So I figured I would ask you guys, cuz I would get more responses than from the turbo forum, and because this place ROCKS!!!!
Anyways onto the problem. Yesterday when I was driving home from work, I pulled into the gas station to fill up and decided to check my tranny fluid before I shut it off. I popped the hood and noticed the turbo's exhaust housing was glowing red. Not super bright, but just barely noticeable. I wasn't getting after if hard or anything before I pulled in, so its not like it was working its can off or anything. It stayed the same color the whole time I was checking the oil. This was when it was 20 degrees outside and it made me wonder what it must look like in the summer during 100+ degrees outside and driving it hard. Would you think this to be normal with a turbo? It has a new 2 1/2 exhaust with no cat so it can't be a plugged exhaust and I do have a A/F meter that is reading good as far as I know. Any Ideas?

 

What kind of driving were you doing before you popped the hood? What is your base ignition timing? Has it ever done this before?

It's not unusual for cold ambient temps to make the EGTs go up for various reasons.

 

Was your truck under a load like going up hill or anything like that, my grandpas dodges turbo does that when he tows his 30ft 5th wheel up mountains

 

No my truck was just cruising about 60mph on a flat road, base timing set at 10 degrees and I don't know if this has done this before. I just barely got the truck running a couple weeks ago and this was the first time that I had popped the hood while it was running in the dark.

 

I'd have to say it fairly normal but since I've not owned a 22RTE I can't be sure. I can say though that my Chrysler 2.2 Turbo Laser tended to have the exhaust glowing after driving it, but I just gave it a couple of minutes to cool down before shutting the engine off.

 

Thats the weird thing though, I sat and let it idle with the hood open for five minutes in 20 degree weather and the turbo didn't change colors at all. Would a more advanced timing cause it to run hotter or cooler? I might tinker with that a little.

 

advancing the timing can cause higher exhaust gas temps.

 

 

Advancing the timing typically causes lower EGTs.

Timing sounds about right. Even if your engine was under just a few psi of boost while cruising, that is likely enough to make the exhaust manifold glow a dull red.

 

well I'm sorry. I guess I'll just have to bow down and forget my training as a diesel mechanic.

...and retarding the timing reduces NOx emissions which are caused by high combustion temps. uhh

 

Diesels aren't exactly gasoline engines, are they?

 

but the principal mode of operation of an internal combustion engine doesn't change based on the fuel source or fuel type, does it?

 

Some of the Mack truck engines ran exhaust valves with overlap so short they'd shoot flames out of the stacks....imagine that going into a turbo....

 

I just had a whole dissertation prepared about things and it doesn't really matter.

We're either here to help people or ask people for help.

... or maybe share things with others so they can learn.

 

Good on ya. Always good to keep in mind that the Internet is really not a place to spend too much time or concern.

 

Kind of like that old quip about arguing on the Internet and competing in the Special Olympics, right?

 

Okay I'll drop my base timing down to 8 or 6 and see if that helps. I know it was running a little over 0 and I couldn't tell much of a power difference so hopefully this helps.

 

Running too lean will raise the EGT. I'd recommend getting an EGT gauge to monitor temps on any forced induction engine. Here's the one I use (R3607R): http://www.egauges.com/vdo_mult3.asp...=EVA_R&Units=E

Probe installed as close to hottest cylinder as possible:

 

What is it reading? Is it a wideband A/F gauge?

 

I should have elaborated on what I said earlier. If you have no pinging now, then don't retard the ignition timing. Retarding the timing causes the burn in the cylinder to start later and end later. Combustion temps are lowered, but the burn is ending closer to when the exhaust valve opens. Retard it enough and it could even send burning fuel out the exhaust. You could make the turbo and manifold glow bright red at idle just by retarding the timing if you wanted.

I also agree that it could possibly be lean. Unlike a diesel, running lean causes combustion temps and EGTs to climb. If your O2 sensor is anything but a wideband, you aren't getting an accurate AFR reading. Narrowband sensors are most accurate at the stoich air:fuel ratio. Everything else it can really only identify as richer or leaner than stoich. You may also consider getting an EGT probe if you don't mind poking a hole in your exhaust manifold.