Why are EGT's such an issue?

[6LiterGearBeater]

EGT's on 2.3 turbo's get above 1500 degrees frequently on WOT runs, why are diesels so sensitive to EGT's below 1500 degrees?

['strokeThis_'07]

Sustained high EGTS are dangerous...hitting 1500 for a couple seconds generally wont hurt them...and the 2.3 turbo isnt at 1500 for long period of times either, or theyd melt too...the pistons in pickup diesels are generally aluminum (not sure if all three are or not, but the Cummins and Duramax ones are) and the melting point of aluminum is well below 1500 at 1220 degrees

[alabamafrog]

EGT too high = melted piston, I hit 1500 pretty regular but don't hold it there for more then a few seconds. A long block 7.3 can cost from $6,000 to $12,000 I here 6.0 is even higher!

[redstroker_2002]

ya i have seen a melted piston and it looks like a blown up coffee can!! no joke its not pretty!

[6LiterGearBeater]

Some of the guys that road race their 2.3 turbos see up to 1800, and their exhaust stays pretty hot almost the whole time. 2.3's use forged aluminum pistons, too. I have a 2nd question now: since the EGT's get hot after sustained use, is it only a problem when you are towing? I'm about to put an SCT Livewire and exhaust on my truck, but I don't have a pyrometer yet. I won't be doing any towing until this spring, so the truck will be unloaded or very lightly loaded almost the whole time. I will install a pyrometer when I start towing. Should I worry about my EGT's until then?

[Dave]

You should watch your EGT's anytime with a tuner. You can get a pyro for the livewire

[tech10002]

Yeah, get the pyro probe for the Livewire if you're running a tune. If you really don't want to install it now, just run the economy tune. It's pretty hard to hit much more than 1100-1200 no matter how hard you run my economy tune from DJ's.

[BigGreen06]

I have my SCT set to alert me if the EGTs hit 1300* and it does if I lay into it for a while like racing someone.

-BG06.

[Clay Henry]

Originally Posted by BigGreen06

I have my SCT set to alert me if the EGTs hit 1300* and it does if I lay into it for a while like racing someone.

-BG06.

Yep, mine (with my new sct street tune) hits 1300 pretty fast. I don't know if i could even go a hole 1/4 mile like that.

[720Deere]

Originally Posted by CHenry

Yep, mine (with my new sct street tune) hits 1300 pretty fast. I don't know if i could even go a hole 1/4 mile like that.

If it's anything like mine, after it hits third gear the EGT will start to drop. You should actually hit max EGT well before the 1/4 mile and then watch it drop as your speed increases. The intercooler becomes more effective at higher speeds.