Ok here's the last update for the day. But first I want to make a comment about this. Not only is fun to share with folks here, but also it gives me a place to go back and re-read for myself what happened when as I can never remember all the details.
So this afternoon I had to make a part run for the shop. About 30 miles to the south, so 60 round trip mostly freeway, not exactly flat but no real hill climbs either, regardless it's more mileage logged since the oil swap and tune. That went just fine and I expected that. Tonight after work. First stop car wash, this is a touchless car wash where you drive in and doors close in front and behind. I do not recall smelling the trucks exhaust during a wash in the past and I've been to this wash a few times, but on this occasion I could smell it near the end of the wash, fairly strong. Truck has a cat converter that is pretty new so it's in good health. My question on this, I'm now running slightly hotter plugs across the board, anyone think hotter plugs would effect exhaust smell? My thought is given that it effects the burn it might. Also we know I have oil control issues on #7 and I have a healthy catalytic converter, so the cat maybe cleaning it up enough to make it colorless and simply smell strong rather than oily. Also the car wash does an under carriage wash and it may have cooled the cat enough to make it not fully doing it's job, well that thought makes me feel a little better. I guess I'll just monitor that, but also I'd be interested in others opinions.
From there I got my load drove on the highway for a few miles and did that 2 mile hill. I have to admit I was intentionally hard on it. Did the entire two miles with my foot all the way to the floor. I kept it there as I crested the hill, by the time I felt I was going to fast I looked at the speedo to see the needle past 85, oops, not what I intended but definitely a good hard run up the hill. And sure enough around the corner the light is red. As I pulled up to it I was almost expecting it to run rough. Nope, pretty darn good, not perfect no, but also it's a high mileage 305, certainly a huge improvement and acceptable.
So we'll see what happens as the miles add up, I kick myself for the doing the diesel oil thing, as I feel like I brought this all on myself, but also glad that it seems I'll be able to run this engine for a while longer.