tow w/ 250

[hotlicks2go]

Ran 450 mile trip towing 15,000 lbs. with the 250 tune. 8.2 mpg hand cal. Tons of power.. tryed to stay around 65 mph. Mixed travel including some 6% grades.

[Pahrump]

THats pretty heavy with that tune.

[Gerry]

I was thinking the same thing..... I get nervous towing 13k with my 210 tune.... lol.

[Fordfish]

Which tranz gauges are best to watch when towing heavy and tuned up 210 and 250 other than temp and what should they read?

[smokinpete379]

Ran 450 mile trip towing 15,000 lbs. with the 250 tune. 8.2 mpg hand cal. Tons of power.. tryed to stay around 65 mph. Mixed travel including some 6% grades.
What EGT sensor are you monitoring while towing in the 250 tune and what did it read?

[mick1955]

They should be monitoring TFT, transmission fluid temperature, and EGRTA, pre-turbo egt's.

[hotlicks2go]

Didn't have the DashDaq to monitor.. hardware failure & waiting for replacement from Spartan. Couldn't change the tune either so I thought what the Hell, we'll see what happens. Just kept an eye on boost, temps and rpms. Easy on the pedal, easy throttle ups during take off. Couple of times the coolant temp started to creep up until the fan took off and kept temps in check. Otherwise very smooth tow, No issues.

[mick1955]

hotlicks2go - That's pretty good mileage for towing 15000 with these trucks. I got 8.6 towing 13000 with the 75 hp tune. That was before we could read EGRTA. Next time I pick up a load of hay, I'm going to try the 210.

[Kimminau2]

The 210 tows great. I tow 20k with it all the time. I get 9-10 mpg depending on my speed.
The biggest issue I have is on hard acceleration or going up long hills it will hit the defuel point too early. If I accelerate hard from a dead stop it will defuel at 45 mph. It varies but mostly when going up long hills it will defuel around 65, if I am tryin to accelerate, as in pass someone. It will mostly hold 65 but not all the time depending on the hill. It can be a bit frustrating because it has plenty of power.
Just cruising on relatively flat highway it tows great and temps are low.

[Gerry]

Which tranz gauges are best to watch when towing heavy and tuned up 210 and 250 other than temp and what should they read?

These are all the sensors I watch and what I have each one set at including the colors......


EGT watch EGRTA with Low @ 0, High @ 2000 and High Warning @ 1600

Oil Temp watch EOT with Low @ -40, High @ 300 and High Warning @ 230

Trans Temp watch TFT with Low @ -40, High @ 275 and High Warning @ 220

Coolant Temp watch ECT with Low @ -40 , High @ 275and High Warning @ 225

Fuel Pressure watch FRP with Low @ 1000, Low Warning @ 4500, High at 30,000 and High Warning @ 27,500

Boost watch MGP with Low @ 0, High @ 50 and High Warning @ 38



Gerry

[Pahrump]

These are all the sensors I watch and what I have each one set at including the colors......


EGT watch EGRTA with Low @ 0, High @ 2000 and High Warning @ 1600

Oil Temp watch EOT with Low @ -40, High @ 300 and High Warning @ 230

Trans Temp watch TFT with Low @ -40, High @ 275 and High Warning @ 220

Coolant Temp watch ECT with Low @ -40 , High @ 275and High Warning @ 225

Fuel Pressure watch FRP with Low @ 1000, Low Warning @ 4500, High at 30,000 and High Warning @ 27,500

Boost watch MGP with Low @ 0, High @ 50 and High Warning @ 38



Gerry

I have mine set up pretty much exactly like this....these are all the most important to watch IMO.

[mick1955]

Jerry - Same thing for me. What's the highest you've seen your boost up too?

[Fordfish]

I saw 42 on the boost.....then backed off. 210 tune, not 250.

[BigIslandBoy]

I monitor those too. I guess my high warnings are little more conservative.

[Gerry]

Jerry - Same thing for me. What's the highest you've seen your boost up too?

