GM LB7
EZ
Manual Edge Products, LLC
11
Making Sense of it All
This section is designed to help you understand how the additional power will
change your driving experience as well as help you figure out what power level
will best suit your driving style.
The first thing you will probably notice, especially if this is your first time
driving a diesel truck with a performance module, is that this is a whole
different animal. You will experience more power, quicker take-offs, better
passing and acceleration and possible better fuel economy. Power level one is
specifically designed to maximize fuel economy improvements
(
if you can put off
the little guy on your shoulder telling you to
‘
step on it hard
’)
.
If you are towing, the beauty of the extra power the Edge
EZ
module delivers is
that not only will you be able to maintain speed going up a hill, but the added
power will also keep you in a higher gear, so your transmission will not keep
“hunting” for lower gears. We recommend level 1 or level 2 for towing
applications. Only use level two if you are towing a light load. Level 3 should
never be used while towing. Level 3 is a great overall driving level. When
driven responsibly, and used with an EGT gauge, level 3 will not stress the
stock engine or transmission as long as you are not towing
.
EGTs: What they mean and why
EGT stands for exhaust gas temperature, and is the single most important
indicator of how a diesel engine is performing. Unlike a gasoline motor, a
diesel motor will continue to make power as more fuel is added. As more fuel
is added, heat will be generated until the motor just gets too hot and things start
to melt. This is a situation you want to avoid. Exhaust gas temperature is the
ideal measurement of how hot the motor is, since temperature fluctuations in
exhaust gas are almost instantaneous. Just so you know, it is possible to
generate excessive EGT on a stock truck, particularly if you are towing. This is
why we always recommend installing an EGT gauge.
In our experience 1350 degrees is about as high as you want to let your EGTs
go. Keep in mind, the stress on your engine created by the heat is a function of
both temperature and time. A brief spike to 1400 that lasts a second is not that
big a deal. Pulling up a hill for several minutes at 1400 is far worse.
As you drive your truck in the various power settings, keep your eye on the
EGTs. Depending on how you drive and where you drive, you may find a
particular power level is more suitable to your power needs.
