How accurate are EGT guages to tune off of?

Any particular kits better than others?

 

I've also been wondering about this.
Back up top.......

 

Westach and Autometer seem to be the best 2.
Most people in the turbo dodge community won't up the boost w/out an EGT gauge in the car

 

what is a egt.

 

From my experience, you need to tune the engine first, then check the EGT, and use the EGT (exhaust gas temperature) to watch for signs of problems with the tune). I don't think you can pick an EGT temperature, set the A/F ratio to achieve the desired temp, and then just assume it is tuned correctly. The specific EGT for "best tune" is not a predetermined # for all engines, it is specific to each engine configuration.

 

Sounds logical to me.

 

So would an Air/Fuel ratio meter work better?

 

A wide band sensor would help. But again, the needs of any specific engine configuration may be different as far as the exact A/F ratio it needs. And, the A/F ratio it needs at max torque is not necessarily the same A/F ratio it needs at max power.... its a variable. That's why you have a fuel "map" that varies the fuel calculations as a function of RPM and MAP.

I watched a couple of pro's tune my setup, and they kept playing with A/F ratio and spark timing until the engine produced max power, without any signs of detonation. They would make an engine dyno pull, pull all the plugs, and examine them with a magnifying glass.... I couldn't really see exactly what they were looking at, but they tried to explain how detonation would show up on the insulator. Then they would put a new set of plugs in and try again. After enough tries with enough variables, the optimum fuel and timing maps became apparent, while providing the required safety margin from detonation.

A wide band sensor would provide more info, in my mind, as to the state of the tune, after you verified the correct A/F ratio on the dyno. Then if you start to see the A/F ratio varying from the optimum while you are racing, you make the required adjustments to bring it back where it belongs... I've seen that technique used very successfully on an 1,125HP LT1.

But a wide band sensor is expensive ($1,000 with the electronics and meter) and has a very limted life - 500hours on unleaded, much less on leaded fuel. The replacement sensor is typically $300-350. A MoTeC Professional Lambda Meter has been on my "wish list" for a long time.........

 

An EGT gauge is tons more accurate than an a/f gauge

 

Thanx guys.

 

An EGT Meter is a great way to tune, while not as accurate as a Wideband, it is still a very useful tool. Check out www.archeat.com I use their meter, works great.

 

This looks cool.

http://www.archeat.com/Merchant2/mer...egory_Code=EGT

I could mount it in the glove box.