6.0 L Diesel Operating Temps

[Spr]

Well shucks! :-)
So far mine has been good, but when it’s not that’s great info to know.

[JoeH]

Originally Posted by Spr

My temps seem to run about 10 degrees cooler than JoeH during normal summer temperatures.

Ya, with the FICM and PCM tuning my 6.0 is making close to 400HP. I do have to use the two-haul a lot on long grades to keep the EGTs down.

[parisdakar]

Thanks for the feedback, team. Good intel from Shyll, as my engine is bone stock, except for one turbo rebuild.


The new FICM + display is like discovering that the bookshelf in the back of my office opens up into a secret room. Loads of useful information there; can't believe I went this long without using one.



We are currently on a 900 mile winter trip in the Eastern Sierra. There are some steep grades on the way north, and I did notice that the trans oil temp is the one that increases slower than the EOT and ECT on grades, but it also cools much slower than the others too. I assume this is the stock trans oil cooler not doing a good job.



We are not fully loaded, and most of the highway speeds are between 65-70 mph, but it is informative to see the EO, trans oil, and EC temps go past 200 F, especially on grades between 5000 - 7000 feet asl. Backing off the pedal does bring EGT and EOT down, but the trans oil temp doesn't move (decrease) that fast, even with outside temps in the 20-30F range.

[JoeH]

Nothing wrong with being over 200F on ECT or EOT. Diesels like it hot! And even 240F TFT for short periods is ok. You'll get lots of opinions on primo operating temps but that's my 2 cents.


I'll do 1000F EGTs all day long.

[daveb]

One thing that surprised me was finding the stock tune runs hotter than my DP 60 tow. They gave me a bit more active fan operation on the DP tune. Stock values are around 211-224 which is when the fan kicks on. Oil temps run about 8 degrees warmer and it doesn't react as quickly to cool down like the ECT does when the fan kicks on. The 60 tune runs on average about 10 degrees cooler for ECT/EOT but the fan is engaged more often. Trans temp alarm is set to 220. EGT alarm at 1200 and I usually can downshift to keep it out of the red on steep grades. IIRC I did made it to about 230ECT-235EOT on a very hot day driving a steep grade.


(Edit-today) 54* air temp and the average temps 195-104 ECT & 198-107EOT on flat ground. Trans temp 177

[WhitH]

Somewhat related, I used to watch all the usual temps religiously on my 6.0 with a Scangauge and an Autometer EGT gauge. 1200 degrees for any extended period of time was always what I tried to avoid. It never was much of a problem for the record. But to my main point here, my Duramax goes to around 1100 as a part of its regen cycle. It seems thats where the computer wants it to regen most efficiently. I realize they are different turbos and the 6.0 doesn't regen, but that's some data to consider with regard to the safety of the part and heat.