I know the turbo Buick guys look at this parameter when tuning, but why? I've read that it should be in the 1400 - 1500 range and that 1600 degrees is too hot. Is it related to water/alky injection, timing, or what? And does it apply to us?

 

think of an EGT gauge/temperature like an A/F ratio....used as a way to achieve max power.

Most of the turbo buick crowd have something mostly everyone doesn't, a turbo Boost from the factory rules but it also means limited ways of monitoring a true a/f ratio

Wideband are relatively expensive and even still cannot provide accurate results....EGT temperatures however usually stay consistent. They measure the temperature that is coming outta the combustion chamber and you can maximize the temperature for the most power.

every motor is different but i'm pretty sure on a FI engine 1400-1500 is a starting point and 1600 being too hot indicating a rich condition

 

Most people I know use the EGT as an air/fuel gauge, but actual readings can't be directly related to a specific air/fuel ratio w/o testing. Location of the EGT sensor will vary the temp. All those things Willie mentioned will also vary the EGT.

Usually lower EGT means richer and higher EGT means leaner. Probably 1600* is as high as you would want to get(not sure). I think ~ 1800+* is when piston failure usually occurs.

Wideband O2s are getting cheap enough I'd just go that route anyways (no guessing). I don't think the EGT will be affected by race gas, like an O2 will.

 

i have a EGT on my car on a #1 primary 2inches awat from the head....at WOT EGt reads around 1350.....my O2s read high 900/low 1000s. I tired messing with the PE table a little bit, but my EGT didnt change much. I heard N/A guys should be shooting for EGTs of 1450...
MArcin