Is an EGT gauge worth it?

[dantsi]

I did a search and it really didn't answer my question...

Basically that I've heard EGT can be helpful and pointless... helpful being tells you the temp of your car, and tells you if you're running lean or rich... and then pointless is kind of like -- if you get it -- what's it going to do?

I mean is an EGT necessary?

 

[Omega]

Knock count is better for WOT tuning than for cruise. You tune by the fuel trims at cruise.

Logger - 1 EGT - 0

 

[doug]

So it was highway cruising that brought the EGT high enough to be dangerous.

Hmm, I wouldn't have thought that knock-free high EGTs would be dangerous. What did you do to lower them, just adjust the fuel trims?

 

[MattnGsx]

To answer the question , "is an EGT nesessary"? <---- This is what he asked, NO !
You'll use your EGT, for after you have tuned your car Basicly tune car, note EGT temps, Rember them so if it goes past tuned temps, somethings wrong! Its more of a monitering device.

An EGT s helpful but not nesessary. A knock sensor and wide band are way more nesessary for a well tuned car!

 

[boostedinaz]

There are alot of myths in this thread. I will try to clear up some of them.

1. EGT gauges are pointless.

If you are using it to tune your car yes, they are. If you are using it for its intended purpose, a monitor, then they are very valuble.

2. A logger is better.

How many of us drive around with a logger pluged in all the time and watch it all the time? Probably not many. You can tune, but what if an injector takes a shit and the logger isnt in the car. You just toasted your motor becasue "logger=1 EGT=0". It is a monitor not a tunning tool.

3. My reading may be different from yours.

There was a big debate on the location of an EGT probe awhile back. The out come was it was a matter of preferance, but since 99% of DSM's have it in the manifold on the #1 clyinder I dont think it will be that hard to compare. If you choose to put it somewere else then you have to try and figure out that data.

4. My EGT are really high on a stock car.

Proper install is the key. I was stupid and didnt bother to make sure the tip didnt touch the botton of the manifold. I have seen a few cars that have had this same problem and then of course, "EGT's are crap mine was never right." I wonder why?

5. They react to slow.

The depends on the probe you use. A gauge is only as good as its sending unit. A/F gauges work fine its the O2 sensor that isnt accurate. Same here. I have a TRE probe along with there specific wire and that thing reacts like a tach so not all are slow. Again a proper setup is key to gettin good results.


Agian they are not a tunning tool, they are a monitor. Please dont get them confused and use that confusion for the bases of you answer. They are very valuable if they are setup properly and have the correct components.

Good luck.

 

[99gst_racer]

Agian they are not a tunning tool, they are a monitor.

Ahh, but many moniters are used for tuning tools. A logger is nothing but a moniter. Monitors are nessacery components used in the tuning process.

An EGT s helpful but not nesessary. A knock sensor and wide band are way more nesessary for a well tuned car!

^^^ I'll agree with this.^^^ They are not nessacery, but to many people, they are just nice to have. It was worth it to me, but obviously, many people feel defferently. It's also not nessacery to have an aftermarket boost gauge or a datalogger on a mostly stock car, but again, those are also just nice things to have.

 

[boostedinaz]

Ahh, but many moniters are used for tuning tools. A logger is nothing but a moniter. Monitors are nessacery components used in the tuning process.

When I think of a monitor I think of an oil pressure gauge, or water temp, things that let you know the vital signs of a motor.

A logger can do this, but again, it is not likely to carry one all the time. I look at a tunning tool as something brought out from time to time to make changes then it goes back away. We are both correct, just a bit different thinking, either way good point.

 

[91boost]

When I think of a monitor I think of an oil pressure gauge, or water temp, things that let you know the vital signs of a motor.

An EGT gauge does that!!!

 

[boostedinaz]

An EGT gauge does that!!!

Hence why I said to use it as a monitor and not a tunnign devide.

 

[tighty]

For the people who say you don't need an EGT gauge, do you need a boost gauge? That seems to be a consensus, that you should get an aftermarket boost gauge...so why not an EGT gauge too. They both do the same thing. You don't tune by your boost gauge do you? You use it to monitor how much your running to let you know if your passing your limit, just like an EGT gauge will do. If the argument for not needing one stands for the EGT then it would also stand for the boost gauge because they both have the same purpose, they just monitor different critical aspects of the engine. Too much heat, engine melts, to much boost, engine blows. Whats the difference, they're both useful for making sure that the engine is kept in the safety area.

I do not have one yet but as soon as I am modded enough I will get one. Its just that much more protection against F'n somethin up and spending 5-10 times more money to get it fixed then buying a gauge.

My .05 cents =).

 

[Omega]

Well, considering that the factory boost "gauge" doesn't exactly show you anything but positive or negative manifold pressure it's kinda hard to relate.

I tune by my boost gauge. How do you set the MBC for your desired pressure level?



boostedinaz:

I see where you are coming from, but if an injector takes a shit the performance hit alone will tell you something is wrong.

 

[91boost]

An EGT gauge is useful for monitoring AND tuning.

1. It monitors exhaust gas temperatures.

2. You can use it to tune AFR mixtures(fuel maps). You can also use it to tune(adjust) timing.

Everyone wins. Sure it's not the ONLY tool used for monitoring and/or tuning, but it is one none-the-less.

 

[GSXtsy]

Hmm, I wouldn't have thought that knock-free high EGTs would be dangerous. What did you do to lower them, just adjust the fuel trims?

I'm talking EGT's that were well over 900 C, not just in the high range. I had to go from 80mph down to just doing the speed limit of 65mph just to keep the temp below 915ish C. Thats getting to engine melting temputure, knock or not.
To lower them I just adjusted the fuel trims (back up) for anything below 3500rpm, about the range you are in while crusing. Fixed the problem.
Like others have said, it is just a monitoring tool. My car was runing great (duh, it was lean as hell!), and everything else 'looked' fine. If it wasn't for it showing such high temps, I would have keep right on going at 80 and who knows what would have happened!?

 

[boostedinaz]

boostedinaz:

I see where you are coming from, but if an injector takes a shit the performance hit alone will tell you something is wrong.

That was just an example. There are alot of other ways that it could help find a handful of different problems.

An EGT gauge is useful for monitoring AND tuning.

1. It monitors exhaust gas temperatures.

2. You can use it to tune AFR mixtures(fuel maps). You can also use it to tune(adjust) timing.

Everyone wins. Sure it's not the ONLY tool used for monitoring and/or tuning, but it is one none-the-less.

I really hope you arent using an EGT gauge as a tunning device. It is close at best. Like I said there are different situations that can get you the same EGT. One may make more power than the other or one could have a bit of knock and the other none.