Would gas engine opinions change if.....

azdryheat wrote:
Frankly, I wouldn't want to drive a rig that I couldn't monitor what the engine was doing. You're suggesting that what we don't know won't hurt us or that can just be ignored. No thanks. That's like a car with only an idiot light to tell you after the oil pump quit working.

I don’t think the OP was suggesting not having a way to monitor but only asking if people would perceive the performance differently if they didn’t have the tach and noise to affect their emotions.

For my 6.2, peak torque is right around 3800 RPM. When climbing a hill, I just put it in whatever gear will hold that RPM and leave it there. That typically will have me running 60mph uphill. I have Zero concerns with running higher RPM's when needed. The engine is designed for it.

Groover wrote:
I have long felt like there should be one idiot light labeled "LOOK AT YOUR GAUGES!"

My 1996 Suburban has such a light stating "Check Gauges". It works too as it came on one day and the oil pressure was dropping to zero at idle.

Groover wrote:

azdryheat wrote:
Frankly, I wouldn't want to drive a rig that I couldn't monitor what the engine was doing. You're suggesting that what we don't know won't hurt us or that can just be ignored. No thanks. That's like a car with only an idiot light to tell you after the oil pump quit working.

I had a 1970 Impala equipped with a speedometer, fuel gauge and about 4 idiot lights. I drove it 22 years and while I would have liked the gauges it really was never a problem. The idiot light would probably tell you as quickly that oil pressure is down and be better at getting you attention. I have long felt like there should be one idiot light labeled "LOOK AT YOUR GAUGES!"

In my Ford truck it has a check gauge message that appears along with a chime noise. Had a wire pinched that would Peg the temperature gauge in certain situations. Fixing required pulling the intake manifold for access.

So how bad does a motorcycle sound at 8-12K rpm? I know some of you drive them. I do not.
Reality, ANY engine at a certain RPM will sound like it is screaming. My gas 350 that is in the 4500-5000 range. IDI 7.3 in Navistar, about 2500. 6.5TD was around 2800, dmax about 3000-3200. I did not have a tach on other rigs, like the 454's, or 292 I6, but they too had a place, they were quiet, then started to sound stressed etc. Learn what and where the motor you are driving likes to run at, run i their!

marty

I'm from the era when they used to have gauges to tell you what the motor was doing, then they came out with idiot lights. we used to buy gauges and find a place to put them on the dash so we could know what our cars motor was doing. I like the fact that today's trucks have gauges back in service again

old guy wrote:
I'm from the era when they used to have gauges to tell you what the motor was doing, then they came out with idiot lights. we used to buy gauges and find a place to put them on the dash so we could know what our cars motor was doing. I like the fact that today's trucks have gauges back in service again

Swapped out the idiot light on my ‘72 Chevy for a temp gauge. I felt better knowing the temperature when pulling hills, etc. Ended up selling it to a buddy of mine. A couple years later he is towing a boat over Mt Hood and the engine is getting real slluggish. He looks at the temp gauge and it got so hot the needle had broken off. So yea, good to have a light to accompany those gauges. ; )

Take it easy,
Stu

I think it scares the old guys because back in the day redline was around 4000-5000rpm, so even now they feel like they are pushing the limits...when modern engines are quite happy at 3500-4000rpm and sometimes even faster.

Also, as long as you can supply an appropriate gear ratio, a gas engine of the same HP can keep up with diesels. Torque at the wheels determines IF you can climb the hill (gear ratio can make up for lower gas engine torque). HP determines how FAST you can climb the hill. A lot of the bigger gas engines of today are pretty close to the HP of the diesels. (of course fuel economy putting out max HP is pretty horrid).

The exception is at high altitude where the NA gas engines will lose HP but turbo diesels will maintain HP...of course this is about the turbo not gas vs diesel.

Really unless you spend most of our time in the mountains, it's a non-issue.

An issue where none exists. Ahhhh, an RV forum LOL.

Maybe the new Ford 7.3 will solve the need to scream with a gasser. I hope so.

I'd like to have an idiot light/gauge combination. I don't watch my gauges that often and a light would catch my attention quicker.