What guages are important to YOU?

[T0nyGTSt]

I really want three new guages - boost in PSI, oil temp and exhaust gas temp.

Boost and temp will be cheap Splitfires. I think I'll match it with an oil or water temp guage so there's a neat 3 guages in the central console.

The EGT however will end up being most likely an Autometer or Apex EL on the A-pillar.

Seems ok? I have doubts about the A-pillar as I don't want to be defectable.

T.

[Anquetil]

It may only be heresay, but isn't an A-Pillar legal as long as its below the top of steering wheel? That's where I just put mine anyway *shrugs*

[Yakuza]

Tony,

Get defi 2, no regrets !

[siksII]

Originally posted by Shane

It may only be heresay, but isn't an A-Pillar legal as long as its below the top of steering wheel? That's where I just put mine anyway *shrugs*

Anything u mount on the dash/a pillar has to be lower than the highest point on your dash. Tried to mount a 5' tacho legally in my old car, didnt work, but close

[GTS-t VSPEC]

I'd get boost, oil pressure, and water temp gauges. What is the point of the exhaust gas temp?

[T0nyGTSt]

EGT is interesting to know.

More boost = more gas temp.

Also tell you if you're leaning out.

Water temp I don't care so much for since my PFC HC shows it (+ 7 other parameters).

They also have a transmission temp. gauge (!!!)

T.

[Jamezilla]

I have EL boost on the A-pillar and Water Temp, Oil Temp and Fuel Pressure Defi's on the console. Also AVCR and RSM (mmm - Gs) are on the dash.

I look at the AVCR and water-temp most of the time. I use the speed readout on the RSM for highway driving (it flashes at 103km/h).

G's are good for passengers

[T0nyGTSt]

I personally don't like looking at the AVC-R on the run - it's a set and forget device.

The temp displays on the HC are good though.

T.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

My RSM doesn't flash till 180km/hr;)

I have a Wolf computer, and they have just released a wide-band lambda sensor that can display the AFR's on the hand-controller, very nice:D

[EVOIV]

I have a boost gauge and oil temp. The exhaust temps are also useful, but very pricey. Same with the AFR gauges. I would go for oil temp and boost. Could also go oil pressure?

Or why not get the MoTeC M800 with console?

[Merli]

I've never understood why people want a boost gauge. I set my boost on the dyno, and I leave it. Most boost controllers have a digital boost readout anyway.

People say "What if your boost spikes? or if you overboost to 1.5 bar? Don't you want to know about it?"

I say in reply: "You should set you boost up on a dyno and iron out all the spikes there. Has your boost controller ever "broken" and you've overboosted over what you set your boost controller at? I haven't."

Anyway. If I were to have any gauges it would be:

Water Temp

Oil Temp

[summoner]

in WA u can get permits for a pillar mounted gauges, aslong as they dont obstruct the vision. I had permit for Oil pressure gauge and monser tacho(albiet that was a wank permit haha). But we also have permit for the Sti with boost and oil pressure.

small gauges are fine. In words of guy at pits, cop was an idiot for point out the gauges as a defect.

[summoner]

i like boost gauge cause it moves haha.. provides in cabin entertainment for people.. Also some people fiddle with other boost controllers besides EBC's.. like t peice 1's etc.. so for them its handier

[DaiOni]

"Boost and temp will be cheap Splitfires"

Don't get anything cheap - unless you just want them for the 'looks'. Otherwise you are defeating the purpose of trying to accurately monitor what's going on with your car.

As for "why have a boost gauge?" - if I, for example, blew a hose, the boost gauge would instantly tell me that. If there is a problem with the car, and it is boost related, the gauge will instantly tell me that. If my car starts to spike (for whatever reason), I can see it instantly and shut her down.

And my other 2c: buy defi

[Merli]

Originally posted by DaiOni

As for "why have a boost gauge?" - if I, for example, blew a hose, the boost gauge would instantly tell me that.  If there is a problem with the car, and it is boost related, the gauge will instantly tell me that.  If my car starts to spike (for whatever reason), I can see it instantly and shut her down.

What hose could you blow that would affect boost? Intercooler plumbing? Silicon hoses on the intake plumbing? They'd all REDUCE boost, so you don't have to worry. The only thing would be the hose to your wastegate actuator.... How many people do you know who's wastegate vacuum hose has fallen off? None?

You'd notice any increased boost, or an "unlimited boost" effect from the wastegate problems before you'd look at the boost gauge anyway, true?

What other reasons are there that the boost would suddenly decide to spike? If you have a decent boost controller, I can't see it EVER changing it's settings, unless you've stuffed around with it.

The only time I can ever see a boost gauge coming in handy is when setting up the car's boost levels and gain/balance.

I think Summoner gave the truth Everyone loves it because it's the most active gauge. The others (water temp, oil temp, EGT, whatever) don't move anywhere near as much, and doesn't have the "COOL" factor

[EVOIV]

Yes, I too like boost gauges cos they move Everyone wants to see something working and it's actually doing something. I think boost gauges are important (to me anyway) because I have the Profec B boost controller (no boost display). I have low and high boost and sometimes I like to see what the max boost is set at. I sometimes adjust the low and high settings too, so I don't want to set it too high and blow something. I think boost gauges are useful.

[DaiOni]

"What hose could you blow that would affect boost? Intercooler plumbing? Silicon hoses on the intake plumbing? They'd all REDUCE boost, so you don't have to worry"

I'm talking about the sequential setup of a late model rx7, which is my case. Your original post didn't specify 'skylines' which is why I responded as such. On my car, the boost gauge is a neccesity - which is why 'people' sometimes need them. However, I can't imagine why having a boost gauge would be a bad thing on any turbocharged car.

The defi gauges have a memory function - so you can record the boost gauge (for around 3 minutes) and play it back. This is a great little diagnostic tool - which has plenty of uses.

[EVOIV]

You are damn lucky to get DEFI link gauges! They are quite pricey aren't they? Is it true that when you start up the car the gauges calibrate and the pointer on the gauges moves right through the range? Example: If you have a boost gauge from 0bar to 2bar, when you start the car the "pointer" moves from 0 bar to 2 bar and then moves back down to 0bar? Nice

[summoner]

my cefiro has a tomei boost gauge and i have hardly looked at it. Mind u at present my EBC isnt wired up properly(so it looks), so i was curious as to what boost it was running, seems to be about 0.7bar or so.. Short of that i doubt i'll actually be looking at it

[DaiOni]

yeah, the gauge cycles on start up, beeps, has a whizz-bang closing down 'ceremony' etc

I got them because they are made by a company that specialises in gauges - not a company that makes all sorts of shit, and does gauges on the side.

I've shopped around and they are by far the best quality on the market.

And yeah, expensive, but not as bad from within japan (cost me about 34,000 yen for the control unit, boost gauge and holder)