasted. On stock maps LR have controlled EGT's by limiting the mix the ECU will supply.
The result is that the EGT's and hence fuel wastage never approaches the same levels on stock vehicles, so the amount of potential savings from driving by EGT's is significantly reduced.
You'll see some benefit, but it won't be anywhere near that of a remapped vehicle.
cheers
Paul
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