Advice needed guys!

[firefighter13]

Went out for the first time towing my travel trailer and am a little disappointed with how high my egt's were and how low my boost was. Running a batmowheel and my tow tune from Nick, at 2000rpm in 5th gear with tc locked pulling hills the egt would climb easily to over 1200 while I could only muster around 12-14psi at about 50% throttle. No boost leaks either. If I shifted into 4th and brought it up to 2500rpm I had no problem getting 20psi at less throttle and obviously lower egt. Thoughts? I've never towed anything heavy like this since I did the Batmowheel and EFI live so I'm not sure if this seems right or not. Considering twins, but want to be sure I don't have other issues first. Thanks in advance for any insight!!:thumb:

 

[Kspen90]

Are you still running stock a downpipe? If you are then going to an aftermarket would be a good choice and maybe upgrade to a 5" exhaust if you're that worried about it. As long as you stay under 1350 you're fine unless you tow it everyday IMO

 

[NemesisDP]

Buy a LBZ lol j/K, how heavy is your camper? My LBZ will get warm pulling hills in 5th. I usually pull 4th on hills. Tow 36 ft Raptor

 

[firefighter13]

I don't think the downpipe will make any difference really until I can get some boost. I would think with 2000rpm and 50% throttle that I should be able to get more than 12-14psi. The trailer is probably around the 9000lb mark and is a 31ft pull. Running around the hwys here with the looooong hills we have, I don't like the idea of running it that hot for that long, and by that I mean minutes at a time. Anyone who has driven the Coquihalla hwy here in BC knows what I'm talking about when I say loooong hills. Was thinking i might step up to twins, but with that little boost to begin with, would they help?

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Not sure about the lb7 pistons, but I have been told that LBZ pistons are rated for 1350* continuous(all day long)

Did you ever try to accumulate more boost, or was your boost maxed out, when pulling those hills? Cuz really, if the turbo only needed to make 14psi to maintain the speed you were demanding, just my humble opinion here, but, I don't see a problem there. Now if it were taking 20+psi to maintain the same speed and not really making the power, then I would think there was a problem to address.

Your turbo only makes boost when it has to....

 

[Kspen90]

Not sure about the lb7 pistons, but I have been told that LBZ pistons are rated for 1350* continuous(all day long)

Did you ever try to accumulate more boost, or was your boost maxed out, when pulling those hills? Cuz really, if the turbo only needed to make 14psi to maintain the speed you were demanding, just my humble opinion here, but, I don't see a problem there. Now if it were taking 20+psi to maintain the same speed and not really making the power, then I would think there was a problem to address.

Your turbo only makes boost when it has to....

Spot on.

 

[Kspen90]

And FYI LB7 pistons are WAY tougher than LBZ pistons. I've buried a 1600* pyro more times than I can count on my fingers and toes and no problems to date.

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Not completely positive about this, pretty sure though....

The aftermarket downpipe might even lower your boost numbers in the same scenario, due to less back pressure, boost is a direct reflection of pressure, you might see 100* drop in egt, maybe, I wouldn't depend on it

Now if you address the ENTIRE SYSTEM ie, hot side pipe, intercooler, intake and exhaust and downpipe, you might see a significant drop in egt, but you gotta remember, the fuel being burned is causing the heat, more fuel more heat, so really, any and all the bolt on's you can do are only going to help move the heat more efficiently, not remove it completely

 

[firefighter13]

I can put my foot down and see 34psi but on a minor grade in 5th at 2000rpm, 50% throttle, making 12-14psi and 1200deg, I am slowing down. At 50% throttle I have to think it should be doing a helluva lot better than that. I know that they can take alot more heat for bursts, but did you read that I said minutes....and sometimes more than 4 or 5 minutes. If you are ok with risking your engine at high exhaust temps for that long thats great, but it kinda scares me! It just seems like it should be a little better than that. I wonder if the tow tune I have could be the root of the problem.....

 

[Kspen90]

Yes I did read, but as coco said, 1350* ALL DAY on LBZ pistons, not just a few minutes. You really don't have an issue IMO, but a different tune could lower your egts some. But as I said, I don't think you have a problem but do what you want.

 

[firefighter13]

Not completely positive about this, pretty sure though....

The aftermarket downpipe might even lower your boost numbers in the same scenario, due to less back pressure, boost is a direct reflection of pressure, you might see 100* drop in egt, maybe, I wouldn't depend on it

Now if you address the ENTIRE SYSTEM ie, hot side pipe, intercooler, intake and exhaust and downpipe, you might see a significant drop in egt, but you gotta remember, the fuel being burned is causing the heat, more fuel more heat, so really, any and all the bolt on's you can do are only going to help move the heat more efficiently, not remove it completely

I completely agree. I know I don't have many posts here, but I have been around the scene for a number of years now and have done alot of homework on the parts I chose. I have spoken with vendors who build the downpipes etc directly in the past and decided it was not the answer. That being said, I know it will also help a bit but not enough. Right now it seems to be that it just needs more boost and things would be fine. With the throttle position and egt being generated the boost should be higher. Even if it was around 18psi (and I think that it should be there and not at 12-14 like it is right now) in the same scenario I think it would make a world of difference.

 

[Hot COCOAL]

I can put my foot down and see 34psi but on a minor grade in 5th at 2000rpm, 50% throttle, making 12-14psi and 1200deg, I am slowing down. At 50% throttle I have to think it should be doing a helluva lot better than that. I know that they can take alot more heat for bursts, but did you read that I said minutes....and sometimes more than 4 or 5 minutes. If you are ok with risking your engine at high exhaust temps for that long thats great, but it kinda scares me! It just seems like it should be a little better than that. I wonder if the tow tune I have could be the root of the problem.....