On the way back from Norwalk, OH pulling the trailer (12,500 lbs) and running the 120 tune I saw 43 a couple of times and when I saw it I backed off of it and let it drop below the 35. I didn't own the DD long enough with the 210 tune so I'm not sure what it was doing on the way to TN or NH.

These days it sits in the box at home so I know it will stay mine...... lol.

[theguyfromfaust]

Might be a stupid question, but what's the danger of getting the boost up too high? I've seen 45 a few times, just curious whats gonna give.

[sledneck57]

I've never backed off the throttle when seeing high boost levels. I run synthetic amsoil and as far as I'm conserned and from the people I've talked too as long as proper lubrication and no over temps occur.... Let er boost. So I guess the answer is I don't know.lol.

[Gerry]

Might be a stupid question, but what's the danger of getting the boost up too high? I've seen 45 a few times, just curious whats gonna give.

I think most of us are just a touch worried about the possibility of blowing off a inter-cooler boot or worse blowing a hole in one. It also helps keep the EGTs high.

[brad g]

The sequential turbochargers provide improved throttle response throughout the entire power band with better low-end performance.A smaller, variable geometry turbocharger comes on at low rpm to provide extra boost at take-off. As engine speed increases, the larger fixed turbo joins the smaller turbo to boost power through the middle of the torque curve. As optimum speed is reached, the larger turbo takes over. The system can deliver up to 42 pounds of boost.
if your seeing more than 42psi of boost your larger turbo is overspinning meaning it will cause damage to the turbo over time. The turbos have electronic wastegates, so the programming has to tell it to relieve itself. Im looking further into the base of the engine to see what it can hold up to , but basicly this max force 7 platform has Ford heads intake and turbos so ford says 42psi with there add ons. I think the bottom end can hold over 50 psi of boost with no problems.

[mick1955]

I don't plan on seeing 50 psi of boost. I think 37 is about the highest I've ever noticed.

[theguyfromfaust]

I thought I read somewhere that the stock turbos were capable of 60psi before they max out? Head studs, head gaskets, bottom end, etc. I don't know about, but im almost positive I read somewhere they could push 60.

[DIESEL FOOL]

My toyhauler is 42' and weighs 18,000lbs. I am pretty sure if I pulled it with an extra 250hp tune, she would blow up. In fact it would probably blow using anything over 60. How long of a pull can you do with this grade? In British Columbia this summer, there is a section called Ten Mile Hill which is about a 10 degree slope. Very hard pull with my 6.0, in fact the turbo was squealing again. I think my 6.4 will do better, but if it can handle a 250 tune, I would be very happy.

[versitek]

My toyhauler is 42' and weighs 18,000lbs. I am pretty sure if I pulled it with an extra 250hp tune, she would blow up. In fact it would probably blow using anything over 60. How long of a pull can you do with this grade? In British Columbia this summer, there is a section called Ten Mile Hill which is about a 10 degree slope. Very hard pull with my 6.0, in fact the turbo was squealing again. I think my 6.4 will do better, but if it can handle a 250 tune, I would be very happy.

I pull with the 250hp tune all the time. I have a 550 with 4:30 gears and tow a 30' goose neck, truck weighs 12,000 unloaded. With truck and trailer together I weigh in at 37 to 40'000. I live in the flat lands and have over 5000 miles of towing with the 250hp tune. I think that steep grades are not for this tune egts ,oil and trany temps will get up there quick.

[hotlicks2go]

There are no safeties in the 250 or set extremely high, so it would be advisable to pull with a lesser tune. Especially if you know the terrain is going to be excessively rough on the vehicle.

[bcjag72]

There are no safeties in the 250 or set extremely high, so it would be advisable to pull with a lesser tune. Especially if you know the terrain is going to be excessively rough on the vehicle.

you say there are no safeties with the 250, what does that mean? What do I have to worry about? I am not pulling with it I just want better mpgs so that is what Matt told me to get. But I don't want to do anything to hurt the motor or anything else. Is it a safe tune for all around driving?