EGT meter/ tuning questions...

[Squid4life]

I read a lot of people tune with a EGT meter/probe and was curious about it. I am in Wichita so we have the dreaded Harbor Freight tools here. They have a digital temp meter with probe for like $30. It looks just like the fluke digital multimeters, and also looks like the EGT units I have seen at Noble. A few questions:

1. What range EGT would it have to be capable of reading?
2. Where do you mount the probe in the exhaust, and how?
3. What do you want your EGTs at?
4. What do you do to affect your EGTs?

 

[Ormand]

The temp range needs to be something like 1300 to 1600 degrees, depending on exactly where you put the probe. Right near a cylinder head will read high, of course, and under the turbo will read low. There are little bungs that weld in to let you put the probe in the gas flow, but some people just attach them to the outside of the pipe. (see why the readings vary?) The actual reading will vary from car to car- so it's hard to know what to shoot for. Advance/retard the timing, and add/subtract fuel to change the temp. But what you really want to do it to tune for max performance, with min knock. Then see what the EGT turns out to be for your specific car, and you can use that temp as a "reference" for future tuning.

 

[MSDGN]

1600 won't be enough...normal numbers you shoot for are 1600-1650 but as you increase the boost the EGT goes up...when I was running 28 PSI on my old motor I saw 1780 degrees all the time and sometimes into the 1800's...all depends on the setup...I would look for a guage that goes to at least 1900...also get one with a MAX hold which saves the highest reading...too dangerous to be staring at the guage going down the track...if you race at night you will want one that is backlit also...

 

[Squid4life]

Thanks for the input. What is everyones feelings on EGT monitoring? Is it worthwhile? I am not new to the EGT monitoring, but I am on a GN. I had an EGT gauge on my old NA diesel Suburban. (different breed)

Is EGT monitoring that crucial? Do I have anything to gain by using it? Will it show me anything Tlink or Scanmaster won't show (in a round about way)?

 

[MSDGN]

Definitely worth while IMO...if you're still using stock O2 sensor then the EGT is critical...O2 numbers can be useless sometimes...EGT can tell you if you are running lean or rich...also depends on how fast you want to run and how much boost...the more HP you make and the faster you run the more tuning and monitoring pieces you will need...I currently tune off an EGT...O2 and Tlink...you can see what I run in my sig...am I pushing it?...maybe...

 

[Squid4life]

Good info, thanks a bunch! I will be running alky in the near future, and although I hit the 12's I am definitely wanting to go faster. :biggrin:

 

[donZ]

msdgn
what kind of temp's are you getting ???????

 

[scot w.]

What kinda temps would indicate a rich condition? and the same for the lean condition? Just want something to go by.... set up is in my sig. Thanks, Scot w.

 

[Jerryl]

.........I will be running alky in the near future ..........

Good thread and feedback on EGT range goal. Thanks Razor!
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147348

 

[Squid4life]

Good thread and feedback on EGT range goal. Thanks Razor!
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147348

"""If using an EGT, shoot for low 1500's pre-turbo."""

So I am assuming you'd want the EGT probe in the pass side header just before the turbo? At least for this reading. Where do most install the EGT probe?

 

[65vette396]

I know they are expensive, But buy a wideband and tune with that. Much easier and safer for your engine. Drew

 

[Squid4life]

Any info on that? Where/how much? Maybe too new right now for one, but may be something to consider in the future.

 

[SHADOWII]

Full Throttle Speed has the wide-band for about $350. which is the best price I have seen them at. Others were closer to 400. It will be a while before I can afford one, but I will be getting one! :biggrin:

 

[MSDGN]

To answer some of the questions I have my EGT probe in the stock O2 sensor hole...my temps currently with the new motor are in the 1640-1660 range at 24 PSI...as for what temps indicate a rich/lean condition it varies from car to car...a high EGT number can indicate lean but not always...a high number can also indicate rich...what I do is make a couple of runs to get a baseline number...usually try to run on the rich side at first to be safe...then I either add/decrease fuel...if I add fuel and the EGT's go up then it indicates a rich condition...then I would start decreasing fuel until the EGT's go down...then keep decreasing fuel until the EGT's just start to go up again...at this point you've basically found the fuel setting the car should be run at...it's a balancing act...now you can decrease fuel even more to get more power but you start heading towards that fine line of too lean...just make sure during all thus tuning you have zero knock...now if you want to increase the boost you basically have to go through the process again to find that sweet spot...as for wideband I do think that's the way to go...but I would still keep the EGT...to me it's an invaluable tool...

 

[65vette396]

...as for wideband I do think that's the way to go...but I would still keep the EGT...to me it's an invaluable tool...

I totally agree with you, hence the reason I have two EGT's on My stage motored car. One pre turbo and one 2 inches from the head in #6. These are a great compliment to my wideband. I typically rely on them to make timing changes more than anything as they are a great indicator of timing issues.

 

[Squid4life]

Great info guys! Another thing to put on my list...