High EGT readings... or not?

I decided to do some work on the DRAGON today and for some reason my EGTs were hitting about 600* at idle and 800* under cruising. I was thinking that was a bit too much for my taste, but after further investigation on the Subaru forums, I guess those temps are pretty damn good. People are claiming that EGTs all the way up to 1600* is OK for a Subaru. I really do not know how much I believe that, but I will never let my car get to those temps. The highest my car sees even under boost is about 1200*-1300*. I guess it is all in the tuning.

i told you mikey. that right where mine runs.

Thanks Shawn. I just thought I would check and see what other Subarus run just to make sure.

It depends on where your EGT probe is located. Four or five years ago, conventional wisdom said mount it on the manifold close to #3 cylinder (which is the hottest place on the engine exhaust). Then people said mount it on the downpipe as close as possible to the turbo flange (for turboed cars). And now people are saying mount it on the driver's side exhaust manifold.

The difference between passenger side and driver's side could easily be at 100 degrees. The difference between the downpipe location and the #3 cylinder location could be as much as 250 degrees.

You could also put the probe in the EGT bung on an aftermarket uppipe. In this case the difference between before and after the turbo would probably be only a 100 degrees or so.

Basically, unless you are driving a dedicated racing car, it doesn't matter where it is mounted. All that matters is that you are operating within reasonable parameters (and you most definitely are). The EGT gauge is basically there to tell you if you have a sudden and unreasonable spike in temperature. It is your first line of defense against serious drama occurring in your engine. Most of my gauges are small, the size of stock Subaru gauges. But not the EGT gauge. The EGT gauge is a big, honkin' DEFI, and it is mounted on the dash where I can see it without taking my eyes off the road.

Mine is located 2 inches behind the turbo on the downpipe. I am guessing my temps are good for the most part.

i always wanted to put an EGT on my turd, but i never could seem to get my money together long enough to buy one ya know...

Get some money then sonny!

sorry, but i cant see it happening anytime soon, unless you know of anyone who wants to line em up for a couple hundred. hahaha

Yeah. You're within an inch or so of where I've got mine. Just be aware that you are running about 150-200 degrees less that if the probe was on one of the exhaust manifolds. As I said, what you most care about is a spike in normal operating temp. Mine runs virtually the same temps as does yours. If you are familiar with Ravalli Hill (going past the Bison Range, before you top out and see St.Ignatius and the Mission Mountains), I buried the speedometer going up that hill (about 7% grade), and the EGT never made it past 1400. I normally don't do that sort of driving, but the engine was broken in and I wanted to see what was what. Friends who race Subarus, both Rally and Time Trials, report that 1600 degrees shouldn't cause undo drama.

The real trick with EGT's is to dyno your car and get evereything in check and then see what your EGT's are. Every car is different. You can usually listen to what the "safe" temps are but knowing where your car makes the best power and keeping it around there is really a useful tool of the EGT gauge. I used the EGT's on the turbo sled to tell me if I was running it too hard. BUt since I was too scared to ever really push it I never got even close to seeing too hot of EGT's.

When you get on the dyno and see where your car likes to be then you can always keep an eye on it and know its not only safe but making good power. Either way its nice to know nothing is melting but you may aswell get the most out of the gauge.

Oh, it is making power. I am actually wondering why it feels so insane right now. .85 is the max I hit yesterday and it was pretty sweet.

Well then come take me for a ride! Me and the captain we're hitting 1.5 bar on Friday but I decided since I was on pump gas I better go back to 1.3 until I add some Torco additive or get some race gas.

I will take you out for a cruise, but I need to fine tune my new NISMO map before so I can actually get on it. Hopefully I will be able to come by on Wednesday before you head out of town.

It's about time you came over to the "right side". If you have a nismo tune, I assume you junked that boxer engine and powered that suby with some nissan parts! j/k

RB26DETT FTMFW! (I can dream can't I?)

b1r - TS wrote:

It's about time you came over to the "right side". If you have a nismo tune, I assume you junked that boxer engine and powered that suby with some nissan parts! j/k

You are silly Jake.