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Topic: Boost and heat gauges? (Read 659 times) previous topic - next topic

Boost and heat gauges?

The Airstream had the boost & pyrometer gauges, which I came to depend on in climbing. This coach has neither, should I be installing them or following just my tach & temp gauges?  :-\

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1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Boost and heat gauges?

Reply #1 –
Great question, Mike. To add to it, the Silverleaf systems always show that type of info. Are the sensors in place and supplying data to the ECM, or would we be starting from scratch on a pyrometer and boost gauge ?
Thanks,
Len
Len and Deb Speiser
1999 U270 36'
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus!--Ken Kesey
If you're lucky enough to live in a bus, you're lucky enough!

Re: Boost and heat gauges?

Reply #2 –
Quote from: mike leary –
The Airstream had the boost & pyrometer gauges, which I came to depend on in climbing. This coach has neither, should I be installing them or following just my tach & temp gauges?  :-\

      ISSPRO.com - Quality Gauges, Tachometers, Speedometers and more!
Pyrometer is a great add on in monitoring your engine load. Silverleaf is great but only calculates boost, and cannot show egt on many coaches.
This is the one I have, the great thing about it is that you do not have to run the probe wire all the way from the engine to the dash. This kit can use any one of the extra wires that foretravel ran from the engineroom to the dash.
V1 Series Pyrometer/Exhaust-Gas Temperature Monitor - VEI Systems
 
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: Boost and heat gauges?

Reply #3 –
If you are going to install an EGT gauge, install it pre turbo as close to it as can, post turbo will give you a lower reading, and there can be as much as 300 to 400 degrees difference ,1000 degrees pre turbo can be 1300 to 1400 degrees post turbo.
The selected media item is not currently available.Bill&Doris 97 U270 36'
University of Parris Island Class of 66
Semper Fi  Build# 5174 MC#17094

Re: Boost and heat gauges?

Reply #4 –
An electronic engine may/will have the boost pressure sensor ready to go with the info available on your data port. The pyrometer will need to have it's sensor installed in the exhaust manifold as close to an exhaust port as possible. Installing downstream from the turbo will not give an accurate reading and will have to be interpolated.

Here is a step by step example on how to install the probe: Do-it-Yourself Pyrometer Probe Installation | Diesel Tech Magazine.

Naturally, for the most accurate reading, probes would have to be installed right as the exhaust gases exit EACH exhaust port. This is how most aircraft monitors do it today. You then drive paying attention to the cylinder reading the highest EGT. Probably not necessary in a RV diesel as you can't lean the mixture so don't need that aspect of the pyrometer.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Boost and heat gauges?

Reply #5 –
The gauge in the second link appears to work pretty much the same as the autometer gauges we put in the new race car. Setting the gauge color to change at different temps will allow you to focus better on driving.  Also  the autometer gauges are designed to be able to communicate to a datalogger as well as perform peak recalls.  For those of us with engines not equipped with computers or silverleaf this opens a lot of possibilities. To answer your question I would rank pyro as most important but having both will be invaluable if you encounter a driveability issue.
Toby a 94 u280
Cummins 8.3
6 speed Allison
Exhaust brake


Adopted by Derek and Annabelle

Re: Boost and heat gauges?

Reply #6 –
A pyrometer is rarely necessary with our engines if they are in stock condition.  If you start messing with fueling, then a  pyrometer becomes a necessity.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: Boost and heat gauges?

Reply #7 –
My m11 nomenclature shows an intake manifold pressure sensor.  Hopefully the silverleaf is using it.

Also shows the ether start inlet and no intake heater grid.  And a coolant heater input and a oil pan heater spot.  On both sides of the pan?
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Boost and heat gauges?

Reply #8 –
This is must read before anyone buys a pyrometer:
Digital Pyrometer & Boost Gauges - VEI Systems We are strong believers that to insure accuracy with the milli-voltage between thermocouple and gauge-circuit, all pyrometers require calibration except for the VEI we are using.  VEI is the only one we found that uses a sealed factory calibrated remote-circuit.
We always drive mountains by pyrometer and tachometer with manual downshifting to stay in safe ranges.  We are never full throttle and always letting up on throttle when EGT gets to near 1,000 or R's get near 1,900.
Boost gauge is our inclinometer to let us know if we are going up or down a hill, and to let us know engine is working ok.
We did not want to drill our cast exhaust manifold so we made hole for the temp thermocouple probe within an inch after the turbo and used a drilled hose clamp to attach it to the exhaust pipe.
The following earlier posting is good advice but the 'pre' & 'post' seem reversed, with high pre-turbo temps reading lower after turbo: "If you are going to install an EGT gauge, install it pre turbo as close to  it as can, post turbo will give you a lower reading, and there can be as  much as 300 to 400 degrees difference, 1000 degrees pre turbo can be 1300  to 1400 degrees post turbo."

Re: Boost and heat gauges?

Reply #9 –
Mike,

If the engine is OE (strongly suspect yours is) there is no need for either. 

Said another way,  Cat, Cummins, etc designed their engines to "take care of themselves".  Boost or fuel past OE and THEN you need to verify you are not doing damage.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020