I am fine with that heat, all day long, GM rated my pistons for 1350* continuous, meaning the entire time the engine is on, now, that doesn't mean shut it down at 1350*, let it cool off to less than 400* before you turn the ignition off, I wait till 300* to turn it off, every time. No matter how long it takes

The LB7 pistons are even tougher, as stated above, so don't be scared to see 1250* that's right in the green zone, so to speak.

The tune could be an issue, probably not, could be though, you can always try another tuner. I run DT tunes as well, I have tried ATP tunes too, now I have 2 auto cals, and have two tuners tweaking for me and the changes I make to my rig, and I always have gravitated to Nicks tune, I don't even bother with Rob's anymore. I have an LBZ though, you might find another tuner spices his sauce more to your liking, but the best thing you could do is have it personally tuned by a tuner

Is there anything else that didn't seem right? How was your fuel economy?

WAS THERE A HEADWIND??? That's totally screwed me before, and I didn't realize it, headwind is your enemy when towing, hunting with your prey in your sights, headwind good, towing, headwind bad

 

[firefighter13]

Yes I did read, but as coco said, 1350* ALL DAY on LBZ pistons, not just a few minutes. You really don't have an issue IMO, but a different tune could lower your egts some. But as I said, I don't think you have a problem but do what you want.

Sorry dude, not trying to pick a fight here.....
Something just doesn't seem quite right is all. I know that if I could take you out for a pull and show you exactly what is going on it would be easy to understand what I'm trying to get at but I'm terrible at trying to explain things through a keyboard. I just don't want to be one of those guys with a nice cracked piston or 2 to put on the wall of shame in my shop.

 

[firefighter13]

I am fine with that heat, all day long, GM rated my pistons for 1350* continuous, meaning the entire time the engine is on, now, that doesn't mean shut it down at 1350*, let it cool off to less than 400* before you turn the ignition off, I wait till 300* to turn it off, every time. No matter how long it takes

The LB7 pistons are even tougher, as stated above, so don't be scared to see 1250* that's right in the green zone, so to speak.

The tune could be an issue, probably not, could be though, you can always try another tuner. I run DT tunes as well, I have tried ATP tunes too, now I have 2 auto cals, and have two tuners tweaking for me and the changes I make to my rig, and I always have gravitated to Nicks tune, I don't even bother with Rob's anymore. I have an LBZ though, you might find another tuner spices his sauce more to your liking, but the best thing you could do is have it personally tuned by a tuner

Is there anything else that didn't seem right? How was your fuel economy?

WAS THERE A HEADWIND??? That's totally screwed me before, and I didn't realize it, headwind is your enemy when towing, hunting with your prey in your sights, headwind good, towing, headwind bad

Hahaha! No, no headwind at this point....had one helluva headwind on another leg though that forced me to keep it in 4th on flat ground! Fuel mileage didn't seem horrible, but hard to say since it was the first trip with this trailer and I didn't calculate it out....just fill as I need. LOL! I only question the tunes due to that I got them before the addition of the batmowheel and wonder if that could be the difference. Otherwise, I have alot of fun with the street tune from time to time. Empty there are no EGT /boost issues whatsoever, but I'm also running on the street tune instead of the tow tune when empty. The turbo does seem a little laggy at first even empty but once it gets over the hump it sings pretty good.

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Could be the batmowheel, not sure how good they are for towing, there always seems to be a downside or trade off to every turbo modification, no matter how slight, what does awesome when unloaded might not do as well loaded. Maybe the wheel spools faster low end and moves more on the top, but maybe the trade was in the middle, which would be most evident when towing up a hill, trying to maintain a median speed

I don't know ANYTHING about it, just a theory:angel:

And post count doesn't mean anything either, I have quite a few for the time I have been here, and I don't know much, where as, there are guys that have very few posts and every word they type is like gold

 

[Hot COCOAL]

OH!!!

Ding ding ding

Get an optimized tune for the new wheel, that should help, but as I stated in my previous post, there is always a trade off, maybe you found it

 

[firefighter13]

Agreed. I welcome all the theories I can get at this point...and wonder about what you mentioned too. That thing was such a PITA to install, I really don't want to go back in again to put the stock wheel back on! The only good thing about this whole situation is that the wife said I can put twins on it now if that will help! :dancenana: Not sure how that happened, but I ain't gonna question it!

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Wow, does she have a sister:woott:

Jk, jk, I am married and I love my wife, and she lets me do just about anything with in reason to our truck I am trying to keep a single for now, I plan to get the vgt72 and follow in Mark Broviak's footsteps, but my truck is lifted on 35's and isn't a race truck, and I tow a bunch too, which is why I like DT, their tow tune is sweet, so are the others, but his tow tune really shines, I will get marks tuning when I get the vgt72 and see how his do too, kory Willis tunes are on my list to try as well, I think I am going to buy a V2 and just start buying tunes here and there

Not to push it, but a twin would help, ALOT:thumb::angel::hug:
BUT, I'm sure twins have their own drawbacks, nothing's perfect

 

[wrcknkrw]

Part of it can be your bigger tires as well. When I had my 37s with a stock charger i always had to shift to 4th. Twins cured the problem but lowering the truck back to stock with roughly stock size tires helped lower egts even after the twins.

 

[firefighter13]

LOL! Yeah, she's pretty good to me for sure I think the twins are going to become reality shortly and are probably going to be the answer....just waiting for Scott to call me back....