EGT Gauge - Necessary???

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

2001400ex wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

gmckenzie wrote:
Don't have a diesel any more, but am surprised by the responses. I wouldn't run without one. Had a 94 GMC (POS) and I could make hit 1300 climbing hills with no modifications to the motor. Then had an 01 Duramax, chipped but ran in mileage while towing (level 1) and still had to back off on some hills due to EGT's. Truck felt like it was pulling fine.

You are going to be coming through BC. Lots of long, steep hills. You need an EGT. For the price it is really cheap insurance.

And what's wrong with 1,300? I have a 6.5 and have run it up to 1,500 more than a few times. 180,000 and still runs great.

Well aluminum starts to melt at 1,300 degrees. But the 6.0 is very sensitive to EGTs. When I got rid of mine, if I kept it at 1,150 degrees for more than a couple minutes, like on a mountain pass, it would puke coolant. Not a lot, but indicative of the beginning of head gaskets being blown. That's a specific 6.0 issue and not an overall diesel issue.

Fortunately for us pistons are not made of pure aluminum. They are an alloy. Also fortunately for you pistons have oil squirters on them to keep them cool and not melt under a "stock tune."

Blown head gaskets in 6.0's have nothing to do with EGT's. You were just limping a sick engine along by watching EGT's.

Can anybody show me one failed piston with a stock tune? (that's without a mechanical failure like a blown injector or blown turbo)

Many stock 6.0s blew head gaskets. The issue came up with casting sand in the engine that clogged the oil and egr cooler. The high temps coupled with the factory head bolts that were designed to stretch, would cause oil to dunno into the coolant and cause the coolant to puke. The issue was a blown head gasket

Yes, most diesels don't have that issue but the 6.0 is an exception.