Pyrometer for C15 single turbo MBN; How hot is too hot?

i want a 379 pete 2 to 20.000 plz advize with a cat cuz there the best

 

I'm running a 525hp MBN C15. NO EGT issues at all! Mountains or not. The ISX on the other hand.................

 

Anything done to the MBN? Whats wrong with the isx?

 

My uncle tells me that if you tuned the 250 non turbo right there would be a flame out the stack. He said especially out in West Texas where the air was thin, trucks ran out of Arkansas. Drivers would mount a spot mirror where they could see the flame

Only back in the day!

 

Most drivers would buy a small spot mirror, mount it on the top mirror frame on the drivers side, and point it toward the stack.

You could tell the hopped up trucks by the black soot on the right front clearance light, and down the side of the trailer, starting at the top corner, and running to the rear, spreading out in a V shape.

I have seen some pre-painted trailers with the paint scortched from the exhaust.

Most trailers then were aluminum, or stainless.

 

Only thing I know that has been done to the MBN, is the 525hp uprate from 475. Even with the POS OEM mufflers, EGTs were never an issue. If they got too hot for my liking, I'd drop a gear. Very easy to control. It has been a great engine.

The ISX, that is a mixed bag. I tried talking my boss out of buying the truck, because I could it had issues. And, it had been licensed for 106k in ID. But, he bought it anyhow, and really only because it had 386k on it, the others I was interested in had 625k. Both were '01 T800's. One had a 550hp 3406E, 13spd RR and 3.55 gears and the other had a 550hp C15 w/18spd RR and 3.55 gears. The one with the 3406 had REALLY loose suspesion and cab bushings, so I ruled that one out. Did had a new reman RR in it, after the other had a rear bearing failure.

The ISX powered truck has issues, and has been to the shop several times, and it refused to act up every time. Would be running smooth when we got there. It would only act up when I was running OTR, and it had only been shut off long enough to check the oil when fueling up. It shakes enough now, we need to take it in. It will do it anytime now, and shakes so bad at idle, it gives me a migraine while trying to sleep. If it is warm or cool enough, I shut it off, but can't always, or I don't trust it to start when no where near a shop. It also likes to wet stack. Almost all of the exhaust port gaskets between the head and exh. manifold seep oil. Not as bad after the new head (cracked on #3 and was dumping fuel and diluting the oil), though. Cummins covered the parts cost, even though it was out of warranty. We just had to pay labor to R&R it. I asked them to do a compression check, but they said it wasn't possible. WTH?

All of this happened the summer of '07-

The eng. oil cooler puked near Des Moines, Ia. The DM KW dealer fixed it.

1 injector stuck shut and was replaced (boss should've had them ALL replaced)

Water pump puked near Harrisonburg, VA. I replaced it in the IH dealer parking lot with hand tools. (That was "fun".

Truck runs pretty smooth down the road, but idles like crap, and I think the Jakes need to be rebuilt.

Truck now has ~550k miles on it.

 

I have the same opinion as you about the ISX, its just not a good engine, yes i do like the design but the rest just sucks. I know they are troublesome but people are blinded by the "cummins better millage theory".

My MBN is a very good reliable motor, 750k miles and only burns a 1/4 of a gallon between oil changes, has been running big power for about 60k miles or so now and takes it like a champ.

 

Not sure if Cummins is the same but Cat don't give specs for compression/leak down tests because the top piston ring is a key stone type and doesn't get a proper seal against the bore untill its under load.

 

you keep saying big power, what is big power to you

 

1045hp at the crank.