losing power

[mudski]

I spoke to my local exhaust and 4x4 shop and the guy behind the counter said I shouldn't bother installing it until I get a new exhaust system done, save on labour that way. He said you don't need them and he has been driving his 02 patrol with NADS since it was about 216km and now it's over 400km without an EGT. He said I should if I plan on towing a caravan round the country or putting it under big loads for long periods of time but otherwise my standard temp gauge will tell me if it's getting too bad.

First piece of advise from your local is good advice. The second is rubbish and the last about the standard temp gauge is pure bollocks.

For the second comment, well yeah you don't "need" an EGT gauge, you don't "need" to put a bigger exhaust on, or even install the NADs for a matter of fact. Theres a gazzilion grey nomads cruising our land with a 3T caravan in tow using a ZD30 "Grenade", all stock as a rock with half a billion K's on them too. They don't need it. But like the NAD's, and EGT gauge comes in handy. Think of it like a thermometer for a human. The thermometer tells you a lot about how your body is coping. If your temp is not 37c you know your not quite right. Same goes with your motor. I know with my car when cruising at 100ks on a flat road I should get around the 220c mark in EGTs. Give or take... And around 180-220c at your local street speeds. If I notice any difference in temps I know that somethings not quite right. Using your EGT gauge is a great way to tune the NAD's too. not just going by your boost, knowing how to read the EGT's in relation to your motor is quite important and is very helpful.

The third comment. Any mechanic with half a brain would know that the OEM temp gauge, is something no one should use as an actual reading. Plus the standard temp gauge is water, not exhaust. Two very different things and the only thing is common is that they are gauges. When my car over heated and lost all coolant on the freeway a few weeks back, my temp gauge did not move one bit. Although when I plugged a diagnostic machine into the ECU it told me the engine had overheated.
That my 2bobs worth. I could go on more but I want to go out a have a drink. Lol... Take with a grain of salt. Or not.
Cheers.